Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 4, 2008 GA HB 1281 Restricting Local Outdoor Water Regulations Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
March 4, 2008 AZ HB 2263 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
March 4, 2008 KY HB 186 Dental Health Certificate Requirement for School Enrollment Bill Passed - House (91 - 4)
March 3, 2008 WY HB 73 Increasing DUI Penalties Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
March 3, 2008 AZ HB 2769 Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
March 3, 2008 CO SB 164 Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 29, 2008 WA SB 5261 Health Insurance Rate Oversight Bill Passed - House (68 - 26)
Feb. 29, 2008 GA SB 506 Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2008 IN SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Feb. 28, 2008 KS SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Feb. 28, 2008 CO SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1069 Prohibiting Motor Vehicles on Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Feb. 27, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 GA SB 433 Permitting Destination Cancer Hospitals Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1280 Extending Water Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1107 Energy Efficiency Requirements Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1228 Insurance Company Regulations Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
Feb. 27, 2008 MS SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN Amnd. 2 Permitting Lawsuits for Injuries Caused by Hazardous Substances Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 45)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI SB 178 Insurance Coverage for Autism Treatment Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2008 ID H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2008 National S 1200 Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 10)
Feb. 25, 2008 MO HB 1406 Establishment of Drunk Driving Memorial Sign Program Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
Feb. 25, 2008 MS HB 729 Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 52)
Feb. 25, 2008 WY SF 46 Water Discharge from Methane Gas Wells Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
Feb. 22, 2008 NE LB 395 Statewide Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS HB 1013 Altering Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility and Increasing Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - House (75 - 41)
Feb. 21, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (93 - 5)
Feb. 20, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Feb. 20, 2008 KY HB 396 HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
Feb. 20, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Feb. 19, 2008 KS SB 327 Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants Bill Passed - House (77 - 45)
Feb. 19, 2008 WA HB 2815 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (64 - 31)
Feb. 19, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
Feb. 18, 2008 CO SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - House (41 - 23)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 6777 Halting Mining on Maury Island Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
Feb. 14, 2008 NE AM 1736 Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13)
Feb. 14, 2008 MN HF 2285 Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 46)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/04 HB 1281 Restricting Local Outdoor Water Regulations Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
3/04 HB 2263 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
3/04 HB 186 Dental Health Certificate Requirement for School Enrollment Bill Passed - House (91 - 4)
3/03 HB 73 Increasing DUI Penalties Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
3/03 HB 2769 Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
3/03 SB 164 Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/29 SB 5261 Health Insurance Rate Oversight Bill Passed - House (68 - 26)
2/29 SB 506 Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
2/28 A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
2/28 AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
2/28 SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
2/28 AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
2/28 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
2/28 SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
2/28 SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
2/27 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/27 HB 1069 Prohibiting Motor Vehicles on Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
2/27 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
2/27 HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
2/27 SB 433 Permitting Destination Cancer Hospitals Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
2/27 HB 1280 Extending Water Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
2/27 HB 1107 Energy Efficiency Requirements Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
2/27 HB 1228 Insurance Company Regulations Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
2/27 SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
2/26 Amnd. 2 Permitting Lawsuits for Injuries Caused by Hazardous Substances Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 45)
2/26 SB 178 Insurance Coverage for Autism Treatment Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
2/26 H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
2/26 S 1200 Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 10)
2/25 HB 1406 Establishment of Drunk Driving Memorial Sign Program Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
2/25 HB 729 Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 52)
2/25 SF 46 Water Discharge from Methane Gas Wells Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
2/22 LB 395 Statewide Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
2/21 HB 1013 Altering Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility and Increasing Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - House (75 - 41)
2/21 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (93 - 5)
2/20 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
2/20 HB 396 HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
2/20 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
2/19 SB 327 Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants Bill Passed - House (77 - 45)
2/19 HB 2815 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (64 - 31)
2/19 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
2/18 SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - House (41 - 23)
2/18 SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
2/18 SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
2/18 SB 6777 Halting Mining on Maury Island Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
2/14 AM 1736 Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13)
2/14 HF 2285 Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 46)

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