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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 29, 2015 | MI | HB 4115 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (60 - 50) |
| April 29, 2015 | MI | HB 4115 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (60 - 50) |
| April 25, 2015 | MN | HF 844 | 2015-2017 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 61) |
| April 22, 2015 | TN | SB 612 | Exempts Certain Students from Out-of-State Tuition | Bill Failed - House (49 - 47) |
| April 21, 2015 | MT | SB 107 | Authorizes New High School Districts | Bill Failed - House (48 - 52) |
| April 21, 2015 | NV | AB 375 | Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex | Bill Failed - House (20 - 22) |
| April 20, 2015 | MT | SB 410 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Donations to Certain Educational Programs and Student Scholarship Organizations | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| April 15, 2015 | ND | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Bill Passed - House (50 - 41) |
| April 15, 2015 | NH | SB 101 | Prohibits the Requirement of Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (202 - 138) |
| April 15, 2015 | CO | HB 1165 | Requires Approval to Use Native American School Mascots | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| April 15, 2015 | NV | AB 121 | Prohibits Disciplining Students for Simulating Firearms | Bill Passed - House (24 - 17) |
| April 13, 2015 | MD | HB 70 | 2015-2016 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 49) |
| April 13, 2015 | MT | HB 284 | Prohibits Bullying in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 42) |
| April 13, 2015 | MD | SB 183 | Amends Funding for the Geographic Cost of Education Index | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
| April 8, 2015 | MO | HB 63 | Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards | Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 49) |
| April 6, 2015 | NV | AB 148 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (24 - 15) |
| April 3, 2015 | NV | AB 111 | Increases College Credits Required for Millennium Scholarship | Bill Passed - House (31 - 10) |
| April 2, 2015 | OK | SB 711 | Encourages School Districts to Report Alleged Criminal Actions of Teachers | Bill Passed - House (61 - 29) |
| April 2, 2015 | MO | HB 499 | Requires Public Schools to Recite the Pledge of Allegiance in English | Bill Passed - House (118 - 30) |
| April 1, 2015 | AZ | SB 1332 | Expands Empowerment Scholarship to Include Native Americans | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| April 1, 2015 | AK | SB 64 | Amends School Bond Debt Reimbursement | Bill Passed - House (23 - 15) |
| April 1, 2015 | NV | AB 165 | Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (25 - 17) |
| March 31, 2015 | NY | S 2006B | Establishes Annual Teacher Evaluation Program | Bill Passed - House (92 - 55) |
| March 27, 2015 | FL | HB 7037 | Appropriates Funds for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (75 - 35) |
| March 26, 2015 | OH | HB 2 | Amends Charter School Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| March 26, 2015 | MI | HB 4041 | Requires School Attendance to Receive Assistance Funds | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| March 19, 2015 | MO | HB 104 | Prohibits Universities From Denying Benefits to a Religious Student Association | Bill Passed - House (117 - 38) |
| March 18, 2015 | MO | HB 63 | Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 45) |
| March 18, 2015 | AL | SB 45 | Authorizes Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
| March 14, 2015 | WV | HB 2005 | Expands Certain Teacher Certification Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 37) |
| March 14, 2015 | WV | SB 286 | Amends Exemption Procedure for Compulsory Immunizations | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| March 13, 2015 | KS | SB 7 | Appropriates Funds to the Department of Education | Bill Passed - House (64 - 57) |
| March 13, 2015 | KS | SB 7 | Appropriates Funds to the Department of Education | Bill Passed - House (64 - 57) |
| March 13, 2015 | AR | HB 1377 | Authorizes the Use of Waivers by Public School Districts | Bill Passed - House (58 - 18) |
| March 13, 2015 | AR | HB 1722 | Prohibits The Use of Electronic Cigarettes on Publicly Funded Colleges and Universities | Bill Passed - House (58 - 18) |
| March 11, 2015 | MO | HB 187 | Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (111 - 41) |
| March 11, 2015 | MO | HB 187 | Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (111 - 41) |
| March 10, 2015 | MS | SB 2258 | Authorizes Department of Education to Investigate Cheating Allegations | Bill Passed - House (65 - 53) |
| March 9, 2015 | AZ | HB 2246 | Authorizes Parents to Opt-Out of Standardized Tests for Their Children | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| March 5, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - House (23 - 19) |
| March 5, 2015 | MN | HF 2 | Amends Requirements for Teacher Layoffs | Bill Passed - House (70 - 63) |
| March 4, 2015 | PA | HB 530 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (118 - 78) |
| March 3, 2015 | SD | SB 89 | Requires School Safety Plans and Lockdown Drills | Bill Failed - House (30 - 37) |
| Feb. 28, 2015 | WV | HB 2934 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (75 - 19) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | WY | HB 23 | Authorizes Adoption of Next Generation Science Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (43 - 12) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | MO | HB 42 | Amends School Transfer Laws | Bill Passed - House (114 - 43) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | IN | HB 1001 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 29) |
| Feb. 23, 2015 | AK | HCR 2 | Establishes Alaska School Choice Week | Joint Resolution Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| Feb. 19, 2015 | GA | HB 100 | Amends Minimum Age for Kindergarten Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (110 - 53) |
| Feb. 11, 2015 | WY | HB 144 | Establishes a School Safety Tip Line | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| Feb. 11, 2015 | NM | HB 41 | Requires Third-Graders to Demonstrate Reading Proficiency | Bill Passed - House (38 - 30) |
| Feb. 10, 2015 | SD | HB 1195 | Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| Feb. 10, 2015 | WV | HB 2005 | Expands Certain Teacher Certification Programs | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| Feb. 5, 2015 | WY | HB 159 | Repeals Statewide Writing Assessment | Bill Passed - House (53 - 6) |
| Feb. 2, 2015 | WY | HB 114 | Authorizes Concealed Carry in Certain Public Buildings | Bill Passed - House (42 - 17) |
| Feb. 2, 2015 | WY | HB 114 | Authorizes Concealed Carry in Certain Public Buildings | Bill Passed - House (42 - 17) |
| Dec. 9, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - House (59 - 50) |
| Nov. 13, 2014 | NJ | A 2811 | Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Requiring Meal Plans for Students | Bill Passed - House (54 - 16) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | A 2801 | Establishes Certain Credit Hour Requirements for Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Programs | Bill Passed - House (48 - 26) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | A 2807 | Prohibits Increase in Undergraduate Tuition | Bill Passed - House (48 - 21) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | A 2805 | Establishes a Higher Education Common Core Course Numbering System | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | A 2814 | Requires Certain Graduation Rates from For-Profit Colleges | Bill Passed - House (47 - 14) |
| Sept. 22, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (114 - 84) |
| Sept. 10, 2014 | MO | SB 656 | Authorizes School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property | Veto Override Passed - House (117 - 39) |
| Aug. 25, 2014 | CA | SB 1174 | Repeals Prohibition on Bilingual Education | Bill Passed - House (53 - 26) |
| Aug. 21, 2014 | CA | AB 420 | Prohibits Student Suspensions for Certain Actions and Misconduct | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 16) |
| July 31, 2014 | MA | H 4278 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (122 - 30) |
| July 25, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| July 16, 2014 | NC | SB 812 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 34) |
| July 9, 2014 | MA | H 4278 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (112 - 38) |
| July 2, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (119 - 80) |
| June 29, 2014 | PA | HB 1013 | Amends Laws for Home-Schooled Individuals | Bill Passed - House (133 - 65) |
| June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
| June 3, 2014 | DE | SB 209 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (24 - 13) |
| June 1, 2014 | LA | HB 953 | Extends Timeline for Implementation of Common Core Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 17) |
| May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 105 | Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 41) |
| May 29, 2014 | IL | HB 5707 | Amends Bullying Prevention Measures in the School Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 40) |
| May 27, 2014 | RI | H 7096A | Reduces the Frequency of Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (69 - 3) |
| May 23, 2014 | OK | HB 3399 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 18) |
| May 22, 2014 | OK | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts to Issue Bonds for Improvements in Building Safety | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 39) |
| May 22, 2014 | OK | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts to Issue Bonds for Improvements in Building Safety | Conference Report Rejected - House (34 - 61) |
| May 21, 2014 | OK | HB 2625 | Authorizes Grade Level Promotion of Reading-Deficient Students | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 17) |
| May 21, 2014 | MA | H 4108 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
| May 16, 2014 | MO | SB 656 | Authorizes School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property | Conference Report Adopted - House (111 - 28) |
| May 15, 2014 | MO | SB 493 | Amends School Transfer Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 66) |
| May 15, 2014 | MO | HB 1490 | Establishes Work Groups to Develop Academic Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (135 - 10) |
| May 15, 2014 | CA | AB 2127 | Limits Full-Contact Practices for Certain Sports | Bill Passed - House (50 - 22) |
| May 15, 2014 | IL | HB 6021 | 2014-2015 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (61 - 55) |
| May 2, 2014 | FL | SB 850 | Establishes the Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 44) |
| May 2, 2014 | FL | HB 851 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 32) |
| April 30, 2014 | SC | H 3435 | Amends Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (51 - 49) |
| April 28, 2014 | FL | SB 864 | Authorizes Local School Boards to Choose School Textbooks | Bill Passed - House (84 - 33) |
| April 28, 2014 | NY | A 9206 | Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island | Bill Passed - House (104 - 25) |
| April 28, 2014 | FL | HB 753 | Authorizes Certain Individuals to Carry Concealed Firearms on School Property | Bill Passed - House (71 - 44) |
| April 25, 2014 | AK | HB 278 | Increases Base Student Allocation | Conference Report Adopted - House (28 - 10) |
| April 25, 2014 | IA | SF 2318 | Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| April 21, 2014 | AZ | HB 2316 | Prohibits Adoption of Federal Education Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| April 17, 2014 | AZ | HB 2291 | Expands Eligibility to Empowerment Scholarship Account Program | Bill Failed - House (27 - 31) |
| April 11, 2014 | FL | HB 7167 | Expands the School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (73 - 43) |
| April 8, 2014 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 63) |