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 11, 2009 UT SB 208 Posting Public Notices Online Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
June 11, 2008 LA SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
April 23, 2008 OK SB 163 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
March 20, 2007 National S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
May 12, 2008 MN SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Bill Passed - House (86 - 46)
March 5, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 24, 2008 MS HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
Feb. 25, 2008 VA HB 933 "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
April 22, 2009 OK HB 1603 Tort Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
May 20, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
Feb. 22, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
March 26, 2008 MS SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - House (95 - 25)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1082 Sealing Criminal Records Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Oct. 20, 2005 National HR 3058 Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 1)
April 6, 2009 OR SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - House (50 - 8)
June 7, 2007 NH HB 143 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Sept. 29, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
July 19, 2006 National HR 2389 Pledge Protection Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (260 - 167)
Feb. 17, 2005 National S 5 Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (279 - 149)
June 5, 2007 CT Sub SB 938 Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill Passed - House (94 - 56)
Feb. 10, 2005 National S 5 Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 26)
May 23, 2007 CT Sub SB 938 Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 25, 2007 NV AB 510 Parole Credit Act Bill Passed - House (35 - 4)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
April 20, 2009 NV AB 495 Removing Medical Malpractice Award Cap Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
April 9, 2007 MD HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2007 AZ SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
March 20, 2007 IL SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
March 16, 2017 IA HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - House (55 - 38)
Feb. 22, 2007 MI HB 4044 Repealing Drug Company Liability Protection Bill Passed - House (70 - 39)
June 4, 2007 OR HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
April 3, 2009 NE LB 260 Wrongful Conviction Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
June 12, 2006 PA HB 698 Mental Retardation Consideration in Murder Cases Bill Passed - House (169 - 28)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1152 REAL ID Implementation Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
Oct. 22, 1997 National HR 1534 Private Property Rights bill Bill Passed - House (248 - 178)
May 25, 2006 SC S 1084 Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
June 4, 2007 CA SB 1019 Access to Police Misconduct Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
June 22, 2006 NJ A 3257 Eminent Domain and Redevelopment Programs Bill Passed - House (51 - 18)
March 2, 2006 NJ A 798 New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
Sept. 29, 2006 National HR 4772 Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (231 - 181)
June 5, 2007 LA HB 313 Extended Period for Indictments Bill Passed - House (79 - 25)
June 21, 2006 NY S 8446 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2)
March 9, 2017 National HR 985 Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (220 - 201)
Feb. 21, 2007 NH HB 143 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - House (202 - 150)
Feb. 9, 2006 NM SB 344 Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4)
Feb. 22, 2007 MI HB 4046 Pharmaceutical Company Liability Bill Passed - House (58 - 49)
Feb. 22, 2006 KY HCS HB 93 Criminal Record Expungement Bill Bill Passed - House (76 - 21)
March 8, 2007 AZ HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
March 20, 2006 PA HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 29, 2006 OH Am Sub SB 17 Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures Bill Passed - House (77 - 18)
June 12, 2009 OR SB 284 Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose Bill Passed - House (34 - 24)
April 9, 2003 National HR 1036 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act Bill Passed - House (285 - 140)
May 3, 2006 RI S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
June 19, 2007 RI H 5127 Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal Bill Passed - House (54 - 6)
May 24, 2007 NC HB 878 Eminent Domain for Private Use Bill Passed - House (104 - 15)
May 9, 2006 RI H 7339 Restriction on Political Surveillance Bill Passed - House (36 - 25)
Sept. 26, 2006 National HR 2679 Public Expression of Religion Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (244 - 173)
May 15, 2007 NC SB 1006 Confidentiality of Competitive Health Care Information Act Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
Sept. 27, 2006 National HR 6166 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (253 - 168)
Oct. 4, 2007 National HR 2740 Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (389 - 30)
Oct. 16, 2007 National HR 2102 Reporter's Source Confidentiality Guidelines Bill Passed - House (398 - 21)
Feb. 16, 2000 National HR 2366 Small Business Liability Reform bill Bill Passed - House (221 - 193)
March 21, 2005 National S 686 Terri Schiavo Incapacitated Persons Protection Bill Bill Passed - House (203 - 58)
Dec. 10, 2007 NJ S 171 Eliminating the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Dec. 13, 2007 NJ S 171 Eliminating the Death Penalty Bill Passed - House (44 - 36)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
Jan. 15, 2008 WI SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 1)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Jan. 26, 2006 RI H 6700 Sub A Driver Refusal of Chemical Tests Bill Passed - House (64 - 6)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death Bill Passed - House (41 - 32)
Jan. 31, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
March 20, 2008 GA SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - House (99 - 68)
Jan. 9, 2006 NJ S 2083 Domestic Partner Surviving Rights Bill Passed - House (67 - 8)
Feb. 7, 2008 GA SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
Jan. 25, 2008 MS SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Feb. 11, 2008 SD SB 189 Accessibility of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 6, 2008 CO HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Bill Passed - House (43 - 20)
Feb. 20, 2008 GA HR 1206 Reassessing Georgia's Northern Border Resolution Passed - House (136 - 26)
March 16, 2006 FL HB 145 Joint and Several Liability Elimination Bill Passed - House (93 - 27)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 822 Reassessing Georgia's Northern Border Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 0)
March 20, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - House (295 - 136)
April 20, 2007 VT SR 16 Urging National Executive Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9)
Feb. 7, 2007 IN HB 1262 BMV Commission Elimination Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
March 28, 2007 IA SF 430 Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
April 27, 2007 FL CS CS HB 1231 Prostitution Act Bill Passed - House (85 - 31)
Feb. 27, 2007 MD SB 61 Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
March 19, 2007 ID S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - House (46 - 20)
Feb. 26, 2007 AZ SB 1302 Use of Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
March 7, 2006 National S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
March 7, 2007 ID S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 15, 2007 KS HB 2530 Physician Liability Exemption Bill Passed - House (109 - 14)
March 26, 2007 MD HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (71 - 66)
May 1, 2007 TX CSSB 966 Journalist Confidentiality Protection Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
Oct. 27, 2005 National HR 420 Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (228 - 184)
Sept. 14, 2004 National HR 4571 Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (229 - 174)
June 20, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 19)
June 17, 1999 National HR 1501 Juvenile Justice bill Bill Passed - House (287 - 139)
Sept. 21, 2006 National HR 6095 Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (277 - 140)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/11 SB 208 Posting Public Notices Online Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
6/11 SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
4/23 SB 163 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
3/20 S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
5/12 SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Bill Passed - House (86 - 46)
3/05 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/24 HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
2/25 HB 933 "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
4/22 HB 1603 Tort Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
5/20 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
2/22 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
3/26 SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - House (95 - 25)
5/02 HB 1082 Sealing Criminal Records Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
10/20 HR 3058 Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 1)
4/06 SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - House (50 - 8)
6/07 HB 143 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
9/28 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
9/29 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
7/19 HR 2389 Pledge Protection Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (260 - 167)
2/17 S 5 Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (279 - 149)
6/05 Sub SB 938 Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill Passed - House (94 - 56)
2/10 S 5 Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 26)
5/23 Sub SB 938 Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/25 AB 510 Parole Credit Act Bill Passed - House (35 - 4)
2/07 SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
4/20 AB 495 Removing Medical Malpractice Award Cap Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
4/09 HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/29 SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
3/20 SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
3/16 HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - House (55 - 38)
2/22 HB 4044 Repealing Drug Company Liability Protection Bill Passed - House (70 - 39)
6/04 HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
4/03 LB 260 Wrongful Conviction Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
6/12 HB 698 Mental Retardation Consideration in Murder Cases Bill Passed - House (169 - 28)
3/08 SB 1152 REAL ID Implementation Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
10/22 HR 1534 Private Property Rights bill Bill Passed - House (248 - 178)
5/25 S 1084 Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
6/04 SB 1019 Access to Police Misconduct Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
6/22 A 3257 Eminent Domain and Redevelopment Programs Bill Passed - House (51 - 18)
3/02 A 798 New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
9/29 HR 4772 Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (231 - 181)
6/05 HB 313 Extended Period for Indictments Bill Passed - House (79 - 25)
6/21 S 8446 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2)
3/09 HR 985 Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (220 - 201)
2/21 HB 143 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - House (202 - 150)
2/09 SB 344 Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4)
2/22 HB 4046 Pharmaceutical Company Liability Bill Passed - House (58 - 49)
2/22 HCS HB 93 Criminal Record Expungement Bill Bill Passed - House (76 - 21)
3/08 HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
3/20 HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/29 Am Sub SB 17 Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures Bill Passed - House (77 - 18)
6/12 SB 284 Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose Bill Passed - House (34 - 24)
4/09 HR 1036 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act Bill Passed - House (285 - 140)
5/03 S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
6/19 H 5127 Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal Bill Passed - House (54 - 6)
5/24 HB 878 Eminent Domain for Private Use Bill Passed - House (104 - 15)
5/09 H 7339 Restriction on Political Surveillance Bill Passed - House (36 - 25)
9/26 HR 2679 Public Expression of Religion Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (244 - 173)
5/15 SB 1006 Confidentiality of Competitive Health Care Information Act Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
9/27 HR 6166 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (253 - 168)
10/04 HR 2740 Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (389 - 30)
10/16 HR 2102 Reporter's Source Confidentiality Guidelines Bill Passed - House (398 - 21)
2/16 HR 2366 Small Business Liability Reform bill Bill Passed - House (221 - 193)
3/21 S 686 Terri Schiavo Incapacitated Persons Protection Bill Bill Passed - House (203 - 58)
12/10 S 171 Eliminating the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
12/13 S 171 Eliminating the Death Penalty Bill Passed - House (44 - 36)
12/11 SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
1/15 SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 1)
12/11 SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
1/07 S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
1/26 H 6700 Sub A Driver Refusal of Chemical Tests Bill Passed - House (64 - 6)
1/07 S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death Bill Passed - House (41 - 32)
1/31 H 4400 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
3/20 SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - House (99 - 68)
1/09 S 2083 Domestic Partner Surviving Rights Bill Passed - House (67 - 8)
2/07 SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
1/25 SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
2/11 SB 189 Accessibility of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/06 HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Bill Passed - House (43 - 20)
2/20 HR 1206 Reassessing Georgia's Northern Border Resolution Passed - House (136 - 26)
3/16 HB 145 Joint and Several Liability Elimination Bill Passed - House (93 - 27)
2/12 SR 822 Reassessing Georgia's Northern Border Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 0)
3/20 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - House (295 - 136)
4/20 SR 16 Urging National Executive Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9)
2/07 HB 1262 BMV Commission Elimination Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
3/28 SF 430 Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
4/27 CS CS HB 1231 Prostitution Act Bill Passed - House (85 - 31)
2/27 SB 61 Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
3/19 S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - House (46 - 20)
2/26 SB 1302 Use of Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
3/07 S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
3/07 S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/15 HB 2530 Physician Liability Exemption Bill Passed - House (109 - 14)
3/26 HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (71 - 66)
5/01 CSSB 966 Journalist Confidentiality Protection Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
10/27 HR 420 Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (228 - 184)
9/14 HR 4571 Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (229 - 174)
6/20 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 19)
6/17 HR 1501 Juvenile Justice bill Bill Passed - House (287 - 139)
9/21 HR 6095 Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (277 - 140)

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