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
May 20, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
March 23, 2011 KS HB 2035 Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
March 4, 2009 KS SB 238 Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement Amendments Bill Passed - House (85 - 37)
March 28, 2007 KS HB 2062 Violence Against Unborn Children Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Sept. 29, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
May 13, 2009 MO HB 46 Expansion of Abortion Laws Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
April 3, 2009 KS SB 218 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 43)
June 3, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
June 11, 2008 LA SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
Dec. 24, 2009 National HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Nov. 1, 2007 MA S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
Nov. 1, 2007 MA S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
April 15, 2009 IN SB 89 Health Care Amendments Bill Passed - House (73 - 20)
April 22, 2008 AZ SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (31 - 24)
March 31, 2011 KS SB 36 Licensing of Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (97 - 26)
June 19, 2007 LA HB 25 Abortion Information Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2)
Dec. 7, 1995 National HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44)
April 22, 2008 AZ SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (31 - 24)
Feb. 23, 2006 OK HCS HB 2496 Information Requirement Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - House (78 - 13)
Sept. 21, 2011 MI HB 4109 Banning Partial Birth/Late Term Abortions Bill Passed - House (75 - 33)
July 25, 2006 National S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Sept. 26, 2006 National S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 153)
March 2, 2006 MS SB 2922 Abortion Ban With Some Exceptions Bill Passed - House (94 - 25)
Oct. 21, 1999 National S 1692 Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34)
March 25, 1993 National HR 670 Abortion Counseling Bill Bill Passed - House (273 - 149)
May 1, 2003 National HR 1298 AIDS Assistance bill Bill Passed - House (375 - 41)
July 15, 1998 National HR 3682 Child Custody Protection Act Bill Passed - House (276 - 150)
April 27, 2005 National HR 748 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 157)
March 11, 1993 National HR 4 Fetal Tissue Research Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 131)
March 11, 1993 National HR 4 Fetal Tissue Research Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 131)
April 5, 2000 National HR 3660 Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (287 - 141)
Nov. 1, 1995 National HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (288 - 139)
March 20, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - House (295 - 136)
March 25, 2004 National HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
Feb. 26, 2004 National HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - House (254 - 163)
Sept. 30, 1999 National HR 2436 Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (254 - 172)
Jan. 7, 2017 KY HB 2 Requires Ultrasound 24 Hours Prior to Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
Feb. 1, 2006 IN HB 1172 Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement Bill Passed - House (70 - 30)
March 7, 2006 HI HB 1242 Intentional Termination of Pregnancy Bill Passed - House (50 - 13)
April 11, 2006 AZ HB 2666 Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
April 11, 2006 HI HB 1242 Intentional Termination of Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
Feb. 23, 2006 KS Sub HB 2829 Clinic Regulation Bill Passed - House (63 - 62)
April 6, 2006 AZ SB 1325 Public Funds; Abortion; Prohibition Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
March 2, 2006 AZ SB 1325 Public Funds; Abortion; Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
April 4, 2006 AZ HB 2254 Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 13, 2006 AZ HB 2254 Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain Bill Passed - House (36 - 21)
Feb. 19, 2007 KS HB 2006 Legal Status of an Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (94 - 28)
Feb. 23, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
May 31, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
Feb. 2, 2007 WY SF 118 Homicide During Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2007 ID S 1082 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 13, 1997 National HR 581 Population Planning Bill Bill Passed - House (231 - 194)
Feb. 14, 2007 SD HB 1293 Abortion Limitations Bill Passed - House (45 - 25)
Feb. 28, 2007 WV Com Sub SB 544 Parental Notification of Juvenile Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
Feb. 20, 2007 KY SB 179 Informed Abortion Consent Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
Feb. 5, 2007 SD HB 1296 Pre-Abortion Sonograms Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
March 29, 2007 DE SB 5 Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
March 21, 2007 SC H 3355 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill Passed - House (91 - 23)
March 7, 2007 NH HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - House (226 - 130)
June 9, 2006 National HR 5522 Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act Bill Passed - House (373 - 34)
Feb. 12, 2007 UT 2SHB 235 Abortion Law Revisions Bill Passed - House (62 - 12)
April 25, 2007 CT SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
May 2, 2007 CT SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - House (113 - 36)
April 27, 2007 MN SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
April 27, 2007 FL CS HB 71 Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 39)
April 27, 2007 FL CS HB 1497 Abortion Waiting Periods Bill Passed - House (71 - 42)
May 4, 2007 FL CS HB 1497 Abortion Waiting Periods Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
April 23, 2012 MN HF 2341 Requires Physicians to Administer Abortion Drugs In Person Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 25)
June 7, 2007 NH HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
April 26, 2006 LA SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
May 31, 2006 LA SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life or Health of the Woman Bill Passed - House (85 - 17)
May 16, 2007 WI SB 129 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
April 26, 2007 TX CSSB 785 Abortion Reporting Requirement Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
March 13, 2007 OK SB 714 Ban on State-Funded Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
May 3, 2007 TX CSSB 920 Ultrasound Required Prior to Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
March 15, 2007 OK HCS HB 1317 Ban on State Participation Regarding Abortion Bill Passed - House (85 - 13)
March 8, 2007 AZ HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
May 7, 2007 LA HB 25 Abortion Information Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 16)
March 19, 2007 GA HCS HB 147 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Bill Passed - House (116 - 54)
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)
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)
July 11, 2007 National S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
June 30, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (305 - 124)
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)
Oct. 30, 2007 WI AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
Oct. 30, 2007 WI AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Jan. 23, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 3 Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 3 Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 20, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Feb. 20, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Jan. 30, 2008 TN SJR 127 Abortion Not Protected by State Constitution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/20 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
3/23 HB 2035 Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
3/04 SB 238 Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement Amendments Bill Passed - House (85 - 37)
3/28 HB 2062 Violence Against Unborn Children Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
9/29 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
5/13 HB 46 Expansion of Abortion Laws Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
4/03 SB 218 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 43)
6/03 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
6/11 SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
12/24 HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
11/01 S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
11/01 S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
4/15 SB 89 Health Care Amendments Bill Passed - House (73 - 20)
4/22 SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (31 - 24)
3/31 SB 36 Licensing of Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (97 - 26)
6/19 HB 25 Abortion Information Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2)
12/07 HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44)
4/22 SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (31 - 24)
2/23 HCS HB 2496 Information Requirement Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - House (78 - 13)
9/21 HB 4109 Banning Partial Birth/Late Term Abortions Bill Passed - House (75 - 33)
7/25 S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
9/26 S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 153)
3/02 SB 2922 Abortion Ban With Some Exceptions Bill Passed - House (94 - 25)
10/21 S 1692 Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34)
3/25 HR 670 Abortion Counseling Bill Bill Passed - House (273 - 149)
5/01 HR 1298 AIDS Assistance bill Bill Passed - House (375 - 41)
7/15 HR 3682 Child Custody Protection Act Bill Passed - House (276 - 150)
4/27 HR 748 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 157)
3/11 HR 4 Fetal Tissue Research Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 131)
3/11 HR 4 Fetal Tissue Research Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 131)
4/05 HR 3660 Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (287 - 141)
11/01 HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (288 - 139)
3/20 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - House (295 - 136)
3/25 HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
2/26 HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - House (254 - 163)
9/30 HR 2436 Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (254 - 172)
1/07 HB 2 Requires Ultrasound 24 Hours Prior to Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
2/01 HB 1172 Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement Bill Passed - House (70 - 30)
3/07 HB 1242 Intentional Termination of Pregnancy Bill Passed - House (50 - 13)
4/11 HB 2666 Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
4/11 HB 1242 Intentional Termination of Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
2/23 Sub HB 2829 Clinic Regulation Bill Passed - House (63 - 62)
4/06 SB 1325 Public Funds; Abortion; Prohibition Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
3/02 SB 1325 Public Funds; Abortion; Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
4/04 HB 2254 Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/13 HB 2254 Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain Bill Passed - House (36 - 21)
2/19 HB 2006 Legal Status of an Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (94 - 28)
2/23 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
5/31 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
2/02 SF 118 Homicide During Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
2/26 S 1082 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/13 HR 581 Population Planning Bill Bill Passed - House (231 - 194)
2/14 HB 1293 Abortion Limitations Bill Passed - House (45 - 25)
2/28 Com Sub SB 544 Parental Notification of Juvenile Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
2/20 SB 179 Informed Abortion Consent Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
2/05 HB 1296 Pre-Abortion Sonograms Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
3/29 SB 5 Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
3/21 H 3355 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill Passed - House (91 - 23)
3/07 HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - House (226 - 130)
6/09 HR 5522 Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act Bill Passed - House (373 - 34)
2/12 2SHB 235 Abortion Law Revisions Bill Passed - House (62 - 12)
4/25 SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
5/02 SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - House (113 - 36)
4/27 SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
4/27 CS HB 71 Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 39)
4/27 CS HB 1497 Abortion Waiting Periods Bill Passed - House (71 - 42)
5/04 CS HB 1497 Abortion Waiting Periods Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
4/23 HF 2341 Requires Physicians to Administer Abortion Drugs In Person Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 25)
6/07 HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
4/26 SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
5/31 SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life or Health of the Woman Bill Passed - House (85 - 17)
5/16 SB 129 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
4/26 CSSB 785 Abortion Reporting Requirement Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
3/13 SB 714 Ban on State-Funded Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
5/03 CSSB 920 Ultrasound Required Prior to Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
2/07 SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
3/15 HCS HB 1317 Ban on State Participation Regarding Abortion Bill Passed - House (85 - 13)
3/08 HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
5/07 HB 25 Abortion Information Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 16)
3/19 HCS HB 147 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Bill Passed - House (116 - 54)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
7/11 S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
6/30 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (305 - 124)
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)
10/30 AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
10/30 AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
2/28 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
1/23 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
1/29 SB 3 Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
1/29 SB 3 Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
1/29 HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
1/29 HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
1/29 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
1/29 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/20 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
2/20 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
1/30 SJR 127 Abortion Not Protected by State Constitution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 9)

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