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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 21, 2006 | AZ | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Failed - House (29 - 27) |
April 11, 2006 | AZ | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
March 16, 2006 | AZ | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
April 27, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
April 27, 2006 | CT | LCO # 4811 | Chief Justice Powers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 13) |
April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
April 17, 2006 | CT | HB 5212 | News Media Information Protection | Bill Passed - House (107 - 34) |
April 24, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
March 30, 2006 | FL | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
April 5, 2006 | FL | HB 7009 | Review of Local Government Managers | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
March 16, 2006 | FL | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - House (93 - 27) |
March 7, 2006 | IA | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
May 1, 2006 | KS | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
March 9, 2006 | KS | SCR 1606 | Supreme Court Justice Selection Procedure Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 17) |
Feb. 22, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
June 14, 2006 | LA | HB 1379 | Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 20) |
May 15, 2006 | LA | HB 1379 | Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children | Bill Passed - House (58 - 35) |
May 9, 2006 | LA | SB 655 | Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
April 28, 2006 | ME | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
April 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | HB 199 | Juvenile Delinquent Program Changes | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
Jan. 31, 2006 | National | PN 1059 | Samuel Alito, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Sept. 27, 2006 | National | HR 6166 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (253 - 168) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
Sept. 26, 2006 | National | HR 2679 | Public Expression of Religion Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (244 - 173) |
March 7, 2006 | National | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 4772 | Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (231 - 181) |
Sept. 29, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
July 19, 2006 | National | HR 2389 | Pledge Protection Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (260 - 167) |
Sept. 21, 2006 | National | HR 6095 | Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (277 - 140) |
Sept. 21, 2006 | National | HR 6095 | Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (277 - 140) |
Sept. 26, 2006 | National | HR 4772 | Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2005 | Bill Failed - House (234 - 172) |
July 25, 2006 | NC | HB 1323 | Establishment of NC Innocence Inquiry Commission | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 28) |
April 12, 2006 | NE | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
May 24, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (168 - 165) |
Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
June 22, 2006 | NJ | A 3257 | Eminent Domain and Redevelopment Programs | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
March 2, 2006 | NJ | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
Jan. 9, 2006 | NJ | S 2083 | Domestic Partner Surviving Rights | Bill Passed - House (67 - 8) |
Feb. 9, 2006 | NM | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
June 21, 2006 | NY | S 8446 | DNA Database Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2) |
March 15, 2006 | OH | Amdt. HB 9 | Concealed Weapons Permit Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (51 - 43) |
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 | OH | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Bill Passed - House (77 - 18) |
May 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
6/21 | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Failed - House (29 - 27) |
4/11 | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
3/16 | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
5/03 | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
5/03 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
4/27 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
4/27 | LCO # 4811 | Chief Justice Powers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 13) |
4/27 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
4/17 | HB 5212 | News Media Information Protection | Bill Passed - House (107 - 34) |
4/24 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
3/30 | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
4/05 | HB 7009 | Review of Local Government Managers | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
3/16 | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - House (93 - 27) |
3/07 | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
5/01 | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
3/09 | SCR 1606 | Supreme Court Justice Selection Procedure Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 17) |
2/22 | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
6/14 | HB 1379 | Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 20) |
5/15 | HB 1379 | Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children | Bill Passed - House (58 - 35) |
5/09 | SB 655 | Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
4/28 | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
4/27 | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
2/07 | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
2/07 | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
2/09 | HB 199 | Juvenile Delinquent Program Changes | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
1/31 | PN 1059 | Samuel Alito, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42) |
9/28 | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
9/27 | HR 6166 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (253 - 168) |
9/28 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
9/26 | HR 2679 | Public Expression of Religion Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (244 - 173) |
3/07 | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
9/29 | HR 4772 | Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (231 - 181) |
9/29 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
7/19 | HR 2389 | Pledge Protection Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (260 - 167) |
9/21 | HR 6095 | Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (277 - 140) |
9/21 | HR 6095 | Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (277 - 140) |
9/26 | HR 4772 | Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2005 | Bill Failed - House (234 - 172) |
7/25 | HB 1323 | Establishment of NC Innocence Inquiry Commission | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 28) |
4/12 | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
5/24 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (168 - 165) |
2/15 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
6/22 | A 3257 | Eminent Domain and Redevelopment Programs | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
3/02 | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
1/09 | S 2083 | Domestic Partner Surviving Rights | Bill Passed - House (67 - 8) |
2/09 | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
6/21 | S 8446 | DNA Database Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2) |
3/15 | Amdt. HB 9 | Concealed Weapons Permit Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (51 - 43) |
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 | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Bill Passed - House (77 - 18) |
5/26 | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5) |