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 18, 2006 | MI | Amend | Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonies | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16) |
| May 18, 2006 | NJ | S 1471 | Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| May 18, 2006 | National | HR 5386 | Interior Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (293 - 128) |
| May 17, 2006 | TN | SB 3895 | Revisions to TennCare | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| May 17, 2006 | TN | SA 1505 | Medical Malpractice Limits Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16) |
| May 15, 2006 | CA | AB 2496 | Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| May 15, 2006 | CA | AB 813 | Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits | Bill Passed - House (66 - 5) |
| May 12, 2006 | MO | SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 | Unemployment Compensation Changes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 65) |
| May 11, 2006 | CA | AB 813 | Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| 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 9, 2006 | VT | H 861 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 54) |
| May 9, 2006 | LA | SB 655 | Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| May 8, 2006 | NY | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| May 5, 2006 | VT | H 861 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4) |
| May 5, 2006 | CO | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 2) |
| May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| May 4, 2006 | LA | HB 1010 | Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| May 4, 2006 | CO | SB 138 | Ethanol Requirement Act | Bill Passed - House (42 - 22) |
| May 3, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3688 | Influenza Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46) |
| May 3, 2006 | KS | SB 528 | Abortion and Live Birth Reporting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 32) |
| May 3, 2006 | KS | SB 528 | Abortion and Live Birth Reporting | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 34) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 2) |
| May 3, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| May 3, 2006 | WI | AB 414 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Bill Passed - House (66 - 25) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | VT | S 18 | Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 8) |
| May 2, 2006 | LA | HB 685 | Minimum Ethanol and Bio-Diesel Standards | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| May 2, 2006 | CO | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| May 2, 2006 | CO | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| May 1, 2006 | CO | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | SCA A to LD 1935 | Dirigo Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 27, 2006 | CO | SB 138 | Ethanol Requirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 71) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| April 26, 2006 | MI | HB 4745 | Refusal of Health Care Procedures on Religious, Moral and Ethical Grounds | Bill Passed - House (68 - 38) |
| April 26, 2006 | MI | HB 4746 | Health Insurance Refusal | Bill Passed - House (68 - 38) |
| April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 20) |
| April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (147 - 10) |
| April 25, 2006 | VT | S 18 | Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (77 - 63) |
| April 25, 2006 | MN | SF 2734 | Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (78 - 55) |
| April 25, 2006 | WI | AB 4 | Tax Deduction for Health Savings Account | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| April 20, 2006 | NH | HB 1673 | Reduction of Mercury Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
| April 20, 2006 | MO | SS SCS SB 1236 | Dam and Reservoir Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (57 - 3) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| April 20, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| April 20, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| April 20, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| April 19, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 1444 | Manure as a Hazardous Waste | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| April 18, 2006 | AZ | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| April 18, 2006 | AZ | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| April 17, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Failed - House (25 - 30) |
| April 17, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Failed - House (25 - 30) |
| April 17, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| April 14, 2006 | VT | H 861 | Health Care Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 12) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| April 11, 2006 | VA | Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
| April 11, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| April 11, 2006 | HI | HB 1242 | Intentional Termination of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| April 7, 2006 | MD | HB 853 | Prohibiting Dredging for Oysters & Clams in Atlantic Coastal Bays | Bill Passed - House (88 - 44) |
| April 6, 2006 | NH | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| April 6, 2006 | FL | A 990255 | Florida KidCare Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (34 - 75) |
| April 6, 2006 | AR | SB 19 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/18 | Amend | Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonies | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16) |
| 5/18 | S 1471 | Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 5/18 | HR 5386 | Interior Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (293 - 128) |
| 5/17 | SB 3895 | Revisions to TennCare | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| 5/17 | SA 1505 | Medical Malpractice Limits Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16) |
| 5/15 | AB 2496 | Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| 5/15 | AB 813 | Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits | Bill Passed - House (66 - 5) |
| 5/12 | SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 | Unemployment Compensation Changes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 65) |
| 5/11 | AB 813 | Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| 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) |
| 5/09 | H 861 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 54) |
| 5/09 | SB 655 | Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 5/08 | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| 5/05 | H 861 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4) |
| 5/05 | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 2) |
| 5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 5/04 | HB 1010 | Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| 5/04 | SB 138 | Ethanol Requirement Act | Bill Passed - House (42 - 22) |
| 5/03 | S Amdt 3688 | Influenza Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46) |
| 5/03 | SB 528 | Abortion and Live Birth Reporting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 5/03 | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 32) |
| 5/03 | SB 528 | Abortion and Live Birth Reporting | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 34) |
| 5/03 | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 2) |
| 5/03 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 5/03 | AB 414 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| 5/03 | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| 5/03 | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Bill Passed - House (66 - 25) |
| 5/02 | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| 5/02 | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3) |
| 5/02 | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| 5/02 | S 18 | Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 8) |
| 5/02 | HB 685 | Minimum Ethanol and Bio-Diesel Standards | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| 5/02 | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| 5/02 | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| 5/01 | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 4/28 | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| 4/28 | SCA A to LD 1935 | Dirigo Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 4/27 | SB 138 | Ethanol Requirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 4/27 | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 71) |
| 4/26 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 4/26 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 4/26 | HB 4745 | Refusal of Health Care Procedures on Religious, Moral and Ethical Grounds | Bill Passed - House (68 - 38) |
| 4/26 | HB 4746 | Health Insurance Refusal | Bill Passed - House (68 - 38) |
| 4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| 4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 20) |
| 4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (147 - 10) |
| 4/25 | S 18 | Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (77 - 63) |
| 4/25 | SF 2734 | Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (78 - 55) |
| 4/25 | AB 4 | Tax Deduction for Health Savings Account | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 4/20 | HB 1673 | Reduction of Mercury Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
| 4/20 | SS SCS SB 1236 | Dam and Reservoir Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
| 4/20 | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (57 - 3) |
| 4/20 | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| 4/20 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| 4/20 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| 4/20 | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 4/19 | HCS SB 1444 | Manure as a Hazardous Waste | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| 4/18 | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| 4/18 | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| 4/17 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Failed - House (25 - 30) |
| 4/17 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Failed - House (25 - 30) |
| 4/17 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| 4/14 | H 861 | Health Care Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 4/12 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| 4/11 | Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
| 4/11 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 4/11 | HB 1242 | Intentional Termination of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| 4/07 | HB 853 | Prohibiting Dredging for Oysters & Clams in Atlantic Coastal Bays | Bill Passed - House (88 - 44) |
| 4/06 | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| 4/06 | A 990255 | Florida KidCare Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (34 - 75) |
| 4/06 | SB 19 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |