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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 25, 2008 | NE | LB 1063 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 28) |
| March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 24, 2008 | MS | HB 859 | Salary Adjustments for State Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3) |
| March 24, 2008 | MS | HB 859 | Salary Adjustments for State Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3) |
| March 24, 2008 | CO | HB 1276 | Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 24, 2008 | MD | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 24, 2008 | CO | HB 1276 | Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 24, 2008 | IA | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SA 1051 to SB 527 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 15) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 527 | Mandatory Abortion Counseling for Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 14) |
| March 19, 2008 | CO | HB 1189 | State Employee Strike Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2) |
| March 19, 2008 | KS | SB 541 | Expanding Children's Health Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| March 19, 2008 | ID | S 1447 | Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| March 19, 2008 | ID | S 1447 | Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| March 19, 2008 | KS | SB 409 | Three-Strikes Sentencing for Theft | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
| March 18, 2008 | KS | Hensley Amnd. | Premium Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27) |
| March 18, 2008 | MN | Scheid Amnd. | Insurance Payouts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30) |
| March 18, 2008 | KS | Kelly Amnd. | Premium Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27) |
| March 18, 2008 | MD | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 18, 2008 | CO | HB 1297 | Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| March 17, 2008 | SD | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| March 17, 2008 | ID | HCR 49 | State Employee Pay Raise | Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| March 14, 2008 | MD | SB 461 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21) |
| March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4309 | Restriction of Federal Assistance Based on Compliance with Federal Immigration Laws | Amendment Tabled - Senate (58 - 40) |
| March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4347 | Earmark Moratorium | Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 71) |
| March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4231 | Immigration Enforcement and Border Fence Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 37) |
| March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4259 | Immigration Enforcement and Employer Sanctions Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 45) |
| March 13, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | HB 600 | State Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | HB 600 | State Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| March 12, 2008 | MI | SB 120 | Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| March 12, 2008 | MD | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| March 12, 2008 | OK | SB 1407 | Restricting Childhood Vaccine Mercury Levels | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | SB 120 | Booster Seat Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| March 12, 2008 | IA | SF 2355 | Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| March 12, 2008 | IA | SF 2355 | Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| March 11, 2008 | WA | SB 6809 | Working Family Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| March 10, 2008 | CO | HJR 1009 | Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| March 10, 2008 | IA | HF 2359 | Veterans Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| March 7, 2008 | WA | HB 2476 | Tribal Police Jurisdiction | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| March 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| March 6, 2008 | AZ | HB 2043 | State Government Hiring Freeze | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 6, 2008 | VA | HB 12 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 2) |
| March 6, 2008 | MO | SB 778 | HPV Immunization | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| March 6, 2008 | FL | SB 1852 | Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| March 6, 2008 | MO | SB 778 | HPV Immunization | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| March 6, 2008 | GA | SB 449 | Limiting Agritourism Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
| March 5, 2008 | WY | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| March 5, 2008 | WA | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| March 4, 2008 | UT | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| March 4, 2008 | UT | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| March 4, 2008 | UT | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| March 4, 2008 | WA | HB 3104 | Domestic Partnership Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| March 4, 2008 | WA | HB 3104 | Domestic Partnership Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| March 4, 2008 | WI | SB 537 | John Doe Proceedings | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| March 4, 2008 | HI | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
| March 3, 2008 | CO | SB 164 | Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| March 3, 2008 | UT | SB 299 | Domestic Partnership Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| March 3, 2008 | NJ | S 786 | Extending Family Leave Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Feb. 29, 2008 | UT | HB 75 | State Inventory of Government Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6) |
| Feb. 29, 2008 | GA | SB 506 | Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| Feb. 29, 2008 | ID | S 1393 | Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | MN | GN Molnau | Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner | Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | CO | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | AB 377 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | MS | SB 2998 | Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | MS | SB 2998 | Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | CO | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| Feb. 26, 2008 | National | S Amdt 3896 | Prohibiting the Funds in S 1200 from Being Used for Abortions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 42) |
| Feb. 26, 2008 | CO | SB 139 | Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| Feb. 26, 2008 | MS | SB 2550 | Covenant Marriage Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13) |
| Feb. 26, 2008 | MS | SB 2550 | Covenant Marriage Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13) |
| Feb. 26, 2008 | SD | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/25 | LB 1063 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 28) |
| 3/25 | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 3/24 | HB 859 | Salary Adjustments for State Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3) |
| 3/24 | HB 859 | Salary Adjustments for State Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3) |
| 3/24 | HB 1276 | Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/24 | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| 3/24 | HB 1276 | Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/24 | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 3/20 | SA 1051 to SB 527 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 15) |
| 3/20 | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| 3/20 | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| 3/20 | SB 527 | Mandatory Abortion Counseling for Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 14) |
| 3/19 | HB 1189 | State Employee Strike Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2) |
| 3/19 | SB 541 | Expanding Children's Health Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| 3/19 | S 1447 | Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 3/19 | S 1447 | Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 3/19 | SB 409 | Three-Strikes Sentencing for Theft | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
| 3/18 | Hensley Amnd. | Premium Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27) |
| 3/18 | Scheid Amnd. | Insurance Payouts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30) |
| 3/18 | Kelly Amnd. | Premium Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27) |
| 3/18 | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/18 | HB 1297 | Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 3/17 | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 3/17 | HCR 49 | State Employee Pay Raise | Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 3/14 | SB 461 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21) |
| 3/13 | S Amdt 4309 | Restriction of Federal Assistance Based on Compliance with Federal Immigration Laws | Amendment Tabled - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 3/13 | S Amdt 4347 | Earmark Moratorium | Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 71) |
| 3/13 | S Amdt 4231 | Immigration Enforcement and Border Fence Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 37) |
| 3/13 | S Amdt 4259 | Immigration Enforcement and Employer Sanctions Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 45) |
| 3/13 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 3/12 | HB 600 | State Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| 3/12 | HB 600 | State Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| 3/12 | SB 120 | Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| 3/12 | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| 3/12 | SB 1407 | Restricting Childhood Vaccine Mercury Levels | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| 3/12 | SB 120 | Booster Seat Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 3/12 | SF 2355 | Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| 3/12 | SF 2355 | Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| 3/11 | SB 6809 | Working Family Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| 3/10 | HJR 1009 | Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 3/10 | HF 2359 | Veterans Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 3/07 | HB 2476 | Tribal Police Jurisdiction | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| 3/06 | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 3/06 | HB 2043 | State Government Hiring Freeze | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 3/06 | HB 12 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 2) |
| 3/06 | SB 778 | HPV Immunization | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| 3/06 | SB 1852 | Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 3/06 | SB 778 | HPV Immunization | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| 3/06 | SB 449 | Limiting Agritourism Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
| 3/05 | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| 3/05 | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 3/04 | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| 3/04 | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| 3/04 | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| 3/04 | HB 3104 | Domestic Partnership Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 3/04 | HB 3104 | Domestic Partnership Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 3/04 | SB 537 | John Doe Proceedings | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 3/04 | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
| 3/03 | SB 164 | Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 3/03 | SB 299 | Domestic Partnership Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 3/03 | S 786 | Extending Family Leave Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 2/29 | HB 75 | State Inventory of Government Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6) |
| 2/29 | SB 506 | Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| 2/29 | S 1393 | Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 2/28 | GN Molnau | Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner | Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44) |
| 2/28 | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 2/28 | AB 377 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| 2/27 | SB 2998 | Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 2/27 | SB 2998 | Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 2/27 | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| 2/26 | S Amdt 3896 | Prohibiting the Funds in S 1200 from Being Used for Abortions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 42) |
| 2/26 | SB 139 | Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 2/26 | SB 2550 | Covenant Marriage Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13) |
| 2/26 | SB 2550 | Covenant Marriage Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13) |
| 2/26 | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |