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. 19, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | VA | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | VA | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | VA | SB 1161 | Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Feb. 4, 2009 | VA | HB 1671 | "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| Feb. 3, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| July 9, 2008 | VA | SB 6009 | Transportation Taxes | Bill Failed - House (39 - 59) |
| June 25, 2008 | VA | SB 6009 | Transportation Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| March 13, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| March 13, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | VA | HB 11 | Property Tax Exemptions | Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (93 - 5) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (93 - 5) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 501 | Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 298 | Banning Smoking Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 202 | Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Jan. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | Governor's Recommendation: Restaurant Smoking Ban | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 59) | |
| Feb. 21, 2007 | VA | H Sub | Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children | Bill Passed - House (89 - 9) |
| Feb. 21, 2007 | VA | H Sub to Sub SB 1416 | Regulation of Electric Utilities | Bill Passed - House (82 - 16) |
| Feb. 20, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 1778 | Traffic Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| Feb. 16, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1204 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | VA | S Sub | Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 6, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 3202 | Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 6, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 1778 | Traffic Light Cameras | Bill Passed - House (63 - 35) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2035 | HPV Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | SB 1161 | Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2035 | HPV Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| Feb. 2, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 905 | Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| Feb. 1, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2623 | Denying In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| Jan. 30, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 1727 | Participation in School Clubs | Bill Passed - House (82 - 15) |
| Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | SB 1204 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | HB 1883 | Abortion Clinic Licensure | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| April 27, 2006 | VA | SB 5013 | Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | HB 673 | Commonwealth Transportation Board | Veto Override Failed - House (58 - 40) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | HB 493 | High School Baccalaureate Ceremonies | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70) | |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) | |
| April 11, 2006 | VA | Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
| April 11, 2006 | VA | Amdt Item 135-4h | Direct Aid To Public Education | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
| March 8, 2006 | VA | SB 262 | Virginia Energy Plan | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | VA | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | VA | Sub SB 677 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | VA | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | VA | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 262 | College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | VA | HB 1050 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (76 - 23) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/19 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 2/09 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 2/05 | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| 2/05 | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| 2/05 | SB 1161 | Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 2/04 | HB 1671 | "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| 2/03 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 7/09 | SB 6009 | Transportation Taxes | Bill Failed - House (39 - 59) |
| 6/25 | SB 6009 | Transportation Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 3/13 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 3/13 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 2/27 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/27 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/25 | HB 11 | Property Tax Exemptions | Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 2/21 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (93 - 5) |
| 2/21 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (93 - 5) |
| 2/05 | SB 501 | Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 2/05 | SB 298 | Banning Smoking Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 2/05 | SB 202 | Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 1/21 | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| 4/04 | Governor's Recommendation: Restaurant Smoking Ban | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 59) | |
| 2/21 | H Sub | Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children | Bill Passed - House (89 - 9) |
| 2/21 | H Sub to Sub SB 1416 | Regulation of Electric Utilities | Bill Passed - House (82 - 16) |
| 2/20 | Sub HB 1778 | Traffic Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 2/16 | Sub SB 1204 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 2/14 | S Sub | Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 2/06 | Sub HB 3202 | Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| 2/06 | Sub HB 1778 | Traffic Light Cameras | Bill Passed - House (63 - 35) |
| 2/05 | Sub HB 2035 | HPV Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| 2/05 | SB 1161 | Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 2/05 | Sub HB 2035 | HPV Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| 2/02 | Sub SB 905 | Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 2/01 | Sub HB 2623 | Denying In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| 1/30 | Sub HB 1727 | Participation in School Clubs | Bill Passed - House (82 - 15) |
| 1/23 | SB 1204 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 1/23 | HB 1883 | Abortion Clinic Licensure | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| 4/27 | SB 5013 | Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| 4/19 | HB 673 | Commonwealth Transportation Board | Veto Override Failed - House (58 - 40) |
| 4/19 | HB 493 | High School Baccalaureate Ceremonies | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
| 4/19 | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70) | |
| 4/19 | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) | |
| 4/11 | Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
| 4/11 | Amdt Item 135-4h | Direct Aid To Public Education | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34) |
| 3/08 | SB 262 | Virginia Energy Plan | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| 2/20 | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 2/14 | Sub SB 677 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
| 2/13 | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 2/08 | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| 2/02 | Sub HB 262 | College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| 2/02 | HB 1050 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (76 - 23) |