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. 17, 2009 | ND | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
Feb. 18, 2009 | UT | HB 122 | Restricting Access to Government Litigation Records | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
April 11, 2006 | AZ | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
Feb. 18, 2009 | OK | HB 1602 | Attorney Fee Limits | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
Feb. 23, 2009 | OR | SB 311 | Changes in Liability Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
March 4, 2009 | OK | HB 1603 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 39) |
Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
March 4, 2009 | KS | HB 2206 | Partial Birth/Late-term Abortion Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (82 - 40) |
March 5, 2009 | OR | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
March 5, 2009 | OR | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
March 3, 2009 | OR | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
March 3, 2009 | OR | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 79 | Elevating Standard of Proof for Specific Medical Malpractice Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (53 - 18) |
June 9, 2009 | LA | HB 866 | Publishing Legal Records | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 30) |
March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
March 26, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
March 5, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
March 9, 2009 | UT | HB 379 | Environmental Lawsuit Delay Bond | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
March 31, 2009 | FL | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 35) |
March 26, 2009 | MI | HB 4317 | Extending Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Liability | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
April 7, 2009 | ID | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
April 8, 2009 | OK | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
May 22, 2007 | National | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 114) |
Feb. 5, 2007 | WY | HJ 8 | Real ID Act Repeal | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 11) |
March 10, 2004 | National | HR 339 | Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) | Bill Passed - House (276 - 139) |
May 7, 1996 | National | HR 2137 | Megan's Law | Bill Passed - House (418 - 0) |
May 12, 2004 | National | HR 4280 | Medical Malpractice Liability Limitation Bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 197) |
March 20, 2007 | TX | CSSB 378 | Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (133 - 13) |
July 28, 2005 | National | HR 5 | Malpractice Liability Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 194) |
Feb. 26, 2007 | CO | HB 1036 | Eminent Domain Over Water Rights | Bill Passed - House (34 - 30) |
March 13, 2003 | National | HR 5 | Malpractice Liability bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 196) |
May 22, 2007 | National | HR 2264 | Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups | Bill Passed - House (345 - 72) |
March 20, 2007 | GA | HCS HB 185 | Death Penalty Rules | Bill Passed - House (106 - 65) |
March 8, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 99) |
Feb. 8, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
March 30, 2006 | FL | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
Feb. 14, 2008 | MS | HB 859 | Salary Adjustments for State Officials | Bill Passed - House (61 - 60) |
Feb. 13, 2008 | SD | SB 174 | Railroad Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
April 5, 2006 | FL | HB 7009 | Review of Local Government Managers | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | SD | SB 174 | Railroad Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - House (54 - 16) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | MS | SB 2550 | Covenant Marriage Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13) |
Feb. 27, 2008 | MS | SB 2998 | Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | WI | AB 695 | John Doe Proceedings | Bill Passed - House (84 - 13) |
March 4, 2008 | WI | SB 537 | John Doe Proceedings | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | WI | AR 13 | Supporting the Individual's Right to Bear Arms | Resolution Passed - House (78 - 18) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | WY | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Bill Passed - House (54 - 4) |
March 4, 2008 | GA | HB 1245 | Public Defender Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - House (141 - 21) |
March 3, 2008 | CO | SB 164 | Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
March 4, 2008 | KY | HB 31 | Felony Record Expungement | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | IN | SB 143 | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13) |
Feb. 28, 2008 | IN | SB 143 | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | Bill Passed - House (51 - 48) |
March 12, 2008 | MD | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
March 18, 2008 | NH | HB 1623 | Marijuana Decriminalization | Bill Passed - House (193 - 141) |
March 4, 2008 | HI | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
March 6, 2008 | GA | SB 449 | Limiting Agritourism Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
March 5, 2007 | NY | S 3318 | Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
July 30, 2010 | National | HR 5851 | "Whistleblower Protection" for Offshore Oil Workers | Bill Passed - House (315 - 93) |
March 19, 2008 | KS | SB 409 | Three-Strikes Sentencing for Theft | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
April 3, 2008 | MO | HJR 41 | Prohibiting Judges from Imposing Taxes | Joint Resolution Passed - House (82 - 68) |
March 15, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 3120 | Tort Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
March 2, 2006 | WI | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
Jan. 23, 2006 | WA | 2nd Sub HB 2292 | Addressing Health Care Liability Reform | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
May 26, 2009 | OR | SB 284 | Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
April 15, 2008 | LA | SB 144 | Castration of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
April 14, 2008 | ME | LD 2304 | Driver's License Residency Requirement | Bill Passed - House (108 - 29) |
March 31, 2008 | CO | HB 1123 | Funeral Registration | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
May 11, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
April 27, 2006 | OK | HCS SCS SB 1657 | Civil Procedure | Bill Passed - House (54 - 30) |
March 1, 2006 | OK | SB 1471 | Establishing the Oklahoma Innocence Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
March 16, 2009 | NJ | S 2091 | Formalizing Palimony Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
April 22, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (36 - 28) |
March 7, 2006 | IA | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
May 7, 2008 | NY | A 9695 | Foreclosure Relief | Bill Passed - House (126 - 11) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2/17 | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
2/18 | HB 122 | Restricting Access to Government Litigation Records | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
2/07 | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
4/11 | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
2/18 | HB 1602 | Attorney Fee Limits | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
2/23 | SB 311 | Changes in Liability Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
3/04 | HB 1603 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 39) |
2/15 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
3/04 | HB 2206 | Partial Birth/Late-term Abortion Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (82 - 40) |
3/05 | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
3/05 | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
3/03 | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
3/03 | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
3/10 | SB 79 | Elevating Standard of Proof for Specific Medical Malpractice Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (53 - 18) |
6/09 | HB 866 | Publishing Legal Records | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
3/10 | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 30) |
3/10 | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
3/26 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
3/05 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
3/09 | HB 379 | Environmental Lawsuit Delay Bond | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
3/31 | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 35) |
3/26 | HB 4317 | Extending Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Liability | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
4/07 | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
4/08 | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
5/22 | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 114) |
2/05 | HJ 8 | Real ID Act Repeal | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 11) |
3/10 | HR 339 | Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) | Bill Passed - House (276 - 139) |
5/07 | HR 2137 | Megan's Law | Bill Passed - House (418 - 0) |
5/12 | HR 4280 | Medical Malpractice Liability Limitation Bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 197) |
3/20 | CSSB 378 | Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (133 - 13) |
7/28 | HR 5 | Malpractice Liability Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 194) |
2/26 | HB 1036 | Eminent Domain Over Water Rights | Bill Passed - House (34 - 30) |
3/13 | HR 5 | Malpractice Liability bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 196) |
5/22 | HR 2264 | Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups | Bill Passed - House (345 - 72) |
3/20 | HCS HB 185 | Death Penalty Rules | Bill Passed - House (106 - 65) |
3/08 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 99) |
2/08 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
3/30 | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
2/14 | HB 859 | Salary Adjustments for State Officials | Bill Passed - House (61 - 60) |
2/13 | SB 174 | Railroad Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
4/05 | HB 7009 | Review of Local Government Managers | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
2/26 | SB 174 | Railroad Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - House (54 - 16) |
2/26 | SB 2550 | Covenant Marriage Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13) |
2/27 | SB 2998 | Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
2/26 | AB 695 | John Doe Proceedings | Bill Passed - House (84 - 13) |
3/04 | SB 537 | John Doe Proceedings | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
2/26 | AR 13 | Supporting the Individual's Right to Bear Arms | Resolution Passed - House (78 - 18) |
2/25 | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Bill Passed - House (54 - 4) |
3/04 | HB 1245 | Public Defender Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - House (141 - 21) |
3/03 | SB 164 | Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
3/04 | HB 31 | Felony Record Expungement | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
1/29 | SB 143 | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13) |
2/28 | SB 143 | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | Bill Passed - House (51 - 48) |
3/12 | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
3/18 | HB 1623 | Marijuana Decriminalization | Bill Passed - House (193 - 141) |
3/04 | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
3/06 | SB 449 | Limiting Agritourism Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
3/05 | S 3318 | Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
7/30 | HR 5851 | "Whistleblower Protection" for Offshore Oil Workers | Bill Passed - House (315 - 93) |
3/19 | SB 409 | Three-Strikes Sentencing for Theft | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
4/03 | HJR 41 | Prohibiting Judges from Imposing Taxes | Joint Resolution Passed - House (82 - 68) |
3/15 | HCS HB 3120 | Tort Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
3/02 | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
1/23 | 2nd Sub HB 2292 | Addressing Health Care Liability Reform | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
5/26 | SB 284 | Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
4/15 | SB 144 | Castration of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
4/14 | LD 2304 | Driver's License Residency Requirement | Bill Passed - House (108 - 29) |
3/31 | HB 1123 | Funeral Registration | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
5/11 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
4/27 | HCS SCS SB 1657 | Civil Procedure | Bill Passed - House (54 - 30) |
3/01 | SB 1471 | Establishing the Oklahoma Innocence Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
3/16 | S 2091 | Formalizing Palimony Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
4/22 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (36 - 28) |
3/07 | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
5/07 | A 9695 | Foreclosure Relief | Bill Passed - House (126 - 11) |