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, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2138 | Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| March 7, 2006 | OK | SB 1387 | Physical Education Instruction Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| 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 | WI | SB 618 | School Voucher Program Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| 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 2, 2006 | AZ | HB 2064 | English Language Learners | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 2, 2006 | MI | HB 5606 | New Graduation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (70 - 31) |
| March 2, 2006 | OK | HB 2107 | Science Instruction | Bill Passed - House (77 - 10) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | OK | SCS SB 1993 | Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1289 | Colorado Student Assessment Program Penalty Removal | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | IN | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| Feb. 27, 2006 | AZ | HB 2064 | English Language Learners | Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 27) |
| Feb. 27, 2006 | UT | 3SSB 96 | Origin of Species Curriculum Requirement Bill | Bill Failed - House (28 - 46) |
| Feb. 27, 2006 | ID | H 624 | School Property Disposal | Bill Passed - House (48 - 18) |
| 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 | 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 | SD | HB 1235 | Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23) |
| 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 | VA | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | CO | SB 66 | Employee Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 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 | SD | HB 1235 | Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 | Bill Passed - House (51 - 14) |
| Feb. 10, 2006 | WA | Sub SB 6475 | Certificate of Academic Achievement Alternative Methods | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | WA | 3rd Sub HB 1484 | Taxation for School Funding | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| 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. 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 | 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. 2, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 262 | College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| 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 | 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 - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 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 172 | Perkins Vocational Education Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 56) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 177 | Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| May 13, 2004 | National | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/07 | HCS HB 2138 | Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| 3/07 | SB 1387 | Physical Education Instruction Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| 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 | SB 618 | School Voucher Program Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| 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) |
| 3/02 | HB 2064 | English Language Learners | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 3/02 | HB 5606 | New Graduation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (70 - 31) |
| 3/02 | HB 2107 | Science Instruction | Bill Passed - House (77 - 10) |
| 2/28 | SCS SB 1993 | Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| 2/28 | HB 1289 | Colorado Student Assessment Program Penalty Removal | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 2/28 | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| 2/27 | HB 2064 | English Language Learners | Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 27) |
| 2/27 | 3SSB 96 | Origin of Species Curriculum Requirement Bill | Bill Failed - House (28 - 46) |
| 2/27 | H 624 | School Property Disposal | Bill Passed - House (48 - 18) |
| 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 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 1235 | Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23) |
| 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 | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 2/20 | SB 66 | Employee Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 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 | HB 1235 | Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 | Bill Passed - House (51 - 14) |
| 2/10 | Sub SB 6475 | Certificate of Academic Achievement Alternative Methods | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10) |
| 2/09 | 3rd Sub HB 1484 | Taxation for School Funding | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| 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) |
| 2/08 | 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 | 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) |
| 2/02 | Sub HB 262 | College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| 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 | 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 - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 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 172 | Perkins Vocational Education Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 56) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 177 | Education Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 5/13 | HR 1350 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3) |