Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 1, 2006 LA SB 693 Insurance Rate Increases Approval Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
May 1, 2006 CO SB 227 Healthcare Disclosure Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
May 1, 2006 FL CS for CS for CS for SJR 2170 School Vouchers Constitutional Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 16)
April 28, 2006 ME LD 1381 Teacher Minimum Salary Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 28, 2006 ME LD 1974 Supplemental Transportation Budget Bill Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 28, 2006 FL CS for SJR 1150 65 Percent Funding, Class Size, Classroom Instruction Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20)
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 VA SB 5013 Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 27, 2006 KS SCS SB 584 School Finance Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
April 27, 2006 MO SCS HB 1865 Access Missouri Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
April 25, 2006 WI AB 4 Tax Deduction for Health Savings Account Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
April 24, 2006 AK SB 305 Oil and Gas Production Tax Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
April 24, 2006 OK SCS HCS HB 2608 End-of-Instruction Tests Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 12)
April 24, 2006 AK CSHB 471 Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
April 20, 2006 OR SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
April 20, 2006 OR SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
April 20, 2006 MN SF 1070 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20)
April 20, 2006 OR SB 1106 Property Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 20, 2006 OR HB 3510 Lottery Revenue to Department of Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
April 20, 2006 NH HB 1673 Reduction of Mercury Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
April 20, 2006 CT Sub SB 373 Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
April 20, 2006 AK CSSB 235 Public School Performance Incentive Program Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
April 20, 2006 MI SB 1111 Industrial Development Districts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
April 20, 2006 CT Sub SB 373 Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
April 19, 2006 VA Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
April 19, 2006 TN SB 303 Driver's License Examination English Language Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
April 19, 2006 OK HCS HB 2807 Semipublic Community Act Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 21)
April 17, 2006 CO HB 1375 Public School Finance Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 4)
April 14, 2006 VT H 861 Health Care Bill Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
April 13, 2006 NE LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
April 13, 2006 NE LB 1024 School Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
April 13, 2006 NE LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
April 12, 2006 NE LR 449 Impeachment of C. David Hergert Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
April 12, 2006 DE SB 251 Full-Day Kindergarten Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
April 12, 2006 OK HB 2177 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10)
April 12, 2006 MN SF 1459 School District Employees Statewide Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 27)
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 7, 2006 AR SB 27 Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
April 6, 2006 NH HB 1177 Smoking Ban "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
April 6, 2006 NE AM 3142 Redistricting of Omaha Public Schools Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 6)
April 6, 2006 IL SB 3053 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26)
April 6, 2006 IL SB 668 Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads 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 CO HB 1375 Public School Finance Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
April 4, 2006 AZ HB 2254 Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
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 30, 2006 KS Sub HB 2986 School Finance Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 25)
March 30, 2006 IL HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
March 30, 2006 IL HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
March 30, 2006 KS SB 501 School Funding Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20)
March 30, 2006 ID H 800 Water Rights Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21)
March 29, 2006 CO HB 1249 Authorizing Minors to Approve Perinatal Care for Their Own Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 29, 2006 AL SB 446 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 297 Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
March 28, 2006 NE LB 1060 2005-2007 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
March 28, 2006 OH HB 530 Budget Correction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
March 28, 2006 ID H 630 School Grounds - Violence Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
March 28, 2006 OH Am Sub SB 265 Air Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
March 27, 2006 ME LD 1640 Charter School Pilot Program "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16)
March 27, 2006 MD Amendment 3929 to SB 297 Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28)
March 27, 2006 ME LD 1926 Amending Work Place Smoking Laws Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21)
March 27, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
March 24, 2006 MD SB 293 Public Charter School Program Reform Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
March 24, 2006 CO HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
March 24, 2006 MD SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
March 24, 2006 CO HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
March 23, 2006 ID H 421 Property Tax-Homestead Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 23, 2006 MI HB 5606 New Graduation Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
March 23, 2006 ID H 743 School Facilities Improvement Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 22, 2006 MS SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 22)
March 22, 2006 NH SB 268 High School Dropout Age Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
March 21, 2006 KS SCS SB 323 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 20, 2006 ID S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
March 20, 2006 ID H 544 Irrigation Voting Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 20, 2006 NJ A 2813 New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
March 20, 2006 PA HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 20, 2006 ID S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
March 17, 2006 MI Sub for SB 297 Motorcycle Helmets Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 16, 2006 NH SB 343 Emergency Contraceptives Bill "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 16, 2006 National S Amdt 3166 National Defense Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
March 16, 2006 CO HB 1175 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 KS SB 587 Gambling Expansion Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 20)
March 16, 2006 National S Amdt 3128 ANWR Revenues Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 ID H 609 Motor Vehicle Special License Plate Program Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 553220 Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32)
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/01 SB 693 Insurance Rate Increases Approval Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
5/01 SB 227 Healthcare Disclosure Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
5/01 CS for CS for CS for SJR 2170 School Vouchers Constitutional Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 16)
4/28 LD 1381 Teacher Minimum Salary Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/28 LD 1974 Supplemental Transportation Budget Bill Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/28 CS for SJR 1150 65 Percent Funding, Class Size, Classroom Instruction Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20)
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 SB 5013 Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/27 SCS SB 584 School Finance Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
4/27 SCS HB 1865 Access Missouri Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
4/25 AB 4 Tax Deduction for Health Savings Account Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
4/24 SB 305 Oil and Gas Production Tax Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
4/24 SCS HCS HB 2608 End-of-Instruction Tests Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 12)
4/24 CSHB 471 Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
4/20 SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/20 SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/20 SF 1070 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20)
4/20 SB 1106 Property Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/20 HB 3510 Lottery Revenue to Department of Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
4/20 HB 1673 Reduction of Mercury Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
4/20 Sub SB 373 Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
4/20 CSSB 235 Public School Performance Incentive Program Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
4/20 SB 1111 Industrial Development Districts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
4/20 Sub SB 373 Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
4/19 Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
4/19 SB 303 Driver's License Examination English Language Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
4/19 HCS HB 2807 Semipublic Community Act Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 21)
4/17 HB 1375 Public School Finance Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 4)
4/14 H 861 Health Care Bill Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
4/13 LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
4/13 LB 1024 School Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
4/13 LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
4/12 LR 449 Impeachment of C. David Hergert Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
4/12 SB 251 Full-Day Kindergarten Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
4/12 HB 2177 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10)
4/12 SF 1459 School District Employees Statewide Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 27)
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)
4/07 SB 27 Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
4/06 HB 1177 Smoking Ban "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
4/06 AM 3142 Redistricting of Omaha Public Schools Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 6)
4/06 SB 3053 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26)
4/06 SB 668 Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads 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 HB 1375 Public School Finance Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
4/04 HB 2254 Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
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)
3/30 Sub HB 2986 School Finance Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 25)
3/30 HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
3/30 HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
3/30 SB 501 School Funding Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20)
3/30 H 800 Water Rights Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21)
3/29 HB 1249 Authorizing Minors to Approve Perinatal Care for Their Own Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/29 SB 446 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/28 SB 297 Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
3/28 LB 1060 2005-2007 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
3/28 HB 530 Budget Correction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
3/28 H 630 School Grounds - Violence Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
3/28 Am Sub SB 265 Air Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/28 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
3/27 LD 1640 Charter School Pilot Program "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16)
3/27 Amendment 3929 to SB 297 Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28)
3/27 LD 1926 Amending Work Place Smoking Laws Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21)
3/27 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
3/24 SB 293 Public Charter School Program Reform Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
3/24 HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
3/24 SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
3/24 HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
3/23 H 421 Property Tax-Homestead Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/23 HB 5606 New Graduation Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
3/23 H 743 School Facilities Improvement Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/22 SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 22)
3/22 SB 268 High School Dropout Age Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
3/21 SCS SB 323 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/20 S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
3/20 H 544 Irrigation Voting Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/20 A 2813 New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
3/20 HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/20 S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
3/17 Sub for SB 297 Motorcycle Helmets Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/16 SB 343 Emergency Contraceptives Bill "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/16 S Amdt 3166 National Defense Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
3/16 HB 1175 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 SB 587 Gambling Expansion Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 20)
3/16 S Amdt 3128 ANWR Revenues Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 H 609 Motor Vehicle Special License Plate Program Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
3/15 Amendment 553220 Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32)
3/15 Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)

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