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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 26, 2007 | AZ | SB 1302 | Use of Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (42 - 17) |
Jan. 29, 2007 | AZ | SB 1032 | Emergency Room Malpractice | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
March 8, 2007 | AZ | SB 1152 | REAL ID Implementation Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
March 8, 2007 | AZ | HB 2641 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (34 - 21) |
May 10, 2007 | AZ | SB 1032 | Emergency Room Malpractice | Bill Failed - House (26 - 29) |
June 20, 2007 | AZ | HB 2641 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6) |
June 4, 2007 | CA | SB 1019 | Access to Police Misconduct Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
Feb. 26, 2007 | CO | HB 1036 | Eminent Domain Over Water Rights | Bill Passed - House (34 - 30) |
June 2, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 167 | Restricting Eminent Domain | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (132 - 7) |
May 31, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 167 | Restricting Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
June 5, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 938 | Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms | Bill Passed - House (94 - 56) |
May 23, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 938 | Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
April 27, 2007 | FL | CS CS HB 1231 | Prostitution Act | Bill Passed - House (85 - 31) |
March 20, 2007 | GA | HCS HB 185 | Death Penalty Rules | Bill Passed - House (106 - 65) |
April 18, 2007 | IA | SF 430 | Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 34) |
March 28, 2007 | IA | SF 430 | Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
March 19, 2007 | ID | S 1172 | English as the Official Language | Bill Passed - House (46 - 20) |
March 7, 2007 | ID | S 1172 | English as the Official Language | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
April 26, 2007 | IL | HB 317 | Abortion Notification Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 62) |
June 7, 2007 | IL | HR 25 | State Constitutional Convention Awareness | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47) |
April 27, 2007 | IL | HB 1798 | Wrongful Death Damages | Bill Passed - House (63 - 52) |
May 17, 2007 | IL | HB 1798 | Wrongful Death Damages | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23) |
March 20, 2007 | IL | SB 1296 | Damages in Civil Actions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
Feb. 7, 2007 | IN | HB 1262 | BMV Commission Elimination | Bill Passed - House (51 - 49) |
March 15, 2007 | KS | HB 2530 | Physician Liability Exemption | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
June 5, 2007 | LA | HB 313 | Extended Period for Indictments | Bill Passed - House (79 - 25) |
March 26, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (71 - 66) |
April 9, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
Feb. 27, 2007 | MD | SB 61 | Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | SB 233 | 2007-2008 State Judiciary Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (102 - 7) |
Feb. 22, 2007 | MI | HB 4045 | Retroactive Drug Manufacturer Liability | Bill Passed - House (60 - 49) |
Feb. 22, 2007 | MI | HB 4046 | Pharmaceutical Company Liability | Bill Passed - House (58 - 49) |
Feb. 22, 2007 | MI | HB 4044 | Repealing Drug Company Liability Protection | Bill Passed - House (70 - 39) |
March 8, 2007 | MS | SB 2391 | Abortion Law Reform | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2) |
Feb. 22, 2007 | MS | SB 2391 | Abortion Law Reform | Bill Passed - House (97 - 16) |
Feb. 7, 2007 | MS | SB 2391 | Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0) |
Nov. 8, 2007 | National | PN 958 | Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 40) |
June 11, 2007 | National | S J Res 14 | Attorney General No Confidence Vote | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 38) |
March 20, 2007 | National | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
May 22, 2007 | National | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 114) |
May 22, 2007 | National | HR 2264 | Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups | Bill Passed - House (345 - 72) |
Oct. 16, 2007 | National | HR 2102 | Reporter's Source Confidentiality Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (398 - 21) |
Oct. 4, 2007 | National | HR 2740 | Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 30) |
May 15, 2007 | NC | SB 1006 | Confidentiality of Competitive Health Care Information Act | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5) |
May 24, 2007 | NC | HB 878 | Eminent Domain for Private Use | Bill Passed - House (104 - 15) |
March 28, 2007 | NH | HB 774 | Medical Marijuana | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (186 - 177) |
June 7, 2007 | NH | HB 143 | Damages in Civil Actions | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
Feb. 21, 2007 | NH | HB 143 | Damages in Civil Actions | Bill Passed - House (202 - 150) |
Dec. 13, 2007 | NJ | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (44 - 36) |
Dec. 10, 2007 | NJ | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
Feb. 27, 2007 | NM | SB 322 | Requiring Conference Committees to be Public | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21) |
May 25, 2007 | NV | AB 510 | Parole Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (35 - 4) |
March 5, 2007 | NY | S 3318 | Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
May 14, 2007 | NY | S 319 | Death Penalty For Certain Murders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24) |
March 6, 2007 | NY | S 3318 | Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act | Bill Passed - House (127 - 19) |
June 27, 2007 | OH | SB 7 | Eminent Domain Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
June 27, 2007 | OH | SB 7 | Eminent Domain Bill | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
June 27, 2007 | OH | SJR 1 | Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill | Bill Failed - House (56 - 42) |
May 31, 2007 | OH | SJR 1 | Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
April 19, 2007 | OK | SB 507 | Comprehensive tort reform-Provide | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
April 17, 2007 | OK | SB 507 | Comprehensive tort reform-Provide | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
March 13, 2007 | OK | SB 507 | Firearm Injury Liability and Tort Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5) |
June 4, 2007 | OR | HB 2760 | Annexation of Unincorporated Land | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
June 15, 2007 | RI | Article 22 of H5300A | Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19) |
June 19, 2007 | RI | LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa | Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30) |
June 19, 2007 | RI | H 5127 | Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal | Bill Passed - House (54 - 6) |
March 20, 2007 | TX | CSSB 378 | Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (133 - 13) |
May 1, 2007 | TX | CSSB 966 | Journalist Confidentiality Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - House (82 - 18) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 21) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - House (83 - 16) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
April 20, 2007 | VT | SR 16 | Urging National Executive Impeachment | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9) |
April 25, 2007 | VT | HR. 18 | Urging National Executive Impeachment | Resolution Failed - House (60 - 87) |
Dec. 11, 2007 | WI | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
Dec. 11, 2007 | WI | SB 176 | Compensation for Discharged Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
Feb. 5, 2007 | WY | HJ 8 | Real ID Act Repeal | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 11) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2/26 | SB 1302 | Use of Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (42 - 17) |
1/29 | SB 1032 | Emergency Room Malpractice | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
3/08 | SB 1152 | REAL ID Implementation Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
3/08 | HB 2641 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (34 - 21) |
5/10 | SB 1032 | Emergency Room Malpractice | Bill Failed - House (26 - 29) |
6/20 | HB 2641 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6) |
6/04 | SB 1019 | Access to Police Misconduct Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
2/26 | HB 1036 | Eminent Domain Over Water Rights | Bill Passed - House (34 - 30) |
6/02 | Sub SB 167 | Restricting Eminent Domain | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (132 - 7) |
5/31 | Sub SB 167 | Restricting Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
6/05 | Sub SB 938 | Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms | Bill Passed - House (94 - 56) |
5/23 | Sub SB 938 | Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
4/27 | CS CS HB 1231 | Prostitution Act | Bill Passed - House (85 - 31) |
3/20 | HCS HB 185 | Death Penalty Rules | Bill Passed - House (106 - 65) |
4/18 | SF 430 | Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 34) |
3/28 | SF 430 | Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
3/19 | S 1172 | English as the Official Language | Bill Passed - House (46 - 20) |
3/07 | S 1172 | English as the Official Language | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
4/26 | HB 317 | Abortion Notification Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 62) |
6/07 | HR 25 | State Constitutional Convention Awareness | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47) |
4/27 | HB 1798 | Wrongful Death Damages | Bill Passed - House (63 - 52) |
5/17 | HB 1798 | Wrongful Death Damages | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23) |
3/20 | SB 1296 | Damages in Civil Actions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
2/07 | HB 1262 | BMV Commission Elimination | Bill Passed - House (51 - 49) |
3/15 | HB 2530 | Physician Liability Exemption | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
6/05 | HB 313 | Extended Period for Indictments | Bill Passed - House (79 - 25) |
3/26 | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (71 - 66) |
4/09 | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
2/27 | SB 61 | Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
10/30 | SB 233 | 2007-2008 State Judiciary Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (102 - 7) |
2/22 | HB 4045 | Retroactive Drug Manufacturer Liability | Bill Passed - House (60 - 49) |
2/22 | HB 4046 | Pharmaceutical Company Liability | Bill Passed - House (58 - 49) |
2/22 | HB 4044 | Repealing Drug Company Liability Protection | Bill Passed - House (70 - 39) |
3/08 | SB 2391 | Abortion Law Reform | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2) |
2/22 | SB 2391 | Abortion Law Reform | Bill Passed - House (97 - 16) |
2/07 | SB 2391 | Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0) |
11/08 | PN 958 | Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 40) |
6/11 | S J Res 14 | Attorney General No Confidence Vote | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 38) |
3/20 | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
5/22 | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 114) |
5/22 | HR 2264 | Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups | Bill Passed - House (345 - 72) |
10/16 | HR 2102 | Reporter's Source Confidentiality Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (398 - 21) |
10/04 | HR 2740 | Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 30) |
5/15 | SB 1006 | Confidentiality of Competitive Health Care Information Act | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5) |
5/24 | HB 878 | Eminent Domain for Private Use | Bill Passed - House (104 - 15) |
3/28 | HB 774 | Medical Marijuana | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (186 - 177) |
6/07 | HB 143 | Damages in Civil Actions | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
2/21 | HB 143 | Damages in Civil Actions | Bill Passed - House (202 - 150) |
12/13 | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (44 - 36) |
12/10 | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
2/27 | SB 322 | Requiring Conference Committees to be Public | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21) |
5/25 | AB 510 | Parole Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (35 - 4) |
3/05 | S 3318 | Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
5/14 | S 319 | Death Penalty For Certain Murders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24) |
3/06 | S 3318 | Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act | Bill Passed - House (127 - 19) |
6/27 | SB 7 | Eminent Domain Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
6/27 | SB 7 | Eminent Domain Bill | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
6/27 | SJR 1 | Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill | Bill Failed - House (56 - 42) |
5/31 | SJR 1 | Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
4/19 | SB 507 | Comprehensive tort reform-Provide | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
4/17 | SB 507 | Comprehensive tort reform-Provide | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
3/13 | SB 507 | Firearm Injury Liability and Tort Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5) |
6/04 | HB 2760 | Annexation of Unincorporated Land | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
6/15 | Article 22 of H5300A | Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19) |
6/19 | LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa | Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30) |
6/19 | H 5127 | Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal | Bill Passed - House (54 - 6) |
3/20 | CSSB 378 | Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (133 - 13) |
5/01 | CSSB 966 | Journalist Confidentiality Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - House (82 - 18) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 21) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - House (83 - 16) |
4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
4/20 | SR 16 | Urging National Executive Impeachment | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9) |
4/25 | HR. 18 | Urging National Executive Impeachment | Resolution Failed - House (60 - 87) |
12/11 | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
12/11 | SB 176 | Compensation for Discharged Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
2/05 | HJ 8 | Real ID Act Repeal | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 11) |