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 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) |
| March 15, 2006 | OK | SB 1372 | Issuing Temporary Teacher Licenses | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 23) |
| March 14, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3013 | Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go through 2011 Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| March 14, 2006 | IN | HB 1008 | Indiana Toll Road | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19) |
| March 14, 2006 | AL | SB 352 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| March 14, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 13, 2006 | OK | SB 1387 | Physical Education Instruction Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| March 10, 2006 | CO | Amendment L.004 | Balanced Teaching Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 20) |
| March 10, 2006 | CO | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| March 9, 2006 | WI | ASA 3 | Ethanol Bill | Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| March 9, 2006 | WI | ASA 3 | Ethanol Bill | Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| March 9, 2006 | WI | ASA 3 | Ethanol Bill | Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| March 8, 2006 | AZ | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 8, 2006 | OK | SB 1420 | Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| March 8, 2006 | WA | 2nd Sub HB 2572 | Health Insurance for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| March 7, 2006 | HI | SB 3102 | Student to Teacher Ratio Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
| March 7, 2006 | HI | SB 3195 | Education Appropriation | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3) |
| March 7, 2006 | WI | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 7, 2006 | OK | SB 1387 | Physical Education Instruction Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SCS SB 1874 | Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SB 1792 | Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SB 1792 | Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 3, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
| March 3, 2006 | AK | CSSB 112 | Rural Education Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| March 3, 2006 | WI | SB 618 | School Voucher Program Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 3/15 | SB 1372 | Issuing Temporary Teacher Licenses | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 23) |
| 3/14 | S Amdt 3013 | Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go through 2011 Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 3/14 | HB 1008 | Indiana Toll Road | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 3/14 | SB 352 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 3/14 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 3/13 | SB 1387 | Physical Education Instruction Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| 3/10 | Amendment L.004 | Balanced Teaching Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 20) |
| 3/10 | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 3/09 | ASA 3 | Ethanol Bill | Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 3/09 | ASA 3 | Ethanol Bill | Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 3/09 | ASA 3 | Ethanol Bill | Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 3/08 | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 3/08 | SB 1420 | Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 3/08 | 2nd Sub HB 2572 | Health Insurance for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| 3/07 | SB 3102 | Student to Teacher Ratio Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
| 3/07 | SB 3195 | Education Appropriation | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3) |
| 3/07 | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/07 | SB 1387 | Physical Education Instruction Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| 3/06 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/06 | SCS SB 1874 | Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 3/06 | SB 1792 | Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 3/06 | SB 1792 | Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 3/03 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 3/03 | CSSB 112 | Rural Education Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| 3/03 | SB 618 | School Voucher Program Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |