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
Aug. 3, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41)
March 23, 2011 KS HB 2035 Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Aug. 2, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
July 23, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
Sept. 19, 1995 National HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
April 1, 2008 CO SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
Aug. 28, 2006 CA AB 3029 CalWorks and Food Stamp Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
April 7, 2008 IA HF 2539 Health Care Expansion Plan Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 6)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1208 Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
June 19, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2340 Prohibiting Children from Riding in Pickup Truck Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
Aug. 11, 2008 CA AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2007 WY HB 95 Quality Childcare Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
Aug. 19, 2008 NM SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
Oct. 27, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
Jan. 29, 2009 National HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32)
April 6, 2009 ND HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
June 3, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
April 20, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (86 - 45)
May 17, 2007 CT HB 5656 Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 67)
March 5, 2007 NM SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
May 25, 2007 OR HB 2650 School Food Nutritional Standards Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
Feb. 22, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
March 24, 2004 National HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
June 7, 2007 CA AB 8 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - House (47 - 32)
July 12, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - House (342 - 67)
June 14, 2007 OR HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
Jan. 9, 2006 NJ S 2083 Domestic Partner Surviving Rights Bill Passed - House (67 - 8)
May 4, 2006 LA HB 1010 Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 31)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 7 Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children’s Health and Safety Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Oct. 23, 1997 National HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 198)
April 3, 2007 OR HB 2650 School Food Nutritional Standards Bill Passed - House (46 - 11)
April 24, 2006 CT Sub SB 4 Birth Information for Adult Adoptees Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
April 6, 2006 MO HJR 39 Prayer in Public Schools Joint Resolution Passed - House (134 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2006 ID S 1337 Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
March 8, 2007 AZ HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
Feb. 14, 2006 ID S 1327 Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
Feb. 7, 2006 SD HB 1217 Abstinence-Only Sex Education Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
Feb. 1, 2011 IA HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
March 29, 2006 OH Am Sub SB 17 Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures Bill Passed - House (77 - 18)
Feb. 10, 2000 National HR 6 Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples Bill Passed - House (268 - 158)
Feb. 9, 2011 WY HB 256 Tenant Rights in Domestic and Sexual Violence Cases Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
April 28, 2004 National HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Jan. 25, 2006 VA SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
July 12, 2006 NC SB 1289 Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Prohibited Bill Passed - House (89 - 22)
July 19, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
April 17, 2007 GA SCS HB 340 Children’s Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
May 15, 2006 LA HB 1379 Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children Bill Passed - House (58 - 35)
May 16, 2007 WI AB 30 Felon Employment in Educational Agencies Bill Passed - House (64 - 29)
March 16, 2006 AZ SB 1430 Children, Child Protective Services Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
July 28, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - House (275 - 152)
June 8, 2006 NC SB 1289 Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Prohibited Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
March 7, 2011 WA HB 1166 Preventing Alcohol Poisoning Deaths Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
May 16, 2002 National HR 4737 Temporary Aid to Needy Families Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
Nov. 1, 2007 National HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 30)
Oct. 25, 2007 National HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - House (265 - 142)
Aug. 22, 2006 CA AB 2108 Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Sept. 26, 1998 National HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
April 21, 1994 National HR 4092 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Bill Passed - House (285 - 141)
Feb. 6, 2006 ID HJR 2 Marriage Amendment Ballot Question Bill Passed - House (53 - 17)
July 18, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
Jan. 22, 2008 SD SB 26 State Regulation of Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
May 25, 2006 CA AB 2108 Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements Bill Passed - House (44 - 30)
Jan. 21, 2008 VA HB 188 HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
May 23, 2011 PA HB 815 Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors Bill Passed - House (178 - 20)
Feb. 18, 2008 CO SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - House (41 - 23)
Feb. 15, 2006 ID HJR 2 Marriage Amendment Ballot Question Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Jan. 28, 2008 CO SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 29, 2008 GA HB 908 Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions Bill Passed - House (141 - 29)
April 20, 2006 OR SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
Feb. 7, 2008 NH SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
Feb. 13, 2003 National HR 4 Welfare Reform bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 192)
Feb. 2, 2008 NM SB 68 Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
Feb. 12, 2008 MI SB 415 HPV Information for Schools Bill Passed - House (94 - 12)
Aug. 24, 2006 CA AB 2205 Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Feb. 12, 2008 MI HB 5322 HPV Information for Schools Bill Passed - House (90 - 17)
Feb. 15, 2008 WA HB 3104 Domestic Partnership Rights Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
April 5, 2006 CO HB 1375 Public School Finance Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 24, 1995 National HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (234 - 199)
March 4, 2008 WA HB 3104 Domestic Partnership Rights Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
May 31, 2006 CA AB 2205 Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
Feb. 20, 2008 KY HB 396 HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
Feb. 14, 2008 KY HB 55 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
July 19, 2006 NC HB 2699 Early Childhood Vision Care Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
Feb. 22, 2008 MD SB 243 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
July 30, 1996 National HR 2391 Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
March 3, 2008 NJ S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Feb. 26, 2008 IA SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
April 7, 2006 AR SB 24 Additional Education Funding Act Bill Passed - House (83 - 8)
Feb. 29, 2008 GA SB 506 Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
Nov. 19, 1993 National HR 3351 Youth Offenders Alternative Punishment Bill Passed - House (336 - 82)
Feb. 1, 2006 CO HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
March 4, 2008 AZ HB 2263 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
Date No. Title Outcome
8/03 HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41)
3/23 HB 2035 Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
8/02 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
7/23 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
9/19 HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
4/01 SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
8/28 AB 3029 CalWorks and Food Stamp Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
4/07 HF 2539 Health Care Expansion Plan Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 6)
5/02 HB 1208 Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
6/19 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
7/17 HB 2340 Prohibiting Children from Riding in Pickup Truck Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
8/11 AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
2/26 HB 95 Quality Childcare Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
8/18 SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
8/19 SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
10/27 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
1/29 HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32)
4/06 HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
6/03 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
4/20 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (86 - 45)
5/17 HB 5656 Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 67)
3/05 SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
5/25 HB 2650 School Food Nutritional Standards Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
2/22 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
3/24 HR 3873 Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act Bill Passed - House (419 - 5)
6/07 AB 8 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - House (47 - 32)
7/12 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - House (342 - 67)
6/14 HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
1/09 S 2083 Domestic Partner Surviving Rights Bill Passed - House (67 - 8)
5/04 HB 1010 Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 31)
9/10 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
6/07 SB 7 Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children’s Health and Safety Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
10/23 HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 198)
4/03 HB 2650 School Food Nutritional Standards Bill Passed - House (46 - 11)
4/24 Sub SB 4 Birth Information for Adult Adoptees Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
4/06 HJR 39 Prayer in Public Schools Joint Resolution Passed - House (134 - 19)
2/28 S 1337 Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
3/08 HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
2/14 S 1327 Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/07 SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
2/07 HB 1217 Abstinence-Only Sex Education Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
2/01 HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
3/29 Am Sub SB 17 Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures Bill Passed - House (77 - 18)
2/10 HR 6 Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples Bill Passed - House (268 - 158)
2/09 HB 256 Tenant Rights in Domestic and Sexual Violence Cases Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
4/28 HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
6/07 SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
1/25 SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
7/12 SB 1289 Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Prohibited Bill Passed - House (89 - 22)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
4/17 SCS HB 340 Children’s Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
5/15 HB 1379 Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children Bill Passed - House (58 - 35)
5/16 AB 30 Felon Employment in Educational Agencies Bill Passed - House (64 - 29)
3/16 SB 1430 Children, Child Protective Services Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
7/28 HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - House (275 - 152)
6/08 SB 1289 Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Prohibited Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
3/07 HB 1166 Preventing Alcohol Poisoning Deaths Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
5/16 HR 4737 Temporary Aid to Needy Families Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
11/01 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 30)
10/25 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - House (265 - 142)
8/22 AB 2108 Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
9/26 HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
4/21 HR 4092 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Bill Passed - House (285 - 141)
2/06 HJR 2 Marriage Amendment Ballot Question Bill Passed - House (53 - 17)
7/18 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
1/22 SB 26 State Regulation of Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
5/25 AB 2108 Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements Bill Passed - House (44 - 30)
1/21 HB 188 HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
5/23 HB 815 Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors Bill Passed - House (178 - 20)
2/18 SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - House (41 - 23)
2/15 HJR 2 Marriage Amendment Ballot Question Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
1/28 SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/29 HB 908 Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions Bill Passed - House (141 - 29)
4/20 SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
2/07 SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
2/13 HR 4 Welfare Reform bill Bill Passed - House (230 - 192)
2/02 SB 68 Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
2/12 SB 415 HPV Information for Schools Bill Passed - House (94 - 12)
8/24 AB 2205 Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
2/12 HB 5322 HPV Information for Schools Bill Passed - House (90 - 17)
2/15 HB 3104 Domestic Partnership Rights Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
4/05 HB 1375 Public School Finance Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/24 HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (234 - 199)
3/04 HB 3104 Domestic Partnership Rights Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
2/18 SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
5/31 AB 2205 Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
2/20 HB 396 HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
2/14 HB 55 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
7/19 HB 2699 Early Childhood Vision Care Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
2/22 SB 243 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
2/26 SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
7/30 HR 2391 Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
3/03 S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
2/26 SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
4/07 SB 24 Additional Education Funding Act Bill Passed - House (83 - 8)
2/29 SB 506 Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
11/19 HR 3351 Youth Offenders Alternative Punishment Bill Passed - House (336 - 82)
2/01 HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
3/04 HB 2263 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)

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