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 6, 2014 ID S 1254 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms on College or University Campuses Bill Passed - House (50 - 19)
March 5, 2014 AZ SB 1310 Prohibits the Implementation of Common Core Standards Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
March 4, 2014 IN HB 1036 Expands Voucher Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2014 IN SB 91 Repeals Common Core Standards Bill Passed - House (67 - 26)
Feb. 26, 2014 VA SB 236 Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (64 - 34)
Feb. 25, 2014 GA SB 167 Prohibits Common Core Curriculum Standards Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
Feb. 20, 2014 AL HB 45 Authorizes Display of the Ten Commandments on State Property Amendment Adopted - House (77 - 19)
Feb. 18, 2014 WA SB 6523 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
Feb. 18, 2014 ID S 1254 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms on College or University Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 18, 2014 GA HB 875 Authorizes Individuals to Carry Weapons in Previously Prohibited Locations Bill Passed - House (119 - 56)
Feb. 18, 2014 NM SB 347 Appropriates Funds to the Lottery Tuition Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11)
Feb. 18, 2014 NM SB 347 Appropriates Funds to the Lottery Tuition Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11)
Feb. 13, 2014 MS SB 2325 Establishes Individualized Education Funds for Certain Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Feb. 13, 2014 AL SB 18 Authorizes a School District to Educate on Traditional Winter Celebrations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2014 MS S Amdt 2 Repeals August School Start Date Requirement Amendment Adopted - Senate (31 - 15)
Feb. 11, 2014 MS S Amdt 7 Prohibits Abortion Counseling in Pregnancy Prevention Programs Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 23)
Feb. 11, 2014 MS SB 2563 Requires Universities to Develop a Plan of Action for Unplanned Pregnancies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
Feb. 11, 2014 UT HB 96 Establishes a School Readiness Board Bill Passed - House (49 - 24)
Feb. 6, 2014 VA HB 11 Requires New Textbooks to Refer to The East Sea Bill Passed - House (81 - 15)
Feb. 5, 2014 MS HB 504 Increases Teacher Salaries Bill Passed - House (86 - 26)
Feb. 5, 2014 IA SF 2079 Increases School Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2014 IN SB 91 Repeals Common Core Standards Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
Feb. 4, 2014 IN SB 264 Authorizes Annual Stipends for Certain Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Feb. 4, 2014 VA SB 324 Extends Deadline for Implementation of a School Performance Grading System Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Jan. 31, 2014 WA SB 6523 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
Jan. 30, 2014 IN HB 1321 Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools Bill Passed - House (54 - 37)
Jan. 30, 2014 VA HB 63 Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
Jan. 29, 2014 SD HCR 1008 Prohibits Expansion of Common Core State Standards Joint Resolution Failed - House (31 - 35)
Jan. 29, 2014 KY HB 154 Requires Periodic Public School Financial Reports Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
Jan. 28, 2014 ME LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
Jan. 28, 2014 ME LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
Jan. 28, 2014 IN HB 1036 Expands Voucher Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers Bill Passed - House (71 - 24)
Jan. 23, 2014 IN SB 113 Requires Cursive Writing to be Taught in School Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
Jan. 22, 2014 OH HB 8 Authorizes Certain Employees to Carry Concealed Firearms on School Property Bill Passed - House (63 - 29)
Jan. 21, 2014 VA SB 236 Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Jan. 16, 2014 IN HB 1004 Establishes Preschool Scholarship System for Certain Individuals Bill Passed - House (87 - 9)
Jan. 14, 2014 ME LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 46)
Jan. 14, 2014 ME LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 46)
Jan. 13, 2014 PA HB 1741 Requires a School Board to Provide Public Notice Prior to Certain Votes Bill Passed - House (102 - 98)
Jan. 13, 2014 PA HB 1411 Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public Bill Passed - House (119 - 81)
Dec. 11, 2013 MI HB 4369 Expands the Education Achievement Authority Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Dec. 3, 2013 IL SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53)
Dec. 3, 2013 IL SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24)
Nov. 5, 2013 WI AB 297 Amends Laws Concerning the Use of Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Oct. 15, 2013 WI AB 297 Amends Laws Concerning the Use of Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names Bill Passed - House (52 - 41)
Oct. 8, 2013 National H J Res 84 Head Start Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Joint Resolution Passed - House (248 - 168)
Sept. 12, 2013 CA AB 375 Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
Sept. 12, 2013 CA AB 375 Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Sept. 11, 2013 CA AB 484 Amends State School Testing Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 22)
Sept. 10, 2013 CA AB 484 Amends State School Testing Programs Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/06 S 1254 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms on College or University Campuses Bill Passed - House (50 - 19)
3/05 SB 1310 Prohibits the Implementation of Common Core Standards Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
3/04 HB 1036 Expands Voucher Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
2/27 SB 91 Repeals Common Core Standards Bill Passed - House (67 - 26)
2/26 SB 236 Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (64 - 34)
2/25 SB 167 Prohibits Common Core Curriculum Standards Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
2/20 HB 45 Authorizes Display of the Ten Commandments on State Property Amendment Adopted - House (77 - 19)
2/18 SB 6523 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
2/18 S 1254 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms on College or University Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/18 HB 875 Authorizes Individuals to Carry Weapons in Previously Prohibited Locations Bill Passed - House (119 - 56)
2/18 SB 347 Appropriates Funds to the Lottery Tuition Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11)
2/18 SB 347 Appropriates Funds to the Lottery Tuition Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11)
2/13 SB 2325 Establishes Individualized Education Funds for Certain Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
2/13 SB 18 Authorizes a School District to Educate on Traditional Winter Celebrations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
2/12 S Amdt 2 Repeals August School Start Date Requirement Amendment Adopted - Senate (31 - 15)
2/11 S Amdt 7 Prohibits Abortion Counseling in Pregnancy Prevention Programs Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 23)
2/11 SB 2563 Requires Universities to Develop a Plan of Action for Unplanned Pregnancies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
2/11 HB 96 Establishes a School Readiness Board Bill Passed - House (49 - 24)
2/06 HB 11 Requires New Textbooks to Refer to The East Sea Bill Passed - House (81 - 15)
2/05 HB 504 Increases Teacher Salaries Bill Passed - House (86 - 26)
2/05 SF 2079 Increases School Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
2/04 SB 91 Repeals Common Core Standards Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
2/04 SB 264 Authorizes Annual Stipends for Certain Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
2/04 SB 324 Extends Deadline for Implementation of a School Performance Grading System Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
1/31 SB 6523 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
1/30 HB 1321 Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools Bill Passed - House (54 - 37)
1/30 HB 63 Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
1/29 HCR 1008 Prohibits Expansion of Common Core State Standards Joint Resolution Failed - House (31 - 35)
1/29 HB 154 Requires Periodic Public School Financial Reports Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
1/28 LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
1/28 LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
1/28 HB 1036 Expands Voucher Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers Bill Passed - House (71 - 24)
1/23 SB 113 Requires Cursive Writing to be Taught in School Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
1/22 HB 8 Authorizes Certain Employees to Carry Concealed Firearms on School Property Bill Passed - House (63 - 29)
1/21 SB 236 Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
1/16 HB 1004 Establishes Preschool Scholarship System for Certain Individuals Bill Passed - House (87 - 9)
1/14 LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 46)
1/14 LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 46)
1/13 HB 1741 Requires a School Board to Provide Public Notice Prior to Certain Votes Bill Passed - House (102 - 98)
1/13 HB 1411 Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public Bill Passed - House (119 - 81)
12/11 HB 4369 Expands the Education Achievement Authority Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
12/03 SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53)
12/03 SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24)
11/05 AB 297 Amends Laws Concerning the Use of Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
10/15 AB 297 Amends Laws Concerning the Use of Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names Bill Passed - House (52 - 41)
10/08 H J Res 84 Head Start Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Joint Resolution Passed - House (248 - 168)
9/12 AB 375 Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
9/12 AB 375 Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
9/11 AB 484 Amends State School Testing Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 22)
9/10 AB 484 Amends State School Testing Programs Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)

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