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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 23, 2006 | LA | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
May 18, 2006 | OK | SB 1742 | Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
May 16, 2006 | WI | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
May 16, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9) |
May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9) |
May 8, 2006 | CO | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
May 7, 2006 | AK | HCS CS SB 20 | Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
May 4, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21) |
May 4, 2006 | CO | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
May 3, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
May 3, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
May 1, 2006 | KS | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
April 28, 2006 | ME | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
April 27, 2006 | CA | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
April 26, 2006 | AZ | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 10) |
April 26, 2006 | AZ | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 10) |
April 26, 2006 | LA | Amdt 1923 | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 20) |
April 26, 2006 | LA | SB 33 | Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
April 25, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
April 25, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
April 20, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
April 20, 2006 | MN | SF 1070 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20) |
April 17, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
April 13, 2006 | AZ | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
April 11, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
April 11, 2006 | AZ | HB 2649 | Firearms; Possession; Storage | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
April 6, 2006 | NH | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
April 4, 2006 | AZ | HB 2074 | Concealed Weapons; Training Requirement; Renewal | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
March 30, 2006 | NE | LB 454 | Concealed Handgun Permit Act | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
March 29, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
March 28, 2006 | SC | Amdt 2B | Amendment Outlining Sentencing Guidelines for Those Convicted of Sexual Battery of Children | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |
March 28, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
March 28, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
March 28, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
March 28, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
March 27, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
March 27, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
March 22, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
March 22, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
March 22, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
March 20, 2006 | PA | HB 213 | Ecoterrorism Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
March 16, 2006 | NH | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3166 | National Defense Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
5/23 | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
5/18 | SB 1742 | Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
5/16 | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
5/16 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
5/10 | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9) |
5/10 | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9) |
5/08 | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
5/07 | HCS CS SB 20 | Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
5/04 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21) |
5/04 | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
5/03 | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
5/03 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
5/03 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
5/03 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
5/02 | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
5/01 | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
4/28 | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
4/27 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
4/27 | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
4/26 | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 10) |
4/26 | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 10) |
4/26 | Amdt 1923 | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 20) |
4/26 | SB 33 | Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
4/25 | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
4/25 | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
4/20 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
4/20 | SF 1070 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20) |
4/17 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
4/13 | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
4/11 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
4/11 | HB 2649 | Firearms; Possession; Storage | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
4/06 | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
4/04 | HB 2074 | Concealed Weapons; Training Requirement; Renewal | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
3/30 | LB 454 | Concealed Handgun Permit Act | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
3/29 | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
3/28 | Amdt 2B | Amendment Outlining Sentencing Guidelines for Those Convicted of Sexual Battery of Children | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |
3/28 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
3/28 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
3/28 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
3/28 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
3/27 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
3/27 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
3/22 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
3/22 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
3/22 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
3/20 | HB 213 | Ecoterrorism Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
3/16 | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
3/16 | S Amdt 3166 | National Defense Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |