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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 12, 2008 | National | S Amdt 3910 | FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41) |
| Feb. 12, 2008 | National | S 2248 | FISA Amendments Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| Feb. 12, 2008 | National | S 2248 | FISA Amendments Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| Feb. 12, 2008 | VA | SB 476 | Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Feb. 11, 2008 | OR | SB 1080 | Driver's License Residency Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| Feb. 11, 2008 | VA | SB 436 | Concealed Weapons in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| Feb. 8, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| Feb. 8, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | KY | SB 40 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | GA | SB 350 | Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1130 | Removing Wiretap Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (43 - 20) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | UT | SB 75 | Prohibiting Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | UT | SB 75 | Prohibiting Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | SD | SB 164 | Right to Obtain Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | MI | SB 962 | Prohibiting Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1130 | Removing Wiretap Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (43 - 20) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 202 | Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 298 | Banning Smoking Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 501 | Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Feb. 4, 2008 | UT | HR 1 | North American Union Withdrawal | Resolution Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| Feb. 4, 2008 | SD | HB 1261 | Firearm Possession on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (63 - 3) |
| Feb. 2, 2008 | NM | SB 68 | Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | GA | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (111 - 58) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | GA | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (111 - 58) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | SC | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| Jan. 30, 2008 | NH | HB 847 | Speed Limitations for Vessels Operating on Water | Bill Passed - House (236 - 111) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | IN | SB 3 | Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | GA | HB 908 | Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (141 - 29) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | GA | HB 908 | Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (141 - 29) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | IN | SB 335 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| Jan. 28, 2008 | GA | HB 301 | Increasing Dogfighting Penalties | Bill Passed - House (165 - 6) |
| Jan. 24, 2008 | IN | SB 3 | Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 24) |
| Jan. 23, 2008 | National | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
| Jan. 23, 2008 | MA | H 4477 | Cell Phone Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (107 - 47) |
| Jan. 23, 2008 | WI | AB 377 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| Jan. 23, 2008 | WI | AB 377 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| Jan. 22, 2008 | MI | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Jan. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Jan. 17, 2008 | GA | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15) |
| Jan. 16, 2008 | TN | SB 23 | Allowing Guns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| Jan. 15, 2008 | NE | LB 253 | Repealing Motorcycle Helmet Law | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 25) |
| Jan. 15, 2008 | WI | AB 363 | Limiting the Scope of Citizen-Proposed Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (48 - 44) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | S 176 | Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | S 176 | Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death | Bill Passed - House (41 - 32) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/12 | S Amdt 3910 | FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41) |
| 2/12 | S 2248 | FISA Amendments Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| 2/12 | S 2248 | FISA Amendments Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| 2/12 | SB 476 | Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 2/11 | SB 1080 | Driver's License Residency Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| 2/11 | SB 436 | Concealed Weapons in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 2/08 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| 2/08 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| 2/07 | SB 40 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| 2/07 | SB 350 | Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
| 2/06 | HB 1130 | Removing Wiretap Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (43 - 20) |
| 2/06 | SB 75 | Prohibiting Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| 2/06 | SB 75 | Prohibiting Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| 2/06 | SB 164 | Right to Obtain Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22) |
| 2/06 | SB 962 | Prohibiting Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| 2/06 | HB 1130 | Removing Wiretap Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (43 - 20) |
| 2/05 | SB 202 | Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 2/05 | SB 298 | Banning Smoking Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 2/05 | SB 501 | Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 2/04 | HR 1 | North American Union Withdrawal | Resolution Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| 2/04 | HB 1261 | Firearm Possession on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (63 - 3) |
| 2/02 | SB 68 | Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| 1/31 | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (111 - 58) |
| 1/31 | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (111 - 58) |
| 1/31 | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| 1/30 | HB 847 | Speed Limitations for Vessels Operating on Water | Bill Passed - House (236 - 111) |
| 1/29 | SB 3 | Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| 1/29 | HB 908 | Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (141 - 29) |
| 1/29 | HB 908 | Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (141 - 29) |
| 1/29 | SB 335 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| 1/28 | HB 301 | Increasing Dogfighting Penalties | Bill Passed - House (165 - 6) |
| 1/24 | SB 3 | Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 24) |
| 1/23 | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
| 1/23 | H 4477 | Cell Phone Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (107 - 47) |
| 1/23 | AB 377 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| 1/23 | AB 377 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| 1/22 | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 1/21 | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| 1/17 | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15) |
| 1/16 | SB 23 | Allowing Guns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| 1/15 | LB 253 | Repealing Motorcycle Helmet Law | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 25) |
| 1/15 | AB 363 | Limiting the Scope of Citizen-Proposed Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (48 - 44) |
| 1/07 | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| 1/07 | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| 1/07 | S 176 | Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| 1/07 | S 176 | Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death | Bill Passed - House (41 - 32) |
| 1/07 | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| 1/07 | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |