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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 16, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
June 16, 2008 | AZ | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 6) |
June 16, 2008 | AZ | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 6) |
May 13, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
April 30, 2008 | KS | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
April 30, 2008 | KS | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
April 30, 2008 | FL | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
April 30, 2008 | FL | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
April 17, 2008 | IA | S 5377 to SF 2425 | Pregnancy Counseling and Support Services | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 27) |
April 15, 2008 | LA | SB 144 | Castration of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
March 31, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2769 | Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2769 | Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
March 20, 2008 | NH | SA 1051 to SB 527 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 15) |
March 20, 2008 | NH | SA 1051 to SB 527 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 15) |
March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 527 | Mandatory Abortion Counseling for Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 14) |
March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 527 | Mandatory Abortion Counseling for Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 14) |
March 14, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4233 | Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
March 13, 2008 | OH | HB 314 | Abortion and Ultrasound Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
March 13, 2008 | OH | HB 314 | Abortion and Ultrasound Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
March 6, 2008 | MO | SB 778 | HPV Immunization | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | AB 377 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | National | S Amdt 3896 | Prohibiting the Funds in S 1200 from Being Used for Abortions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 42) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | National | S 1200 | Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 10) |
Feb. 18, 2008 | WA | SB 6305 | Use of Federal Sex Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
Feb. 7, 2008 | KY | SB 40 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
Feb. 7, 2008 | KY | SB 40 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
Feb. 6, 2008 | SD | SB 164 | Right to Obtain Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | TN | SA 837 | Allowing Abortion in Certain Circumstances | Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 11) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | TN | SA 841 | Allowing Abortion for Rape Victims who are Minors | Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 12) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | TN | SA 841 | Allowing Abortion for Rape Victims who are Minors | Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 12) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | TN | SA 839 | Allowing Medically Necessary Abortions | Bill Tabled - Senate (18 - 14) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | TN | SA 837 | Allowing Abortion in Certain Circumstances | Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 11) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | TN | SA 839 | Allowing Medically Necessary Abortions | Bill Tabled - Senate (18 - 14) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | TN | SJR 127 | Abortion Not Protected by State Constitution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | TN | SJR 127 | Abortion Not Protected by State Constitution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | SD | SB 88 | Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | IN | SB 146 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | IN | SB 146 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
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 | SB 88 | Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
Jan. 28, 2008 | CO | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
Jan. 25, 2008 | CO | SA Mitchell | Prohibiting State Funding of Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 20) |
Jan. 24, 2008 | IN | SB 3 | Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 24) |
Jan. 24, 2008 | IN | SB 3 | Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 24) |
Jan. 22, 2008 | MI | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
Jan. 22, 2008 | MI | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
7/16 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
6/16 | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 6) |
6/16 | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 6) |
5/13 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
4/30 | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
4/30 | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
4/30 | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
4/30 | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
4/17 | S 5377 to SF 2425 | Pregnancy Counseling and Support Services | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 27) |
4/15 | SB 144 | Castration of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
3/31 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
3/25 | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
3/25 | HB 2769 | Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
3/25 | HB 2769 | Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
3/25 | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
3/20 | SA 1051 to SB 527 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 15) |
3/20 | SA 1051 to SB 527 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 15) |
3/20 | SB 527 | Mandatory Abortion Counseling for Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 14) |
3/20 | SB 527 | Mandatory Abortion Counseling for Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 14) |
3/14 | S Amdt 4233 | Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
3/13 | HB 314 | Abortion and Ultrasound Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
3/13 | HB 314 | Abortion and Ultrasound Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
3/06 | SB 778 | HPV Immunization | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
2/28 | AB 377 | Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
2/26 | S Amdt 3896 | Prohibiting the Funds in S 1200 from Being Used for Abortions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 42) |
2/26 | S 1200 | Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 10) |
2/18 | SB 6305 | Use of Federal Sex Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
2/07 | SB 40 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
2/07 | SB 40 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
2/06 | SB 164 | Right to Obtain Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22) |
1/30 | SA 837 | Allowing Abortion in Certain Circumstances | Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 11) |
1/30 | SA 841 | Allowing Abortion for Rape Victims who are Minors | Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 12) |
1/30 | SA 841 | Allowing Abortion for Rape Victims who are Minors | Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 12) |
1/30 | SA 839 | Allowing Medically Necessary Abortions | Bill Tabled - Senate (18 - 14) |
1/30 | SA 837 | Allowing Abortion in Certain Circumstances | Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 11) |
1/30 | SA 839 | Allowing Medically Necessary Abortions | Bill Tabled - Senate (18 - 14) |
1/30 | SJR 127 | Abortion Not Protected by State Constitution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
1/30 | SJR 127 | Abortion Not Protected by State Constitution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
1/29 | SB 88 | Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
1/29 | SB 146 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
1/29 | SB 146 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
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 | SB 88 | Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
1/28 | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
1/25 | SA Mitchell | Prohibiting State Funding of Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 20) |
1/24 | SB 3 | Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 24) |
1/24 | SB 3 | Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 24) |
1/22 | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
1/22 | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |