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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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) |