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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 8, 2024 WA SB 5849 Establishes Computer Science Competency as a High School Graduation Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3)
Feb. 7, 2024 OH SB 17 Amends Public Education Curriculum to Require Teaching of of Free Market Capitalism Bill Passed - House (66 - 26)
Feb. 6, 2024 NE LB 285 Authorizes the School Community Eligibility Provision Maximization Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
Feb. 6, 2024 NE LB 285 Authorizes the School Community Eligibility Provision Maximization Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
Feb. 6, 2024 IN SB 128 Prohibits Schools from Using Learning Materials for Instruction on Human Sexuality Without Board Approval Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
Feb. 5, 2024 IN SB 147 Amends Property Tax Exemption for Property Used by a for-Profit of Early Child Education Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
Feb. 4, 2024 NM HB 151 Requires Public Colleges and Universities Include Material on Affirmative Consent in Orientation Bill Passed - House (44 - 17)
Feb. 4, 2024 NM HB 151 Requires Public Colleges and Universities Include Material on Affirmative Consent in Orientation Bill Passed - House (44 - 17)
Feb. 1, 2024 NM SB 153 Increases the Amount that is Annually Transferred to the Early Childhood Education and Care Program Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Feb. 1, 2024 NM SB 137 Increases School Board Training Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Feb. 1, 2024 IN SB 1 Requires Third Graders Who Fail Certain Reading Standards be Held Back Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
Feb. 1, 2024 IN HB 1376 Limits When School Tax Referendums can be Presented to Voters Bill Passed - House (51 - 43)
Feb. 1, 2024 WA SB 5804 Requires Schools keep Opoid Overdose Reversal Medication Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Jan. 31, 2024 KY HB 96 Requires a Moment of Silence in Schools Bill Passed - House (79 - 17)
Jan. 31, 2024 AK SB 88 Authorizes Choice On Pension Plans Available to Alaska Teachers for Retirement Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 5)
Jan. 31, 2024 ID H 415 Authorizes Firearms in Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
Jan. 31, 2024 WV HB 4776 Increases Student Discipline Policies for State Educators Bill Passed - House (92 - 4)
Jan. 29, 2024 WA HB 1368 Appropriates $80 Million from the Climate Commitment Act for Electric School Bus Purchases Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
Jan. 29, 2024 UT HB 62 Authorizes School Curriculum Over the Water Cycle, State Water Use History, and Various Water Systems Bill Passed - House (65 - 8)
Jan. 26, 2024 UT HB 261 Repeals Diversity Training Programs Across All Public Education and Government Agencies in the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 14)
Jan. 26, 2024 KY SB 80 Prohibits College ID's as Valid Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Jan. 25, 2024 UT HB 261 Repeals Diversity Training Programs Across All Public Education and Government Agencies in the State Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
Jan. 23, 2024 IN HB 1001 Expands Work-Based Learning Programs Bill Passed - House (80 - 17)
Jan. 23, 2024 WV SB 152 Requires the Phrase "In God We Trust" be Displayed in Public Schools and College Classrooms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
Jan. 23, 2024 WV SB 280 Authorizes Intelligent Design to be Taught in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
Jan. 18, 2024 National HR 6914 Pregnant Students' Rights Act Bill Passed - House (212 - 207)
Jan. 18, 2024 IN HB 1002 Defines Antisemitism as Discrimination on the Basis of the Jewish Religion Bill Passed - House (83 - 0)
Jan. 18, 2024 WI AB 510 Establishes Parental Bill of Rights in Their Child's Religion, Medical care, Records and Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
Jan. 16, 2024 UT HB 14 Increases Penalties Associated with Threatening or Falsely Reporting an Emergency at School Bill Passed - House (73 - 1)
Jan. 9, 2024 DE SB 187 Requires that Education Professionals Receive Credit for Post-Secondary Degrees Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
Jan. 9, 2024 DE SB 188 Authorizes Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
Dec. 13, 2023 PA HB 301 Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
Dec. 13, 2023 PA SB 843 Amends Various Education Regulations and Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (188 - 15)
Dec. 13, 2023 PA SB 843 Amends Various Education Regulations and Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
Dec. 13, 2023 PA HB 301 Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (175 - 28)
Dec. 13, 2023 National H Res 927 Condemning antisemitism on University campuses and the testimony of University Presidents in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Resolution Passed - House (303 - 126)
Dec. 13, 2023 National HR 1147 Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023 Bill Passed - House (330 - 99)
Dec. 11, 2023 NJ S 3044 Appropriates $15 Million to the DEP for Implementation of Electric School Bus Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Dec. 7, 2023 National H J Res 88 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program". Joint Resolution Passed - House (210 - 189)
Dec. 6, 2023 National HR 5933 DETERRENT Act Bill Passed - House (246 - 170)
Nov. 15, 2023 OH HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Bill Passed - House (64 - 30)
Nov. 15, 2023 OH HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Bill Passed - House (64 - 30)
Nov. 15, 2023 National S J Res 43 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program". Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
Nov. 9, 2023 MI SB 185 Authorizes Graduate Student Research Assistants and Independent University Contractors to Unionize Bill Passed - House (56 - 51)
Nov. 7, 2023 MI SB 477 Repeals Pregnant and Parenting Student Service Office Prohibitions for Abortion Referrals Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Nov. 7, 2023 MI HB 4954 Amends the State School Aid Act of 1979 to Reflect Repealed Abortion Laws Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Nov. 7, 2023 WI AB 370 Requires Guaranteed Admission for Applicants Ranked in the Top 5% of Their High School Class Bill Passed - House (63 - 34)
Nov. 7, 2023 WI AB 553 Establishes Certain Free Speech and Academic Standards at Higher Institutions Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Nov. 7, 2023 WI AB 554 Amends Several of Wisconsin's Higher Education Requirements and Programs Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
Nov. 2, 2023 MI SB 174 Appropriates Supplemental Resources for School Aid Act Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 52)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/08 SB 5849 Establishes Computer Science Competency as a High School Graduation Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3)
2/07 SB 17 Amends Public Education Curriculum to Require Teaching of of Free Market Capitalism Bill Passed - House (66 - 26)
2/06 LB 285 Authorizes the School Community Eligibility Provision Maximization Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
2/06 LB 285 Authorizes the School Community Eligibility Provision Maximization Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
2/06 SB 128 Prohibits Schools from Using Learning Materials for Instruction on Human Sexuality Without Board Approval Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
2/05 SB 147 Amends Property Tax Exemption for Property Used by a for-Profit of Early Child Education Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
2/04 HB 151 Requires Public Colleges and Universities Include Material on Affirmative Consent in Orientation Bill Passed - House (44 - 17)
2/04 HB 151 Requires Public Colleges and Universities Include Material on Affirmative Consent in Orientation Bill Passed - House (44 - 17)
2/01 SB 153 Increases the Amount that is Annually Transferred to the Early Childhood Education and Care Program Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
2/01 SB 137 Increases School Board Training Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
2/01 SB 1 Requires Third Graders Who Fail Certain Reading Standards be Held Back Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
2/01 HB 1376 Limits When School Tax Referendums can be Presented to Voters Bill Passed - House (51 - 43)
2/01 SB 5804 Requires Schools keep Opoid Overdose Reversal Medication Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
1/31 HB 96 Requires a Moment of Silence in Schools Bill Passed - House (79 - 17)
1/31 SB 88 Authorizes Choice On Pension Plans Available to Alaska Teachers for Retirement Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 5)
1/31 H 415 Authorizes Firearms in Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
1/31 HB 4776 Increases Student Discipline Policies for State Educators Bill Passed - House (92 - 4)
1/29 HB 1368 Appropriates $80 Million from the Climate Commitment Act for Electric School Bus Purchases Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
1/29 HB 62 Authorizes School Curriculum Over the Water Cycle, State Water Use History, and Various Water Systems Bill Passed - House (65 - 8)
1/26 HB 261 Repeals Diversity Training Programs Across All Public Education and Government Agencies in the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 14)
1/26 SB 80 Prohibits College ID's as Valid Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
1/25 HB 261 Repeals Diversity Training Programs Across All Public Education and Government Agencies in the State Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
1/23 HB 1001 Expands Work-Based Learning Programs Bill Passed - House (80 - 17)
1/23 SB 152 Requires the Phrase "In God We Trust" be Displayed in Public Schools and College Classrooms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
1/23 SB 280 Authorizes Intelligent Design to be Taught in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
1/18 HR 6914 Pregnant Students' Rights Act Bill Passed - House (212 - 207)
1/18 HB 1002 Defines Antisemitism as Discrimination on the Basis of the Jewish Religion Bill Passed - House (83 - 0)
1/18 AB 510 Establishes Parental Bill of Rights in Their Child's Religion, Medical care, Records and Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
1/16 HB 14 Increases Penalties Associated with Threatening or Falsely Reporting an Emergency at School Bill Passed - House (73 - 1)
1/09 SB 187 Requires that Education Professionals Receive Credit for Post-Secondary Degrees Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
1/09 SB 188 Authorizes Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
12/13 HB 301 Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
12/13 SB 843 Amends Various Education Regulations and Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (188 - 15)
12/13 SB 843 Amends Various Education Regulations and Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
12/13 HB 301 Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (175 - 28)
12/13 H Res 927 Condemning antisemitism on University campuses and the testimony of University Presidents in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Resolution Passed - House (303 - 126)
12/13 HR 1147 Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023 Bill Passed - House (330 - 99)
12/11 S 3044 Appropriates $15 Million to the DEP for Implementation of Electric School Bus Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
12/07 H J Res 88 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program". Joint Resolution Passed - House (210 - 189)
12/06 HR 5933 DETERRENT Act Bill Passed - House (246 - 170)
11/15 HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Bill Passed - House (64 - 30)
11/15 HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Bill Passed - House (64 - 30)
11/15 S J Res 43 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program". Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
11/09 SB 185 Authorizes Graduate Student Research Assistants and Independent University Contractors to Unionize Bill Passed - House (56 - 51)
11/07 SB 477 Repeals Pregnant and Parenting Student Service Office Prohibitions for Abortion Referrals Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
11/07 HB 4954 Amends the State School Aid Act of 1979 to Reflect Repealed Abortion Laws Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
11/07 AB 370 Requires Guaranteed Admission for Applicants Ranked in the Top 5% of Their High School Class Bill Passed - House (63 - 34)
11/07 AB 553 Establishes Certain Free Speech and Academic Standards at Higher Institutions Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
11/07 AB 554 Amends Several of Wisconsin's Higher Education Requirements and Programs Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
11/02 SB 174 Appropriates Supplemental Resources for School Aid Act Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 52)

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