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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 14, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| March 14, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 3119 | Voter ID, Repealing Tuition Assistance, and Reporting of Illegal Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (63 - 24) |
| March 14, 2006 | OK | HB 2475 | Unattended Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (30 - 67) |
| March 14, 2006 | OK | HB 2475 | Unattended Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (30 - 67) |
| March 14, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| March 14, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| March 9, 2006 | NH | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
| March 9, 2006 | NH | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Policy; Forgery; Employment; Licensing | Bill Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Policy; Forgery; Employment; Licensing | Bill Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| March 8, 2006 | KY | HB 334 | Helmet Requirement for ATV Drivers Under 16 | Bill Passed - House (56 - 34) |
| March 8, 2006 | WY | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (30 - 29) |
| March 7, 2006 | KS | Amend HB 2615 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (63 - 58) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 7, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2138 | Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| March 7, 2006 | IA | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| March 6, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| March 6, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| March 2, 2006 | NJ | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| March 1, 2006 | UT | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
| March 1, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (33 - 22) |
| March 1, 2006 | KY | HB 399 | Wage Discrimination Bill | Bill Passed - House (72 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | IN | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1289 | Colorado Student Assessment Program Penalty Removal | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | WI | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | WI | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | WI | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2369 | Parental Written Consent Requirement for Minors Abortion | Bill Passed - House (81 - 12) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | VT | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | NH | HB 1269 | Red Deer or Elk Farming and Hunting | Bill Passed - House (217 - 98) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | ID | H 582 | Breathalyzer Refusal Penalty | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | MO | SCS SB 578 | Funeral Protests Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 107 | Full-Day Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (43 - 29) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | UT | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | UT | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 1422 | Motion on Death Penalty Repeal | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (200 - 137) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | CO | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/14 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| 3/14 | HCS HB 3119 | Voter ID, Repealing Tuition Assistance, and Reporting of Illegal Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (63 - 24) |
| 3/14 | HB 2475 | Unattended Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (30 - 67) |
| 3/14 | HB 2475 | Unattended Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (30 - 67) |
| 3/14 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| 3/14 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| 3/09 | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
| 3/09 | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
| 3/09 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| 3/09 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| 3/09 | HB 2577 | Immigration Policy; Forgery; Employment; Licensing | Bill Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| 3/09 | HB 2577 | Immigration Policy; Forgery; Employment; Licensing | Bill Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| 3/09 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| 3/08 | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| 3/08 | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| 3/08 | HB 334 | Helmet Requirement for ATV Drivers Under 16 | Bill Passed - House (56 - 34) |
| 3/08 | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (30 - 29) |
| 3/07 | Amend HB 2615 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (63 - 58) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/07 | HCS HB 2138 | Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| 3/07 | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 3/06 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| 3/06 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| 3/02 | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| 3/01 | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
| 3/01 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (33 - 22) |
| 3/01 | HB 399 | Wage Discrimination Bill | Bill Passed - House (72 - 22) |
| 2/28 | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| 2/28 | HB 1289 | Colorado Student Assessment Program Penalty Removal | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 2/28 | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 2/28 | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| 2/28 | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| 2/28 | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| 2/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 2/23 | HCS HB 2369 | Parental Written Consent Requirement for Minors Abortion | Bill Passed - House (81 - 12) |
| 2/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 2/22 | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| 2/22 | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| 2/22 | HB 1269 | Red Deer or Elk Farming and Hunting | Bill Passed - House (217 - 98) |
| 2/22 | H 582 | Breathalyzer Refusal Penalty | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
| 2/21 | SCS SB 578 | Funeral Protests Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
| 2/20 | 1SHB 107 | Full-Day Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (43 - 29) |
| 2/20 | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| 2/20 | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| 2/15 | HB 1422 | Motion on Death Penalty Repeal | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (200 - 137) |
| 2/15 | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| 2/15 | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 2/15 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |