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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 18, 2006 AZ SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 26)
March 1, 2006 VA HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Jan. 26, 2006 VA HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
March 14, 2006 AZ SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 17, 2006 AZ SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Failed - House (25 - 30)
April 20, 2006 AZ SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
April 12, 2006 AZ HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21)
April 11, 2006 AZ HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 1, 2006 AZ HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - House (33 - 22)
May 18, 2006 NJ S 1471 Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Feb. 1, 2006 MS HB 1416 Notification of Public Funds Used in the Media Bill Passed - House (89 - 30)
Feb. 22, 2006 MS HB 1638 Funding for Wireless Communications and Cooperative Data Systems Bill Passed - House (80 - 42)
April 12, 2006 MO HA 9 Eminent Domain Amendment Rejected - House (23 - 129)
March 3, 2006 MD HB 1 Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
March 8, 2006 AZ SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 2, 2006 OK HB 2107 Science Instruction Bill Passed - House (77 - 10)
April 6, 2006 FL A 990241 Stem Cell Research Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73)
Jan. 3, 2006 RI H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13)
Jan. 3, 2006 RI H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
Aug. 31, 2006 CA SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Aug. 29, 2006 CA SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (50 - 28)
March 23, 2006 MD Amendment 953927 Stem Cell Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (46 - 93)
May 11, 2006 NH SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
April 19, 2006 NH SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Resolution Passed - House (198 - 140)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 4-0.01 Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
May 12, 1998 National S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
June 4, 1998 National S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50)
July 27, 2006 National HR 4157 Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (270 - 148)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211)
June 29, 2006 National HR 5672 Commerce Department Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (393 - 23)
Nov. 16, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
Nov. 9, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19)
Sept. 28, 2006 National HR 5825 Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act Bill Passed - House (232 - 191)
April 10, 2003 National S 151 Enhance AMBER Alert bill Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25)
July 11, 2006 National H Amdt 1179 Online Gambling Ban Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 297)
March 7, 2006 National S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
Nov. 22, 2003 National S 877 Reduction of SPAM bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 5)
Feb. 1, 1996 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (414 - 16)
Feb. 1, 1996 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
Oct. 15, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
Oct. 14, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
May 31, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
Feb. 23, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
March 1, 2007 IL HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
Feb. 22, 2007 IA SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Feb. 14, 2007 IA SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Feb. 5, 2007 VA Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
Sept. 25, 2003 National HR 3161 Do-Not-Call-Registry bill Bill Passed - House (412 - 8)
Feb. 27, 2003 National HR 534 Cloning of Humans bill Bill Passed - House (241 - 155)
March 29, 2007 DE SB 5 Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
June 8, 2006 National HR 5252 COPE Bill of 2006 Bill Passed - House (321 - 101)
April 27, 2007 MN SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
March 20, 2007 GA SB 148 Umbilical Cord Blood and Stem Cell Banks Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15)
April 11, 2007 WA Sub SB 5037 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
June 6, 2007 National HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
May 2, 2007 IL HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
April 9, 2007 WA HB 1528 Electronic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
May 9, 2007 WI AB 207 Telecommunication Regulation Bill Passed - House (66 - 28)
May 4, 2007 MN SF 646 Cyber-Bullying Bill Passed - House (96 - 35)
May 21, 2007 LA HB 99 Cellular Phone Use While Driving Bill Failed - House (43 - 48)
Feb. 13, 2007 OR HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulations Bill Passed - House (41 - 17)
June 4, 2007 OR HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
June 18, 2007 OR SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
June 14, 2007 OR HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
June 21, 2007 OR HB 2801 Exploration of Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
June 20, 2007 OR SB 329 Oregon Health Fund Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
April 19, 2007 IA SF 596 Electronic Downloads Tax Creation and Regulation Adjustments for Cigarette Retailers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Oct. 16, 2007 National HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19)
July 26, 2007 National HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
Aug. 4, 2007 National S 1927 Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed - House (227 - 183)
Aug. 3, 2007 National S 1927 Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 28)
March 16, 1994 National HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
March 16, 1994 National HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
May 19, 1993 National HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - House (243 - 167)
May 19, 1993 National HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - House (243 - 167)
Aug. 30, 2007 CA SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Aug. 27, 2007 CA SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 7)
Nov. 22, 1993 National H Amdt 416 Penny Amendment to the Government Reform and Savings Act of 1993 Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219)
Nov. 22, 1993 National H Amdt 416 Penny Amendment to the Government Reform and Savings Act of 1993 Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219)
July 11, 2006 National HR 4411 Internet Gambling Bill Bill Passed - House (317 - 93)
Oct. 16, 2007 National HR 2102 Reporter's Source Confidentiality Guidelines Bill Passed - House (398 - 21)
Nov. 15, 2007 National HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 189)
June 21, 2007 National HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
Jan. 23, 2008 MA H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
Jan. 29, 2008 NM SB 23 Authorizing Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S 2248 FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S Amdt 3907 Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S Amdt 3910 FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41)
Feb. 18, 2008 UT HB 295 Policies for Electronic Devices at School Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
Feb. 19, 2008 GA SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 6)
Feb. 27, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Feb. 12, 2008 NM HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (51 - 10)
April 8, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/18 SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 26)
3/01 HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
1/26 HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
3/14 SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/17 SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Failed - House (25 - 30)
4/20 SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
4/12 HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21)
4/11 HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/01 HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - House (33 - 22)
5/18 S 1471 Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
2/01 HB 1416 Notification of Public Funds Used in the Media Bill Passed - House (89 - 30)
2/22 HB 1638 Funding for Wireless Communications and Cooperative Data Systems Bill Passed - House (80 - 42)
4/12 HA 9 Eminent Domain Amendment Rejected - House (23 - 129)
3/03 HB 1 Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
3/08 SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/02 HB 2107 Science Instruction Bill Passed - House (77 - 10)
4/06 A 990241 Stem Cell Research Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73)
1/03 H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13)
1/03 H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
8/31 SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
8/29 SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (50 - 28)
3/23 Amendment 953927 Stem Cell Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (46 - 93)
5/11 SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
4/19 SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Resolution Passed - House (198 - 140)
4/11 Amdt Item 4-0.01 Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
5/12 S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
6/04 S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50)
7/27 HR 4157 Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (270 - 148)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211)
6/29 HR 5672 Commerce Department Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (393 - 23)
11/16 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
11/09 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19)
9/28 HR 5825 Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act Bill Passed - House (232 - 191)
4/10 S 151 Enhance AMBER Alert bill Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25)
7/11 H Amdt 1179 Online Gambling Ban Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 297)
3/07 S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
11/22 S 877 Reduction of SPAM bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 5)
2/01 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (414 - 16)
2/01 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
10/15 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
10/14 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
5/31 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
2/23 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
3/01 HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
2/22 SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
2/14 SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
2/05 Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
9/25 HR 3161 Do-Not-Call-Registry bill Bill Passed - House (412 - 8)
2/27 HR 534 Cloning of Humans bill Bill Passed - House (241 - 155)
3/29 SB 5 Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
6/08 HR 5252 COPE Bill of 2006 Bill Passed - House (321 - 101)
4/27 SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
3/20 SB 148 Umbilical Cord Blood and Stem Cell Banks Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15)
4/11 Sub SB 5037 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
6/06 HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
5/02 HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
4/09 HB 1528 Electronic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
5/09 AB 207 Telecommunication Regulation Bill Passed - House (66 - 28)
5/04 SF 646 Cyber-Bullying Bill Passed - House (96 - 35)
5/21 HB 99 Cellular Phone Use While Driving Bill Failed - House (43 - 48)
2/13 HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulations Bill Passed - House (41 - 17)
6/04 HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
6/18 SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
6/14 HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
6/21 HB 2801 Exploration of Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
6/20 SB 329 Oregon Health Fund Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
4/19 SF 596 Electronic Downloads Tax Creation and Regulation Adjustments for Cigarette Retailers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
10/16 HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19)
7/26 HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
8/04 S 1927 Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed - House (227 - 183)
8/03 S 1927 Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 28)
3/16 HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
3/16 HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
5/19 HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - House (243 - 167)
5/19 HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - House (243 - 167)
8/30 SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
8/27 SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 7)
11/22 H Amdt 416 Penny Amendment to the Government Reform and Savings Act of 1993 Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219)
11/22 H Amdt 416 Penny Amendment to the Government Reform and Savings Act of 1993 Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219)
7/11 HR 4411 Internet Gambling Bill Bill Passed - House (317 - 93)
10/16 HR 2102 Reporter's Source Confidentiality Guidelines Bill Passed - House (398 - 21)
11/15 HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 189)
6/21 HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
1/23 H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
1/29 SB 23 Authorizing Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
2/12 S 2248 FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
2/12 S Amdt 3907 Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67)
2/12 S Amdt 3910 FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41)
2/18 HB 295 Policies for Electronic Devices at School Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
2/19 SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
2/19 SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
2/13 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 6)
2/27 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
2/12 HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 23)
2/04 HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (51 - 10)
4/08 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)

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