Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2006 | MO | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5) |
| May 11, 2006 | MO | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5) |
| May 11, 2006 | MO | CCS2 HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10) |
| May 11, 2006 | MO | HJR 55 | Salaries and State Pensions for Public Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| May 10, 2006 | TX | F 3 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 18) |
| May 10, 2006 | TX | F 4 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 20) |
| May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2583 | Machinery Tax Exemptions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| May 10, 2006 | KS | SB 142 | Campaign Finance | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| May 9, 2006 | KS | SB 549 | 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009 Department of Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18) |
| May 9, 2006 | AK | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (10 - 10) |
| May 9, 2006 | AK | SB 231 | 2006-2007 Capital Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| May 9, 2006 | MN | SF 2460 | University of Minnesota Football Stadium | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| May 9, 2006 | MN | HF 2480 | Baseball Stadium Financing, Construction, and Operation | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| May 9, 2006 | LA | SB 655 | Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| May 9, 2006 | TX | CSHB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| May 7, 2006 | AK | SCS CS HB 334 | Additional Religious Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 2) |
| May 4, 2006 | WI | SSA 1 | Spending Limit | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 20) |
| May 4, 2006 | IL | SB 1520 | 2006-2007 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 27) |
| May 4, 2006 | CA | SB 1689 | Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| May 4, 2006 | NH | HB 76 | Charter School Aid | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8) |
| May 4, 2006 | IL | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16) |
| May 4, 2006 | CA | AB 140 | Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |
| May 4, 2006 | CA | SB 1266 | Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
| May 4, 2006 | CA | AB 127 | Kindergarten-University Public Education Bond Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| May 4, 2006 | WI | SJR 63 | Spending Limit | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 21) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 2) |
| May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
| May 3, 2006 | PA | SB 999 | Voting Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1149 | Increasing Lobbyist Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | PA | HB 39 | Property Taxes (Special Session) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
| May 2, 2006 | IA | SF 2408 | Elderly Income Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 4) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| May 1, 2006 | KS | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| May 1, 2006 | CO | SB 234 | Public Construction Bidding Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1974 | Supplemental Transportation Budget Bill | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | LCO # 4811 | Chief Justice Powers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 13) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | LCO # 4811 | Chief Justice Powers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 13) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| April 27, 2006 | KS | SCS SB 584 | School Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | HB 2351 | 2006-2007 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| April 26, 2006 | FL | HB 209 | Intangible Personal Property Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| April 25, 2006 | WI | AB 4 | Tax Deduction for Health Savings Account | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/11 | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5) |
| 5/11 | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5) |
| 5/11 | CCS2 HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 5/11 | HJR 55 | Salaries and State Pensions for Public Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| 5/10 | F 3 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 5/10 | F 4 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 20) |
| 5/10 | HB 2583 | Machinery Tax Exemptions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 5/10 | SB 142 | Campaign Finance | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 5/09 | SB 549 | 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009 Department of Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 5/09 | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (10 - 10) |
| 5/09 | SB 231 | 2006-2007 Capital Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| 5/09 | SF 2460 | University of Minnesota Football Stadium | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| 5/09 | HF 2480 | Baseball Stadium Financing, Construction, and Operation | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| 5/09 | SB 655 | Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 5/09 | CSHB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 5/07 | SCS CS HB 334 | Additional Religious Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| 5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 2) |
| 5/04 | SSA 1 | Spending Limit | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 20) |
| 5/04 | SB 1520 | 2006-2007 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 27) |
| 5/04 | SB 1689 | Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 5/04 | HB 76 | Charter School Aid | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8) |
| 5/04 | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16) |
| 5/04 | AB 140 | Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |
| 5/04 | SB 1266 | Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
| 5/04 | AB 127 | Kindergarten-University Public Education Bond Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 5/04 | SJR 63 | Spending Limit | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 21) |
| 5/03 | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 2) |
| 5/03 | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 5/03 | SB 999 | Voting Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/03 | HB 1149 | Increasing Lobbyist Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 5/03 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/02 | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| 5/02 | HB 39 | Property Taxes (Special Session) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
| 5/02 | SF 2408 | Elderly Income Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 4) |
| 5/02 | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 5/02 | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 5/01 | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 5/01 | SB 234 | Public Construction Bidding Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 4/28 | LD 1974 | Supplemental Transportation Budget Bill | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 4/28 | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| 4/27 | LCO # 4811 | Chief Justice Powers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 4/27 | LCO # 4811 | Chief Justice Powers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 4/27 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 4/27 | SCS SB 584 | School Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 4/26 | HB 2351 | 2006-2007 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| 4/26 | HB 209 | Intangible Personal Property Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 4/25 | AB 4 | Tax Deduction for Health Savings Account | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |