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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aug. 28, 2006 | CA | AB 3029 | CalWorks and Food Stamp Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
Aug. 24, 2006 | CA | AB 2205 | Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
Aug. 22, 2006 | CA | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Aug. 16, 2006 | CA | AB 1873 | Safe Child Surrender Time Limit Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
July 25, 2006 | National | S 403 | Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
July 19, 2006 | NC | HB 2699 | Early Childhood Vision Care Program | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
June 21, 2006 | PA | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
June 15, 2006 | MD | HB 2 | Mandatory Sentences and Other Penalties for Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
June 14, 2006 | SC | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 22) |
June 8, 2006 | NC | SB 1289 | Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Prohibited | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
June 7, 2006 | National | S J Res 1 | Same Sex Marriage Resolution | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48) |
May 30, 2006 | CA | SB 1576 | Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
May 24, 2006 | OK | SB 1800 | Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8) |
May 11, 2006 | CA | SB 1437 | Sexual Diversity Content in Public School Curriculums | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
May 4, 2006 | NH | HB 1331 | TANF Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8) |
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) |
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 20, 2006 | OR | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
April 20, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
April 17, 2006 | CO | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 4) |
April 17, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
April 12, 2006 | DE | SB 251 | Full-Day Kindergarten Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2) |
April 11, 2006 | AZ | HB 2666 | Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
April 5, 2006 | CO | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
March 31, 2006 | CO | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
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 29, 2006 | CO | HB 1249 | Authorizing Minors to Approve Perinatal Care for Their Own Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
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 | MD | SB 297 | Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
March 27, 2006 | MD | Amendment 3929 to SB 297 | Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28) |
March 24, 2006 | CO | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
March 16, 2006 | NH | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
March 16, 2006 | AZ | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
March 15, 2006 | MD | Amendment 503528 to SB 110 | Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29) |
March 11, 2006 | WV | Com Sub SB 205 | Sex Offenders | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
March 7, 2006 | HI | SB 3102 | Student to Teacher Ratio Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
March 1, 2006 | UT | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
Feb. 28, 2006 | ID | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
Feb. 23, 2006 | KS | HB 2732 | Unattended and Unsupervised Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Feb. 23, 2006 | UT | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
Feb. 20, 2006 | CO | SB 66 | Employee Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
Feb. 15, 2006 | ID | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
Feb. 14, 2006 | ID | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Feb. 2, 2006 | VA | SB 253 | Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Jan. 31, 2006 | SD | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
Jan. 25, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
Jan. 25, 2006 | GA | SB 382 | Child Support Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
Jan. 19, 2006 | IN | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
8/28 | AB 3029 | CalWorks and Food Stamp Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
8/24 | AB 2205 | Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
8/22 | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
8/16 | AB 1873 | Safe Child Surrender Time Limit Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
7/25 | S 403 | Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
7/19 | HB 2699 | Early Childhood Vision Care Program | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
6/21 | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
6/15 | HB 2 | Mandatory Sentences and Other Penalties for Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
6/14 | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 22) |
6/08 | SB 1289 | Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Prohibited | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
6/07 | S J Res 1 | Same Sex Marriage Resolution | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48) |
5/30 | SB 1576 | Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
5/24 | SB 1800 | Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8) |
5/11 | SB 1437 | Sexual Diversity Content in Public School Curriculums | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
5/04 | HB 1331 | TANF Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8) |
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) |
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) |
4/20 | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
4/20 | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
4/17 | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 4) |
4/17 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
4/12 | SB 251 | Full-Day Kindergarten Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2) |
4/11 | HB 2666 | Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
4/05 | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
3/31 | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
3/29 | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
3/29 | HB 1249 | Authorizing Minors to Approve Perinatal Care for Their Own Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
3/28 | Amdt 2B | Amendment Outlining Sentencing Guidelines for Those Convicted of Sexual Battery of Children | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |
3/28 | SB 297 | Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
3/27 | Amendment 3929 to SB 297 | Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28) |
3/24 | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
3/16 | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
3/16 | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
3/15 | Amendment 503528 to SB 110 | Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29) |
3/11 | Com Sub SB 205 | Sex Offenders | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
3/07 | SB 3102 | Student to Teacher Ratio Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
3/01 | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
2/28 | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
2/23 | HB 2732 | Unattended and Unsupervised Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
2/23 | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
2/20 | SB 66 | Employee Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
2/15 | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
2/14 | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
2/02 | SB 253 | Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
1/31 | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
1/25 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
1/25 | SB 382 | Child Support Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
1/19 | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |