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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2019 | GA | SB 83 | Authorizes Biblical Classes be Taught in High Schools | Bill Passed - House (122 - 44) |
| March 25, 2019 | MO | HB 267 | Authorizes Public Schools to Offer Bible Courses | Bill Passed - House (95 - 52) |
| March 25, 2019 | MO | HB 267 | Authorizes Public Schools to Offer Bible Courses | Bill Passed - House (95 - 52) |
| March 21, 2019 | AL | SB 119 | Repeals Common Core | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| March 21, 2019 | AL | SB 119 | Repeals Common Core | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| March 14, 2019 | KY | SB 162 | Establishes a State Police School Resource Officer Program | Bill Passed - House (77 - 14) |
| March 14, 2019 | IA | SF 274 | Amends Free Speech Regulations on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| March 13, 2019 | OK | HB 2336 | Authorizes Handguns on the Premises of Schools | Bill Passed - House (72 - 25) |
| March 12, 2019 | SD | HB 1087 | Requires Protections for All Forms of Free Speech at Public Universities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 12) |
| March 12, 2019 | OR | SB 664 | Requires School Districts to Teach About the Holocaust and Genocide | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| March 12, 2019 | KY | HB 254 | Requires Public Universities to Adopt Policies that Protect Freedom of Speech and Expression | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| March 12, 2019 | OR | SB 664 | Requires School Districts to Teach About the Holocaust and Genocide | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| March 11, 2019 | MS | SB 2770 | Increases Public School Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - House (112 - 2) |
| March 11, 2019 | IA | SF 274 | Amends Free Speech Regulations on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| March 7, 2019 | UT | SB 149 | Establishes the Teacher and Student Success Program | Bill Passed - House (61 - 11) |
| March 7, 2019 | GA | HB 444 | Limits State Funding for Dual Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (99 - 72) |
| March 7, 2019 | GA | HB 444 | Limits State Funding for Dual Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (99 - 72) |
| March 6, 2019 | WV | SB 1 | Increases Access to Career Education and Workforce Training | Bill Passed - House (85 - 13) |
| March 6, 2019 | MO | HB 161 | Prohibits Schools from Enacting Early Start Dates in the Fall | Bill Passed - House (86 - 64) |
| March 6, 2019 | SC | H 3759 | Increases Teacher Pay | Bill Passed - House (113 - 4) |
| March 6, 2019 | ID | H 209 | Authorizes Warrant-less Arrests for Individuals Responsible for School Threats | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| March 6, 2019 | SC | H 3759 | Increases Teacher Pay | Bill Passed - House (113 - 4) |
| Feb. 28, 2019 | AR | HB 1419 | Requires Public Schools To Allow Enrollment In Individual Classes For Homeschooled Students | Bill Passed - House (55 - 27) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | WA | SB 5395 | Establishes K-12 Sexual Health Education Programs in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | WV | HB 2519 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | WA | SB 5395 | Establishes K-12 Sexual Health Education Programs in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | NJ | S 692 | Prohibits the Department of Education from Establishing Maximum Salaries for Superintendents | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | NJ | S 692 | Prohibits the Department of Education from Establishing Maximum Salaries for Superintendents | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | ID | H 153 | Increases State Teacher Pay | Bill Passed - House (61 - 9) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 3381 | Authorizes Graduation Proficiency Tests to High School | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 3381 | Authorizes Graduation Proficiency Tests to High School | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 3039 | Prohibits Financial Aid For Students Convicted Of Hazing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | AZ | SB 1217 | Amends Eligibility For School Tuition Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1032 | Amends Sex Education Standards | Bill Passed - House (39 - 23) |
| Feb. 18, 2019 | IN | HB 1253 | Authorizes Firearm Training for Teachers and School Staff | Bill Passed - House (72 - 25) |
| Feb. 12, 2019 | MD | SB 128 | Authorizes Regulation of School Calendars | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| Feb. 12, 2019 | SD | HB 1108 | Prohibits Gender Dysphoria Sex Education from Kindergarten through Grade 7 | Bill Passed - House (39 - 30) |
| Feb. 12, 2019 | SD | HB 1108 | Prohibits Gender Dysphoria Sex Education from Kindergarten through Grade 7 | Bill Passed - House (39 - 30) |
| Feb. 11, 2019 | IA | HF 306 | Increases School Funding by 2 Percent | Bill Passed - House (53 - 47) |
| Feb. 11, 2019 | IN | HB 1003 | Establishes the Fiscal Year 2019 Public Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| Feb. 5, 2019 | VA | HB 2384 | Prohibits Tobacco and Nicotine Vapor Products at Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (83 - 15) |
| Feb. 4, 2019 | VA | SB 1502 | Requires School Boards to Offer Classes on the Bible | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 4, 2019 | WV | SB 451 | Amends Certain Education Laws and Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 101 | Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - House (104 - 40) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 101 | Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| Jan. 24, 2019 | IN | SB 132 | Requires Citizenship Test Prior to High School Graduation | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
| Jan. 14, 2019 | NY | S 1250 | Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children | Bill Passed - House (97 - 42) |
| Jan. 14, 2019 | NY | S 1250 | Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20) |
| Dec. 13, 2018 | MI | HB 5526 | Establishes A to F Letter Rating System For Schools | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| Dec. 13, 2018 | MI | HB 5526 | Establishes A to F Letter Rating System For Schools | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| Oct. 15, 2018 | PA | SB 1095 | Authorizes Alternatives to Graduate for Keystone Test | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Oct. 9, 2018 | PA | SB 1090 | Increases Anti Hazing Penalties and Regulations | Bill Passed - House (191 - 0) |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | SB 1098 | Establishes School Bus Safety Grant Program Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | SB 1098 | Establishes School Bus Safety Grant Program Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 521 | Requires CPR Training in High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 521 | Requires CPR Training in High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Aug. 27, 2018 | NJ | S 2293 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 0) |
| Aug. 27, 2018 | NJ | S 2293 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0) |
| July 17, 2018 | National | PN 1391 | Nomination of James Blew to Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development for the Department of Education | (50 - 49) |
| July 12, 2018 | MA | S 2595 | Establishes Commission to Study Lead in Drinking Water at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| July 1, 2018 | NJ | A 3765 | Authorizes School Employees with Safety Experience to be Appointed as a School Safety Specialist | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 87 | Establishes Policies on the Distribution of Funds Returned to the State from Community Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 318 | Requires New Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 20) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | SB 216 | Amends Regulations Relating to Public Education | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 428 | Requires Schools to Allow Student Religious Expression | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 540 | Amends Teacher Evaluation Process | Bill Passed - House (91 - 2) |
| June 26, 2018 | ME | LD 1869 | Establishes Total Cost of Education and State and Local Contributions to Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
| June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4110 | Requires Seat Belts on School Buses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 542 | Requires Schools Maintain a Supply of Opioid Antidotes | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| June 25, 2018 | NJ | S 2055 | Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Incarcerated Persons | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 1) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 1) |
| June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 2 | Amends School Funding Formula | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |
| June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 2711 | Requires Child Abuse Training for Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 2 | Amends School Funding Formula | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 20, 2018 | NY | S 2493 | Prohibits College Funds for Organizations that Promote Boycotts of Allied Nations | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 12) |
| June 20, 2018 | OH | HB 58 | Require Instruction in Cursive Handwriting | Bill Passed - House (89 - 4) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 47) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 47) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4069 | Reduces College Credits Required for Substitute Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 46) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4069 | Reduces College Credits Required for Substitute Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 21 | Amends Certain Charter School Enrollment Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 0) |
| June 6, 2018 | PA | HB 564 | Requires Civics Test for High School Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (167 - 27) |
| June 6, 2018 | NC | HB 514 | Authorizes Municipalities to Form Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 53) |
| June 4, 2018 | NC | HB 514 | Authorizes Municipalities to Form Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2546 | Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions | Bill Passed - House (66 - 49) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2892 | Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - House (65 - 47) |
| May 29, 2018 | CA | AB 2160 | Defines Playground Aides as Classified Employees | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 874 | Increases Penalties for Failing to Report Child Abuse or Neglect | Bill Passed - House (107 - 2) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | HB 6043 | Requires School Districts to Report Inappropriate Conduct within 60 Days | Bill Passed - House (88 - 21) |
| May 23, 2018 | IL | SB 2428 | Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students | Bill Passed - House (66 - 44) |
| May 17, 2018 | RI | H 7419 | Prohibits Advertising of Unhealthy Food and Beverages in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 10) |
| May 17, 2018 | IL | SB 2892 | Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 16) |
| May 16, 2018 | OH | SB 246 | Limits Out-of-School Suspensions and Expulsions For Students in Kindergarten to Third Grade | (32 - 0) |
| May 16, 2018 | OH | SB 246 | Limits Out-of-School Suspensions and Expulsions For Students in Kindergarten to Third Grade | (32 - 0) |
| May 9, 2018 | CT | HB 5170 | Authorizes Schools to Search Student Cell Phones | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |