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 7, 2011 | AZ | HB 2415 | Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| March 4, 2011 | ID | H 104a | Teacher Union Activities | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| March 3, 2011 | NV | AB 183 | Revising Payment for Outstanding Bonds in School Districts | Bill Passed - House (25 - 16) |
| March 3, 2011 | MN | SF 40 | Amends Licensing and Codes for Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 50) |
| March 3, 2011 | MN | SF 40 | Amends Licensing and Codes for Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 19) |
| March 3, 2011 | UT | HB 301 | School District Property Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - House (39 - 31) |
| March 2, 2011 | UT | SB 65 | Statewide Online Education Program | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 2, 2011 | WV | HB 2879 | One-Time Pay Raise for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (78 - 22) |
| March 1, 2011 | WY | HB 204 | Patriotism in the Classroom | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| March 1, 2011 | UT | SB 65 | Statewide Online Education Program | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10) |
| March 1, 2011 | GA | HB 326 | Amends the HOPE Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (152 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | UT | HB 191 | Nonresident Tuition Waiver Amendments | Bill Passed - House (44 - 28) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | NM | SB 319 | Eliminating Corporal Punishment | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 18) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | NC | SB 8 | Repeal on the Number of Charter Schools Allowed | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | ID | S 1110 | Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | ID | S 1108 | Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | UT | SJR 9 | Supervision of Public Education | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | UT | HB 183 | School District Leave Policies | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | SC | H 3241 | Funding for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | KS | HB 2006 | Prohibiting Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving In-State Tuition Rates | Bill Passed - House (72 - 50) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | IN | SB 1 | Evaluating and Licensing of Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | MT | HB 456 | Sexual Education in K-12 Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| Feb. 21, 2011 | OK | SB 435 | Modifying Board of Education Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| Feb. 21, 2011 | ND | HB 1263 | Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota | Bill Passed - House (65 - 28) |
| Feb. 18, 2011 | National | H Amdt 94 | Prohibits Funds for the Gainful Employment Rule | Amendment Adopted - House (289 - 136) |
| Feb. 18, 2011 | ND | HB 1258 | Contribution Retirement Plans for Teachers | Bill Failed - House (38 - 56) |
| Feb. 18, 2011 | ND | HB 1412 | Teaching Personal Finance in Middle Schools | Bill Failed - House (47 - 47) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | ND | HB 1385 | Senior Citizens Attending Institutions of Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (65 - 29) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | IA | HF 260 | House Rule School Governance | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | IN | SB 575 | Collective Bargaining for School Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | AR | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | WY | SF 106 | School Finances | Bill Failed - House (20 - 35) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | OH | HB 30 | Reduce Required School Funding | Bill Passed - House (59 - 36) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | UT | HB 75 | Guns On School Premises | Bill Passed - House (58 - 15) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | UT | HB 75 | Guns On School Premises | Bill Passed - House (58 - 15) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | IA | SF 166 | Funding for Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Feb. 11, 2011 | ND | HB 1470 | Higher Education Tuition | Bill Failed - House (41 - 51) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | WY | SF 140 | Kindergarten Attendance | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | WY | SF 52 | Repealing Teacher Tenure | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | HB 2314 | Education Improvement Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | IN | HB 1002 | Charter School Amendments | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | HB 1465 | Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | WY | HB 204 | Patriotism in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (52 - 5) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | ID | HJM 1 | Parental Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Feb. 3, 2011 | MN | SF 40 | Amends Licensing and Codes for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| Feb. 3, 2011 | VA | SB 831 | Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | WY | SF 106 | School Finances | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | VA | HJ 593 | Free Exercise of Religion | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 33) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | AR | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (53 - 41) |
| Jan. 31, 2011 | AR | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - House (46 - 47) |
| Jan. 31, 2011 | NY | S 2707 | Funding State Mandated Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20) |
| Dec. 8, 2010 | National | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
| Nov. 17, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
| Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| Sept. 15, 2010 | MI | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5) |
| Sept. 15, 2010 | MI | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49) |
| Sept. 8, 2010 | MI | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1381 | Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1381 | Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
| Aug. 30, 2010 | CA | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Bill Passed - House (58 - 17) |
| Aug. 27, 2010 | CA | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | MI | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| Aug. 10, 2010 | National | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (247 - 161) |
| Aug. 5, 2010 | National | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 36) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| June 23, 2010 | PA | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| June 21, 2010 | NY | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/07 | HB 2415 | Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| 3/04 | H 104a | Teacher Union Activities | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| 3/03 | AB 183 | Revising Payment for Outstanding Bonds in School Districts | Bill Passed - House (25 - 16) |
| 3/03 | SF 40 | Amends Licensing and Codes for Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 50) |
| 3/03 | SF 40 | Amends Licensing and Codes for Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 19) |
| 3/03 | HB 301 | School District Property Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - House (39 - 31) |
| 3/02 | SB 65 | Statewide Online Education Program | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 3/02 | HB 2879 | One-Time Pay Raise for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (78 - 22) |
| 3/01 | HB 204 | Patriotism in the Classroom | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| 3/01 | SB 65 | Statewide Online Education Program | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10) |
| 3/01 | HB 326 | Amends the HOPE Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (152 - 22) |
| 2/28 | HB 191 | Nonresident Tuition Waiver Amendments | Bill Passed - House (44 - 28) |
| 2/28 | SB 319 | Eliminating Corporal Punishment | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 18) |
| 2/24 | SB 8 | Repeal on the Number of Charter Schools Allowed | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 2/24 | S 1110 | Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 2/24 | S 1108 | Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 2/23 | SJR 9 | Supervision of Public Education | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 2/23 | HB 183 | School District Leave Policies | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| 2/23 | H 3241 | Funding for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
| 2/22 | HB 2006 | Prohibiting Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving In-State Tuition Rates | Bill Passed - House (72 - 50) |
| 2/22 | SB 1 | Evaluating and Licensing of Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 2/22 | HB 456 | Sexual Education in K-12 Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| 2/21 | SB 435 | Modifying Board of Education Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| 2/21 | HB 1263 | Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota | Bill Passed - House (65 - 28) |
| 2/18 | H Amdt 94 | Prohibits Funds for the Gainful Employment Rule | Amendment Adopted - House (289 - 136) |
| 2/18 | HB 1258 | Contribution Retirement Plans for Teachers | Bill Failed - House (38 - 56) |
| 2/18 | HB 1412 | Teaching Personal Finance in Middle Schools | Bill Failed - House (47 - 47) |
| 2/17 | HB 1385 | Senior Citizens Attending Institutions of Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (65 - 29) |
| 2/17 | HF 260 | House Rule School Governance | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| 2/17 | SB 575 | Collective Bargaining for School Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| 2/16 | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9) |
| 2/16 | SF 106 | School Finances | Bill Failed - House (20 - 35) |
| 2/16 | HB 30 | Reduce Required School Funding | Bill Passed - House (59 - 36) |
| 2/16 | HB 75 | Guns On School Premises | Bill Passed - House (58 - 15) |
| 2/16 | HB 75 | Guns On School Premises | Bill Passed - House (58 - 15) |
| 2/16 | SF 166 | Funding for Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 2/11 | HB 1470 | Higher Education Tuition | Bill Failed - House (41 - 51) |
| 2/08 | SF 140 | Kindergarten Attendance | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
| 2/08 | SF 52 | Repealing Teacher Tenure | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 2/08 | HB 2314 | Education Improvement Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 2/08 | HB 1002 | Charter School Amendments | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| 2/08 | HB 1465 | Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| 2/08 | HB 204 | Patriotism in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (52 - 5) |
| 2/07 | HJM 1 | Parental Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 2/03 | SF 40 | Amends Licensing and Codes for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| 2/03 | SB 831 | Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 2/02 | SF 106 | School Finances | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 2/01 | HJ 593 | Free Exercise of Religion | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 33) |
| 2/01 | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (53 - 41) |
| 1/31 | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - House (46 - 47) |
| 1/31 | S 2707 | Funding State Mandated Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20) |
| 12/08 | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
| 11/17 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 11/15 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| 11/15 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
| 10/14 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| 9/15 | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5) |
| 9/15 | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49) |
| 9/08 | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 8/31 | SB 1381 | Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 8/31 | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 8/31 | SB 1381 | Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
| 8/30 | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Bill Passed - House (58 - 17) |
| 8/27 | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| 8/26 | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 8/25 | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 8/25 | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| 8/23 | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| 8/10 | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (247 - 161) |
| 8/05 | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39) |
| 6/28 | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 36) |
| 6/28 | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 6/23 | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| 6/21 | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 6/20 | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |