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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2008 | CA | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| May 29, 2008 | AL | SB 51 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 1991 | Development on Half Moon Bay | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| May 28, 2008 | MI | HB 5074 | Ban Smoking in Places of Employment and Public Places with Exceptions for Casinos, Cigar Bars, and Specialty Tobacco Stores | Bill Passed - House (65 - 39) |
| May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2716 | Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 33) |
| May 28, 2008 | MS | SB 2013 | Hospital Tax for Medicaid Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7) |
| May 28, 2008 | LA | SB 292 | Public Fishing in Overflow Waters | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19) |
| May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (41 - 35) |
| May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
| May 28, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
| May 28, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39) |
| May 28, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39) |
| May 27, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57) |
| May 27, 2008 | MI | Meadows Amdt: Access to Contraceptives | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66) | |
| May 27, 2008 | MI | Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67) | |
| May 27, 2008 | MI | Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66) | |
| May 27, 2008 | CA | SB 1440 | Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| May 27, 2008 | MI | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (74 - 32) |
| May 27, 2008 | MI | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (74 - 32) |
| May 27, 2008 | MI | HB 6048 | Emergency Contraception for Victims of Sexual Assault | Bill Passed - House (57 - 51) |
| May 22, 2008 | IL | HB 2310 | Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
| May 22, 2008 | OH | HB 477 | English Language for State Business | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 7A | To Reduce Income Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (68 - 52) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 3A | Cigarette Tax Increase for Employee Health Care | Amendment Tabled - House (67 - 51) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 4A | Cigarette Tax for Small Business Employee Health Care | Amendment Tabled - House (60 - 58) |
| May 20, 2008 | National | HR 6074 | Prohibiting Foreign States or Associations from Forming a Group to Control Oil | Bill Passed - House (324 - 84) |
| May 19, 2008 | AZ | SB 1476 | Reducing Probation for Good Behavior | Bill Passed - House (35 - 18) |
| May 19, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| May 19, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| May 16, 2008 | MO | HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 | Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (136 - 12) |
| May 16, 2008 | MO | HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 | Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7) |
| May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| May 15, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1713 | Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1589 | Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| May 14, 2008 | SC | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| May 14, 2008 | AZ | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 9) |
| May 14, 2008 | LA | HB 1347 | Vouchers Bill | Bill Passed - House (60 - 42) |
| May 14, 2008 | NH | CACR 34 | Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education | Resolution Failed - House (97 - 238) |
| May 14, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46) |
| May 13, 2008 | AZ | HB 2807 | Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws | Veto Override Failed - House (30 - 25) |
| May 13, 2008 | AZ | HB 2807 | Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws | Veto Override Failed - House (30 - 25) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | HF 6 | 2008 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | HF 6 | 2008 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 35) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| May 13, 2008 | LA | HB 1357 | Harboring of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 18) |
| May 13, 2008 | LA | HB 1357 | Harboring of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 18) |
| May 13, 2008 | MO | SB 711 | Property Tax Regulations | Bill Passed - House (147 - 6) |
| May 13, 2008 | LA | HB 1358 | Transporting Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (70 - 17) |
| May 13, 2008 | LA | HB 25 | Verification of Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (83 - 11) |
| May 13, 2008 | LA | HB 25 | Verification of Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (83 - 11) |
| May 13, 2008 | LA | HB 1358 | Transporting Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (70 - 17) |
| May 13, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13) |
| May 12, 2008 | OK | HB 2633 | Religious Expression at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| May 12, 2008 | CA | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 12, 2008 | CA | SB 1313 | Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| May 12, 2008 | AZ | SCR 1042 | Parameters of Marriage | Resolution Passed - House (33 - 25) |
| May 12, 2008 | CA | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 8, 2008 | National | H Amdt 1045 | Undocumented Immigrants' Ineligibility for Certain Financial Assistance | Amendment Adopted - House (391 - 33) |
| May 8, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94) |
| May 8, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 154) |
| May 8, 2008 | National | H Amdt 1045 | Undocumented Immigrants' Ineligibility for Certain Financial Assistance | Amendment Adopted - House (391 - 33) |
| May 8, 2008 | MN | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 49) |
| May 8, 2008 | MI | HB 4163 | Workplace Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 8, 2008 | National | HR 5818 | Assistance to States for Purchasing Foreclosed Homes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 188) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | S Amdt P-4A | Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4719 | Optional Wind Damage Insurance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/29 | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 5/29 | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 5/29 | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 5/29 | SB 51 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| 5/28 | AB 1991 | Development on Half Moon Bay | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| 5/28 | HB 5074 | Ban Smoking in Places of Employment and Public Places with Exceptions for Casinos, Cigar Bars, and Specialty Tobacco Stores | Bill Passed - House (65 - 39) |
| 5/28 | AB 2716 | Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 33) |
| 5/28 | SB 2013 | Hospital Tax for Medicaid Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7) |
| 5/28 | SB 292 | Public Fishing in Overflow Waters | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19) |
| 5/28 | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (41 - 35) |
| 5/28 | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
| 5/28 | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
| 5/28 | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39) |
| 5/28 | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39) |
| 5/27 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57) |
| 5/27 | Meadows Amdt: Access to Contraceptives | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66) | |
| 5/27 | Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67) | |
| 5/27 | Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66) | |
| 5/27 | SB 1440 | Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 5/27 | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (74 - 32) |
| 5/27 | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (74 - 32) |
| 5/27 | HB 6048 | Emergency Contraception for Victims of Sexual Assault | Bill Passed - House (57 - 51) |
| 5/22 | HB 2310 | Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
| 5/22 | HB 477 | English Language for State Business | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| 5/21 | H Amdt 7A | To Reduce Income Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (68 - 52) |
| 5/21 | H Amdt 3A | Cigarette Tax Increase for Employee Health Care | Amendment Tabled - House (67 - 51) |
| 5/21 | H Amdt 4A | Cigarette Tax for Small Business Employee Health Care | Amendment Tabled - House (60 - 58) |
| 5/20 | HR 6074 | Prohibiting Foreign States or Associations from Forming a Group to Control Oil | Bill Passed - House (324 - 84) |
| 5/19 | SB 1476 | Reducing Probation for Good Behavior | Bill Passed - House (35 - 18) |
| 5/19 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| 5/19 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| 5/16 | HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 | Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (136 - 12) |
| 5/16 | HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 | Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 5/15 | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 5/15 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 5/15 | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 5/15 | SB 1713 | Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 5/15 | SB 1589 | Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 5/14 | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| 5/14 | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 9) |
| 5/14 | HB 1347 | Vouchers Bill | Bill Passed - House (60 - 42) |
| 5/14 | CACR 34 | Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education | Resolution Failed - House (97 - 238) |
| 5/14 | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46) |
| 5/13 | HB 2807 | Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws | Veto Override Failed - House (30 - 25) |
| 5/13 | HB 2807 | Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws | Veto Override Failed - House (30 - 25) |
| 5/13 | HF 6 | 2008 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10) |
| 5/13 | HF 6 | 2008 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 35) |
| 5/13 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 5/13 | HB 1357 | Harboring of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 18) |
| 5/13 | HB 1357 | Harboring of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 18) |
| 5/13 | SB 711 | Property Tax Regulations | Bill Passed - House (147 - 6) |
| 5/13 | HB 1358 | Transporting Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (70 - 17) |
| 5/13 | HB 25 | Verification of Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (83 - 11) |
| 5/13 | HB 25 | Verification of Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (83 - 11) |
| 5/13 | HB 1358 | Transporting Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (70 - 17) |
| 5/13 | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16) |
| 5/12 | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| 5/12 | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13) |
| 5/12 | HB 2633 | Religious Expression at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| 5/12 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| 5/12 | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 5/12 | SB 1313 | Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 5/12 | SCR 1042 | Parameters of Marriage | Resolution Passed - House (33 - 25) |
| 5/12 | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 5/08 | H Amdt 1045 | Undocumented Immigrants' Ineligibility for Certain Financial Assistance | Amendment Adopted - House (391 - 33) |
| 5/08 | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94) |
| 5/08 | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 154) |
| 5/08 | H Amdt 1045 | Undocumented Immigrants' Ineligibility for Certain Financial Assistance | Amendment Adopted - House (391 - 33) |
| 5/08 | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 49) |
| 5/08 | HB 4163 | Workplace Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 5/08 | HR 5818 | Assistance to States for Purchasing Foreclosed Homes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 188) |
| 5/07 | S Amdt P-4A | Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24) |
| 5/07 | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| 5/07 | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| 5/07 | S Amdt 4719 | Optional Wind Damage Insurance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74) |