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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 9, 2006 SD HB 1215 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
Feb. 22, 2006 SD HB 1215 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2006 SD S Amdt 1215cb Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22)
March 2, 2006 MS SB 2922 Abortion Ban With Some Exceptions Bill Passed - House (94 - 25)
Feb. 1, 2006 IN HB 1172 Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement Bill Passed - House (70 - 30)
Feb. 7, 2006 KS Amend HB 2593 Health Insurance Abortion Restrictions Amendment Adopted - House (72 - 50)
March 9, 2006 TN SJR 127 Relating to Abortion in the Constitution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
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)
Feb. 22, 2006 SD S Amdt 1215ca Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21)
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)
April 26, 2006 LA SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 26, 2006 LA Amdt 1923 Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 20)
May 3, 2006 KS SB 528 Abortion and Live Birth Reporting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
May 3, 2006 KS SB 528 Abortion and Live Birth Reporting Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 34)
April 12, 2006 AZ HB 2666 Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 20)
April 11, 2006 AZ HB 2666 Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
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)
May 25, 2006 KS SB 528 Abortion and Live Birth Reporting Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 7, 2006 HI HB 1242 Intentional Termination of Pregnancy Bill Passed - House (50 - 13)
Jan. 27, 2006 UT 1SHB 85 Parental Consent for Minor’s Abortion Bill Bill Passed - House (65 - 8)
May 7, 2006 AK HCS CS SB 20 Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
May 4, 2006 AK HCS CS SB 20 Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child Bill Passed - House (30 - 9)
Feb. 23, 2006 OK HCS HB 2496 Information Requirement Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - House (78 - 13)
Feb. 23, 2006 OK HCS HB 2369 Parental Written Consent Requirement for Minor’s Abortion Bill Passed - House (81 - 12)
Feb. 9, 2006 SD H Amdt 1215fa Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 41)
Feb. 9, 2006 SD H Amdt 1215rb Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (42 - 25)
March 2, 2006 MS SB 2922-Amendment 1 Abortion Ban with Exceptions for Rape and Incest Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 56)
May 31, 2006 LA Amdt 4930 (452B) Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (36 - 67)
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 25, 2006 SC S 1084 Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
May 25, 2006 SC Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h Abortion Funding Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34)
May 18, 2006 OK SB 1742 Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
April 26, 2006 OK SB 1742 Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide Bill Passed - House (84 - 5)
Feb. 22, 2006 SD S Amdt 1215re Abortion Ban to Public Vote Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 20)
Feb. 22, 2006 KS Amend Abortion Clinic Regulation Amendment Adopted - House (66 - 56)
Jan. 23, 2007 VA HB 1883 Abortion Clinic Licensure Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
Jan. 26, 2007 ND HB 1466 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (61 - 26)
Jan. 26, 2007 ND HB 1489 Felony to Perform Abortions Bill Failed - House (20 - 69)
Jan. 26, 2007 ND HB 1464 Abortion Regulation Bill Failed - House (39 - 49)
Jan. 26, 2007 VA Sub HB 1665 Forced or Coerced Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
Jan. 26, 2007 ND HB 1494 Prenatal Testing Bill Failed - House (29 - 60)
Jan. 30, 2007 CO SB 60 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Survivors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
May 5, 1994 National S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174)
May 12, 1994 National S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
July 12, 1996 National H Amdt 1280 Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193)
June 9, 2006 National HR 5522 Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act Bill Passed - House (373 - 34)
June 15, 1995 National H Amdt 436 Overseas Military Abortion Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 230)
Sept. 7, 1995 National H Amdt 752 Overseas Military Abortions Amendment Adopted - House (226 - 191)
June 25, 1998 National S Amdt 2794 Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49)
Sept. 19, 1996 National HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Passed - House (285 - 137)
Sept. 26, 1996 National HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Failed - Senate (58 - 40)
July 23, 1998 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Passed - House (296 - 132)
Sept. 18, 1998 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (64 - 36)
Oct. 2, 2003 National S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 142)
Oct. 21, 2003 National S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34)
July 25, 2006 National S Amdt 4689 Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Dec. 6, 2006 National HR 6099 Abortion Pain Bill Bill Failed - House (250 - 162)
Feb. 19, 2007 KS HB 2006 Legal Status of an Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (94 - 28)
May 31, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
Feb. 23, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
Feb. 2, 2007 WY SF 118 Homicide During Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Feb. 1, 2007 WY HB 144 Abortion Information Requirement Bill Failed - House (28 - 32)
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)
April 23, 2007 ND HB 1466 Abortion Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 24)
March 7, 2007 NH HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - House (226 - 130)
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 4, 2007 NH HB 744 Informed Consent Before Abortion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (276 - 88)
April 27, 2007 MN SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
April 25, 2007 KS HB 2062 Violence Against Unborn Children Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 27)
March 28, 2007 KS HB 2062 Violence Against Unborn Children Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
April 27, 2007 FL CS HB 71 Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 39)
April 20, 2007 MN H Amendment Prohibiting Public Funding for Abortions Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 68)
June 6, 2007 National HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
June 7, 2007 NH HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
April 26, 2007 IL HB 317 Abortion Notification Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 62)
April 25, 2007 IA Prohibiting State Funding of Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Services Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 13)
May 22, 2007 KS HCS SB 357 Disclosure for Late-Term Abortions Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 10)
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)
April 3, 2007 OK SB 714 Ban on State-Funded Abortions Bill Passed - House (73 - 22)
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)
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)
May 14, 2007 OK HCS SB 139 State-Funded Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (77 - 19)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/09 HB 1215 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
2/22 HB 1215 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/22 S Amdt 1215cb Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22)
3/02 SB 2922 Abortion Ban With Some Exceptions Bill Passed - House (94 - 25)
2/01 HB 1172 Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement Bill Passed - House (70 - 30)
2/07 Amend HB 2593 Health Insurance Abortion Restrictions Amendment Adopted - House (72 - 50)
3/09 SJR 127 Relating to Abortion in the Constitution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
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)
2/22 S Amdt 1215ca Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21)
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)
4/26 SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/26 Amdt 1923 Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 20)
5/03 SB 528 Abortion and Live Birth Reporting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
5/03 SB 528 Abortion and Live Birth Reporting Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 34)
4/12 HB 2666 Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 20)
4/11 HB 2666 Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
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)
5/25 SB 528 Abortion and Live Birth Reporting Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/07 HB 1242 Intentional Termination of Pregnancy Bill Passed - House (50 - 13)
1/27 1SHB 85 Parental Consent for Minor’s Abortion Bill Bill Passed - House (65 - 8)
5/07 HCS CS SB 20 Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
5/04 HCS CS SB 20 Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child Bill Passed - House (30 - 9)
2/23 HCS HB 2496 Information Requirement Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - House (78 - 13)
2/23 HCS HB 2369 Parental Written Consent Requirement for Minor’s Abortion Bill Passed - House (81 - 12)
2/09 H Amdt 1215fa Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 41)
2/09 H Amdt 1215rb Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (42 - 25)
3/02 SB 2922-Amendment 1 Abortion Ban with Exceptions for Rape and Incest Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 56)
5/31 Amdt 4930 (452B) Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (36 - 67)
5/31 SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life or Health of the Woman Bill Passed - House (85 - 17)
5/25 S 1084 Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
3/15 Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
5/25 Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
4/11 Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h Abortion Funding Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34)
5/18 SB 1742 Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
4/26 SB 1742 Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide Bill Passed - House (84 - 5)
2/22 S Amdt 1215re Abortion Ban to Public Vote Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 20)
2/22 Amend Abortion Clinic Regulation Amendment Adopted - House (66 - 56)
1/23 HB 1883 Abortion Clinic Licensure Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
1/26 HB 1466 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (61 - 26)
1/26 HB 1489 Felony to Perform Abortions Bill Failed - House (20 - 69)
1/26 HB 1464 Abortion Regulation Bill Failed - House (39 - 49)
1/26 Sub HB 1665 Forced or Coerced Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
1/26 HB 1494 Prenatal Testing Bill Failed - House (29 - 60)
1/30 SB 60 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Survivors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
5/05 S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174)
5/12 S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
7/12 H Amdt 1280 Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193)
6/09 HR 5522 Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act Bill Passed - House (373 - 34)
6/15 H Amdt 436 Overseas Military Abortion Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 230)
9/07 H Amdt 752 Overseas Military Abortions Amendment Adopted - House (226 - 191)
6/25 S Amdt 2794 Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49)
9/19 HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Passed - House (285 - 137)
9/26 HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Failed - Senate (58 - 40)
7/23 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Passed - House (296 - 132)
9/18 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (64 - 36)
10/02 S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 142)
10/21 S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34)
7/25 S Amdt 4689 Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
12/06 HR 6099 Abortion Pain Bill Bill Failed - House (250 - 162)
2/19 HB 2006 Legal Status of an Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (94 - 28)
5/31 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
2/23 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
2/02 SF 118 Homicide During Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
2/01 HB 144 Abortion Information Requirement Bill Failed - House (28 - 32)
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)
4/23 HB 1466 Abortion Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 24)
3/07 HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - House (226 - 130)
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)
4/04 HB 744 Informed Consent Before Abortion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (276 - 88)
4/27 SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
4/25 HB 2062 Violence Against Unborn Children Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 27)
3/28 HB 2062 Violence Against Unborn Children Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
4/27 CS HB 71 Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 39)
4/20 H Amendment Prohibiting Public Funding for Abortions Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 68)
6/06 HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
6/07 HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
4/26 HB 317 Abortion Notification Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 62)
4/25 Prohibiting State Funding of Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Services Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 13)
5/22 HCS SB 357 Disclosure for Late-Term Abortions Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 10)
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)
4/03 SB 714 Ban on State-Funded Abortions Bill Passed - House (73 - 22)
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)
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)
5/14 HCS SB 139 State-Funded Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (77 - 19)
2/07 SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)

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