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, 2007 | CO | HB 1330 | Second Parent Adoption | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 9, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| April 9, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| April 5, 2007 | MD | HB 359 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| March 29, 2007 | IL | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
| March 28, 2007 | KS | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| March 28, 2007 | KS | HB 2062 | Violence Against Unborn Children | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| March 28, 2007 | ID | H 121 | Smoking Ban in Bowling Alleys | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| March 27, 2007 | KS | HB 2528 | Concealed Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| March 27, 2007 | MN | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| March 26, 2007 | CO | HB 1269 | Casino Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| March 26, 2007 | MD | SB 91 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| March 26, 2007 | IA | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| March 23, 2007 | MD | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| March 23, 2007 | MD | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| March 22, 2007 | IN | HB 1237 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| March 20, 2007 | National | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
| March 20, 2007 | National | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
| March 20, 2007 | GA | SB 174 | Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
| March 20, 2007 | NE | LB 476 | Elimination of the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
| March 20, 2007 | NE | LB 476 | Elimination of the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
| March 16, 2007 | MD | SB 533 | Removal of Remarriage Barriers | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 22) |
| March 13, 2007 | OK | SB 507 | Firearm Injury Liability and Tort Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5) |
| March 13, 2007 | AR | SB 959 | Adoption and Foster Care Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| March 13, 2007 | National | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| March 13, 2007 | ID | H 121 | Smoking Ban in Bowling Alleys | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| March 8, 2007 | AZ | SB 1152 | REAL ID Implementation Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| March 8, 2007 | NM | HB 283 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| March 6, 2007 | MD | SB 160 | Discrimination Against the Homeless | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| March 6, 2007 | MD | SB 160 | Discrimination Against the Homeless | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| March 5, 2007 | NY | S 3318 | Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
| Feb. 28, 2007 | UT | 2SSB 251 | Concealed Firearms on College Campuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| Feb. 27, 2007 | MD | SB 61 | Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 24, 2007 | MT | SB 306 | Eliminate Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Feb. 24, 2007 | MT | SB 306 | Eliminate Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2007 | MT | SB 300 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Feb. 23, 2007 | UT | SB 78 | Firearm Regulations for Private Property | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
| Feb. 23, 2007 | CO | SB 34 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| Feb. 21, 2007 | WV | Com Sub for Com Sub SB 219 | Ban on Smoking in a Vehicle with a Minor | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| Feb. 20, 2007 | UT | SB 251 | Concealed Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 20, 2007 | AZ | SB 1251 | Secure Storage of Guns at Public Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| Feb. 19, 2007 | MN | SF 372 | Legalization of Ticket Scalping | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 15) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | NM | SB 238 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 7) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | MS | SB 2617 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| Feb. 6, 2007 | WY | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 6, 2007 | WY | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 2, 2007 | WY | SF 118 | Homicide During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| Jan. 31, 2007 | WY | SF 13 | Same Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | MT | SB 15 | Funeral Picketing Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | MT | SB 15 | Funeral Picketing Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | WY | SF 104 | Sexual Abuse of Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | VA | SJ 307 | Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | HB 1330 | Second Parent Adoption | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 4/09 | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| 4/09 | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| 4/05 | HB 359 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 4/04 | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 3/29 | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
| 3/28 | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 3/28 | HB 2062 | Violence Against Unborn Children | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 3/28 | H 121 | Smoking Ban in Bowling Alleys | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| 3/27 | HB 2528 | Concealed Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 3/27 | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 3/26 | HB 1269 | Casino Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 3/26 | SB 91 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| 3/26 | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| 3/23 | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| 3/23 | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| 3/22 | HB 1237 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| 3/20 | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
| 3/20 | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
| 3/20 | SB 174 | Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
| 3/20 | LB 476 | Elimination of the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
| 3/20 | LB 476 | Elimination of the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
| 3/16 | SB 533 | Removal of Remarriage Barriers | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 22) |
| 3/13 | SB 507 | Firearm Injury Liability and Tort Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5) |
| 3/13 | SB 959 | Adoption and Foster Care Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| 3/13 | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| 3/13 | H 121 | Smoking Ban in Bowling Alleys | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| 3/08 | SB 1152 | REAL ID Implementation Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| 3/08 | HB 283 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 3/06 | SB 160 | Discrimination Against the Homeless | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 3/06 | SB 160 | Discrimination Against the Homeless | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 3/05 | S 3318 | Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
| 2/28 | 2SSB 251 | Concealed Firearms on College Campuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| 2/27 | SB 61 | Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/24 | SB 306 | Eliminate Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 2/24 | SB 306 | Eliminate Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 2/23 | SB 300 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 2/23 | SB 78 | Firearm Regulations for Private Property | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
| 2/23 | SB 34 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 2/21 | Com Sub for Com Sub SB 219 | Ban on Smoking in a Vehicle with a Minor | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 2/20 | SB 251 | Concealed Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/20 | SB 1251 | Secure Storage of Guns at Public Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 2/19 | SF 372 | Legalization of Ticket Scalping | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 15) |
| 2/14 | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| 2/14 | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| 2/14 | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 2/14 | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 2/07 | SB 238 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 7) |
| 2/07 | SB 2617 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| 2/06 | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/06 | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/02 | SF 118 | Homicide During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 1/31 | SF 13 | Same Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 1/25 | SB 15 | Funeral Picketing Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| 1/25 | SB 15 | Funeral Picketing Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| 1/25 | SF 104 | Sexual Abuse of Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 1/25 | SJ 307 | Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 1/23 | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 1/23 | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |