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
March 7, 2006 OK HCS HB 2138 Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction Bill Passed - House (70 - 25)
March 7, 2006 HI SB 3195 Education Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
March 6, 2006 ID H 630 School Grounds - Violence Bill Passed - House (49 - 12)
March 6, 2006 OK SB 1792 Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 6, 2006 IA HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
March 3, 2006 AK CSSB 112 Rural Education Tax Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
March 3, 2006 ID S 1382 Idaho Mathematics, Science and Engineering Scholarship Act Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
March 3, 2006 WI SB 618 School Voucher Program Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 2, 2006 AZ HB 2064 English Language Learners Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13)
March 2, 2006 OK HB 2107 Science Instruction Bill Passed - House (77 - 10)
March 2, 2006 MI HB 5606 New Graduation Requirements Bill Passed - House (70 - 31)
Feb. 28, 2006 IN SB 111 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Bill Passed - House (72 - 24)
Feb. 28, 2006 CO HB 1289 Colorado Student Assessment Program Penalty Removal Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
Feb. 28, 2006 OK SCS SB 1993 Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10)
Feb. 27, 2006 AZ HB 2064 English Language Learners Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 27)
Feb. 27, 2006 ID H 624 School Property Disposal Bill Passed - House (48 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2006 UT 3SSB 96 Origin of Species Curriculum Requirement Bill Bill Failed - House (28 - 46)
Feb. 24, 2006 WY SF 87 Board of Education Membership Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Feb. 23, 2006 UT 1SSB 97 Student Organizations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Feb. 22, 2006 UT 1SHB 181 Education Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
Feb. 21, 2006 SD HB 1235 Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
Feb. 21, 2006 MS HB 1643 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - House (94 - 28)
Feb. 21, 2006 IN HB 1006 Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
Feb. 21, 2006 MI HB 4278 Community Service Graduation Requirement Bill Passed - House (60 - 43)
Feb. 20, 2006 UT 1SHB 107 Full-Day Kindergarten Bill Passed - House (43 - 29)
Feb. 20, 2006 CO SB 66 Employee Leave for Academic Activities Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 20, 2006 VA HB 968 Membership of the Board of Correctional Education Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20)
Feb. 16, 2006 GA HCS SB 390 Classroom First Act for Georgia Bill Passed - House (102 - 70)
Feb. 15, 2006 KY HB 394 School Traffic Signal Bill Bill Passed - House (68 - 29)
Feb. 14, 2006 VA Sub SB 677 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
Feb. 10, 2006 WA Sub SB 6475 Certificate of Academic Achievement Alternative Methods Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
Feb. 10, 2006 SD HB 1235 Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 Bill Passed - House (51 - 14)
Feb. 9, 2006 SD HB 1194 Contraceptive Distribution at Public Schools Bill Passed - House (51 - 17)
Feb. 9, 2006 SD HB 1234 Mandatory Kindergarten Bill Passed - House (52 - 15)
Feb. 9, 2006 WA 3rd Sub HB 1484 Taxation for School Funding Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
Feb. 8, 2006 ME LD 1798 Standardized Testing "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 7, 2006 SD H Amdt 1194rf Penalties for School Employees for Dispensing Contraceptives Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (37 - 33)
Feb. 7, 2006 SD HB 1217 Abstinence-Only Sex Education Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
Feb. 6, 2006 MS SB 2119 School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
Feb. 2, 2006 National HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA Sub HB 262 College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
Feb. 2, 2006 MS SB 2604 Mississippi Adequate Education Program Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
Feb. 2, 2006 IN HB 1006 Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 40)
Feb. 2, 2006 IN HB 1240 Statewide Testing Review and ISTEP Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA HB 1050 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (76 - 23)
Feb. 1, 2006 MS SB 2602 Mississippi Education Reform Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Feb. 1, 2006 CO HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
Jan. 31, 2006 GA SB 390 Classroom First for Georgia Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
Jan. 24, 2006 AZ HB 2002 English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Jan. 24, 2006 IN SB 60 Public School Transfer Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Jan. 24, 2006 AZ HB 2002 English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests Bill Passed - House (33 - 23)
Jan. 23, 2006 UT SB 96 Origin of Species Curriculum Requirement Bill Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Jan. 19, 2006 IN SB 111 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
Jan. 17, 2006 SC H 3702 School Transportation Bill Passed - House (58 - 47)
Jan. 11, 2006 MA H 1230 In State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Failed - House (57 - 96)
Jan. 11, 2006 MS SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - House (90 - 30)
Jan. 6, 2006 MS SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15)
Dec. 14, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
Dec. 14, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
Dec. 8, 2005 National HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (234 - 197)
Nov. 17, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
Nov. 17, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
Oct. 27, 2005 National S Amdt 2287 After School Funding Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
Oct. 27, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
Oct. 27, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
Oct. 26, 2005 National S Amdt 2292 Individuals with Disabilities Education Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Oct. 26, 2005 National S Amdt 2275 Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 51)
Oct. 25, 2005 National S Amdt 2213 Federal Pell Grant Increase Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
July 22, 2005 National H Amdt 511 Advanced Research Opportunities Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (192 - 206)
June 23, 2005 National H Amdt 343 Restoring Funds for Public Broadcasting Amendment Adopted - House (284 - 140)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 172 Perkins Vocational Education Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 56)
May 13, 2004 National HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
July 25, 2003 National HR 2210 Head Start Bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 216)
July 9, 2003 National HR 2211 Ready to Teach Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (404 - 17)
July 9, 2003 National HR 438 Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers Bill Passed - House (417 - 7)
April 30, 2003 National HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - House (251 - 171)
Dec. 18, 2001 National HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
Dec. 13, 2001 National HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 41)
May 23, 2001 National HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Bill Passed - House (384 - 45)
June 28, 2000 National S Amdt 3655 Funding for Special Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
June 13, 2000 National H Amdt 788 Higher Education Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 267)
March 2, 2000 National S 1134 Education Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
Oct. 21, 1999 National HR 2 Education Funding for Disadvantaged Students-Passage Bill Passed - House (358 - 67)
Oct. 21, 1999 National HR 2300 Academic Achievement for All Act Bill Passed - House (213 - 208)
July 20, 1999 National HR 1995 Teacher Empowerment Act Bill Passed - House (239 - 185)
May 18, 1999 National S Amdt 351 Religious Memorials at Schools Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (85 - 13)
April 21, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
April 21, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
April 21, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57)
April 21, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57)
March 11, 1999 National H Amdt 22 High Needs District Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 223)
March 11, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
March 11, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
March 11, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (330 - 90)
March 11, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (330 - 90)
March 10, 1999 National H Amdt 20 Student Performance Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 228)
Sept. 29, 1998 National HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/07 HCS HB 2138 Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction Bill Passed - House (70 - 25)
3/07 SB 3195 Education Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
3/06 H 630 School Grounds - Violence Bill Passed - House (49 - 12)
3/06 SB 1792 Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/06 HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
3/03 CSSB 112 Rural Education Tax Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
3/03 S 1382 Idaho Mathematics, Science and Engineering Scholarship Act Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
3/03 SB 618 School Voucher Program Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/02 HB 2064 English Language Learners Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13)
3/02 HB 2107 Science Instruction Bill Passed - House (77 - 10)
3/02 HB 5606 New Graduation Requirements Bill Passed - House (70 - 31)
2/28 SB 111 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Bill Passed - House (72 - 24)
2/28 HB 1289 Colorado Student Assessment Program Penalty Removal Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
2/28 SCS SB 1993 Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10)
2/27 HB 2064 English Language Learners Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 27)
2/27 H 624 School Property Disposal Bill Passed - House (48 - 18)
2/27 3SSB 96 Origin of Species Curriculum Requirement Bill Bill Failed - House (28 - 46)
2/24 SF 87 Board of Education Membership Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
2/23 1SSB 97 Student Organizations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
2/22 1SHB 181 Education Reform Bill Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
2/21 HB 1235 Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
2/21 HB 1643 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - House (94 - 28)
2/21 HB 1006 Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
2/21 HB 4278 Community Service Graduation Requirement Bill Passed - House (60 - 43)
2/20 1SHB 107 Full-Day Kindergarten Bill Passed - House (43 - 29)
2/20 SB 66 Employee Leave for Academic Activities Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/20 HB 968 Membership of the Board of Correctional Education Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20)
2/16 HCS SB 390 Classroom First Act for Georgia Bill Passed - House (102 - 70)
2/15 HB 394 School Traffic Signal Bill Bill Passed - House (68 - 29)
2/14 Sub SB 677 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
2/10 Sub SB 6475 Certificate of Academic Achievement Alternative Methods Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
2/10 HB 1235 Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 Bill Passed - House (51 - 14)
2/09 HB 1194 Contraceptive Distribution at Public Schools Bill Passed - House (51 - 17)
2/09 HB 1234 Mandatory Kindergarten Bill Passed - House (52 - 15)
2/09 3rd Sub HB 1484 Taxation for School Funding Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
2/08 LD 1798 Standardized Testing "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16)
2/07 H Amdt 1194rf Penalties for School Employees for Dispensing Contraceptives Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (37 - 33)
2/07 HB 1217 Abstinence-Only Sex Education Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
2/06 SB 2119 School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
2/02 HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31)
2/02 Sub HB 262 College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
2/02 SB 2604 Mississippi Adequate Education Program Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
2/02 HB 1006 Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 40)
2/02 HB 1240 Statewide Testing Review and ISTEP Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
2/02 HB 1050 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (76 - 23)
2/01 SB 2602 Mississippi Education Reform Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
2/01 HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
1/31 SB 390 Classroom First for Georgia Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
1/24 HB 2002 English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
1/24 SB 60 Public School Transfer Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
1/24 HB 2002 English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests Bill Passed - House (33 - 23)
1/23 SB 96 Origin of Species Curriculum Requirement Bill Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
1/19 SB 111 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
1/17 H 3702 School Transportation Bill Passed - House (58 - 47)
1/11 H 1230 In State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Failed - House (57 - 96)
1/11 SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - House (90 - 30)
1/06 SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15)
12/14 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
12/14 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
12/08 HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (234 - 197)
11/17 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
11/17 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
11/03 S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
10/27 S Amdt 2287 After School Funding Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
10/27 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
10/27 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
10/26 S Amdt 2292 Individuals with Disabilities Education Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
10/26 S Amdt 2275 Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 51)
10/25 S Amdt 2213 Federal Pell Grant Increase Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
7/22 H Amdt 511 Advanced Research Opportunities Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (192 - 206)
6/23 H Amdt 343 Restoring Funds for Public Broadcasting Amendment Adopted - House (284 - 140)
3/17 S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
3/17 S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
3/17 S Amdt 172 Perkins Vocational Education Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 56)
5/13 HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
7/25 HR 2210 Head Start Bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 216)
7/09 HR 2211 Ready to Teach Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (404 - 17)
7/09 HR 438 Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers Bill Passed - House (417 - 7)
4/30 HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - House (251 - 171)
12/18 HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
12/13 HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 41)
5/23 HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Bill Passed - House (384 - 45)
6/28 S Amdt 3655 Funding for Special Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
6/13 H Amdt 788 Higher Education Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 267)
3/02 S 1134 Education Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
10/21 HR 2 Education Funding for Disadvantaged Students-Passage Bill Passed - House (358 - 67)
10/21 HR 2300 Academic Achievement for All Act Bill Passed - House (213 - 208)
7/20 HR 1995 Teacher Empowerment Act Bill Passed - House (239 - 185)
5/18 S Amdt 351 Religious Memorials at Schools Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (85 - 13)
4/21 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
4/21 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
4/21 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57)
4/21 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 57)
3/11 H Amdt 22 High Needs District Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 223)
3/11 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
3/11 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
3/11 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (330 - 90)
3/11 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (330 - 90)
3/10 H Amdt 20 Student Performance Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 228)
9/29 HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)

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