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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2006 | OK | HB 2177 | Higher Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| April 12, 2006 | NE | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| April 12, 2006 | NH | SB 268 | High School Dropout Age | Bill Failed - House (134 - 219) |
| April 11, 2006 | VA | Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
| April 11, 2006 | VA | Amdt Item 135-4h | Direct Aid To Public Education | 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 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1215 | School Closure Regulations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 8, 2006 | MD | HB 1215 | School Closure Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (97 - 42) |
| April 7, 2006 | AR | SB 27 | Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| April 7, 2006 | AR | SB 24 | Additional Education Funding Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 8) |
| April 7, 2006 | AR | SB 21 | Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| April 7, 2006 | AR | SB 27 | Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (79 - 17) |
| 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 | FL | A 990269 | Teacher Salary Increase Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (37 - 72) |
| April 6, 2006 | FL | A 990264 | Education Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (34 - 81) |
| April 6, 2006 | NE | AM 3142 | Redistricting of Omaha Public Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 6) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 668 | Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| April 6, 2006 | AL | SB 446 | Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - House (94 - 3) |
| April 6, 2006 | AR | SB 18 | Property Tax Interest | Bill Failed - House (46 - 46) |
| April 6, 2006 | MO | HJR 39 | Prayer in Public Schools | Joint Resolution Passed - House (134 - 19) |
| April 6, 2006 | MO | HB 994 | Motorcycle Helmet Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
| April 6, 2006 | AR | SB 19 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| April 6, 2006 | MD | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 5, 2006 | NE | LB 1060 | 2005-2007 Biennium Budget | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 24) |
| April 5, 2006 | AK | CSHB 471 | Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority | Bill Passed - House (28 - 7) |
| April 5, 2006 | OK | SB 1792 | Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| April 5, 2006 | OK | SB 1792 | Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| April 5, 2006 | CO | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| April 5, 2006 | ID | H 876 | Property Tax Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (44 - 26) |
| April 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (154 - 2) |
| April 4, 2006 | AZ | HB 2254 | Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 4, 2006 | DE | HB 37 | Bans Open Containers of Alcoholic Beverages in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (22 - 12) |
| April 3, 2006 | MN | SF 2734 | Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 22) |
| March 31, 2006 | KS | SCS SB 253 | Highway Advertising Regulation & Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 3) |
| March 31, 2006 | CO | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| March 31, 2006 | MD | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| March 31, 2006 | MD | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Bill Passed - House (107 - 27) |
| March 30, 2006 | ME | LD 1640 | Charter School Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 63) |
| March 30, 2006 | IL | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| March 30, 2006 | ID | H 800 | Water Rights | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
| March 30, 2006 | KS | Sub HB 2986 | School Finance | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 25) |
| March 30, 2006 | KS | SB 501 | School Funding | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| March 30, 2006 | IL | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| March 29, 2006 | SC | Amendment 63 | Cigarette Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (58 - 53) |
| March 29, 2006 | AL | Executive Amendment 84452-1 to HB 272 | Educational Funds Amendment | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 38) |
| March 29, 2006 | CO | HB 1249 | Authorizing Minors to Approve Perinatal Care for Their Own Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | HB 2177 | Higher Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| 4/12 | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| 4/12 | SB 268 | High School Dropout Age | Bill Failed - House (134 - 219) |
| 4/11 | Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
| 4/11 | Amdt Item 135-4h | Direct Aid To Public Education | 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) |
| 4/10 | HB 1215 | School Closure Regulations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/08 | HB 1215 | School Closure Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (97 - 42) |
| 4/07 | SB 27 | Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 4/07 | SB 24 | Additional Education Funding Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 8) |
| 4/07 | SB 21 | Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| 4/07 | SB 27 | Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (79 - 17) |
| 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 | A 990269 | Teacher Salary Increase Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (37 - 72) |
| 4/06 | A 990264 | Education Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (34 - 81) |
| 4/06 | AM 3142 | Redistricting of Omaha Public Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 6) |
| 4/06 | SB 668 | Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 4/06 | SB 446 | Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - House (94 - 3) |
| 4/06 | SB 18 | Property Tax Interest | Bill Failed - House (46 - 46) |
| 4/06 | HJR 39 | Prayer in Public Schools | Joint Resolution Passed - House (134 - 19) |
| 4/06 | HB 994 | Motorcycle Helmet Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
| 4/06 | SB 19 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |
| 4/06 | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 4/06 | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 4/06 | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 4/05 | LB 1060 | 2005-2007 Biennium Budget | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 24) |
| 4/05 | CSHB 471 | Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority | Bill Passed - House (28 - 7) |
| 4/05 | SB 1792 | Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| 4/05 | SB 1792 | Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| 4/05 | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 4/05 | H 876 | Property Tax Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (44 - 26) |
| 4/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (154 - 2) |
| 4/04 | HB 2254 | Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 4/04 | HB 37 | Bans Open Containers of Alcoholic Beverages in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (22 - 12) |
| 4/03 | SF 2734 | Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 22) |
| 3/31 | SCS SB 253 | Highway Advertising Regulation & Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 3) |
| 3/31 | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 3/31 | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 3/31 | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Bill Passed - House (107 - 27) |
| 3/30 | LD 1640 | Charter School Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 63) |
| 3/30 | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 3/30 | H 800 | Water Rights | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
| 3/30 | Sub HB 2986 | School Finance | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 25) |
| 3/30 | SB 501 | School Funding | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 3/30 | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 3/29 | Amendment 63 | Cigarette Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (58 - 53) |
| 3/29 | Executive Amendment 84452-1 to HB 272 | Educational Funds Amendment | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 38) |
| 3/29 | HB 1249 | Authorizing Minors to Approve Perinatal Care for Their Own Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |