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 27, 2011 | IN | HB 1003 | School Vouchers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| April 25, 2011 | OR | HB 2732 | High School Diploma Requirements | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
| April 20, 2011 | OR | HB 3555 | Qualifications for Superintendents of Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (38 - 22) |
| April 13, 2011 | IN | SB 575 | Collective Bargaining for School Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 40) |
| April 13, 2011 | OR | SB 5552 | Department of Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
| April 12, 2011 | AL | HB 123 | Education Appropriations for 2011-2012 | Bill Passed - House (64 - 36) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 65) |
| April 7, 2011 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| April 3, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (98 - 49) |
| April 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1618 | 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| April 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1617 | K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| April 1, 2011 | TX | Amdt 143 | Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values | Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24) |
| April 1, 2011 | ID | S 1184 | Technology in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (44 - 26) |
| March 31, 2011 | ID | S 1181 | Post-Secondary Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 21) |
| March 30, 2011 | National | HR 471 | School Vouchers for Washington, D.C. | Bill Passed - House (225 - 195) |
| March 30, 2011 | IN | HB 1003 | School Vouchers | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| March 27, 2011 | MS | SB 3100 | Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions | Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 27) |
| March 25, 2011 | AR | HB 1032 | Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts | Bill Passed - House (71 - 16) |
| March 24, 2011 | TN | SB 1528 | Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| March 22, 2011 | IA | HF 534 | School Instructional Hours and Days | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| March 17, 2011 | CA | SB 70 | Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (53 - 25) |
| March 17, 2011 | AR | HB 1936 | Dress Codes for Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (73 - 19) |
| March 16, 2011 | FL | SB 736 | Public School Evaluation Procedures | Bill Passed - House (80 - 39) |
| March 16, 2011 | ID | H 222 | Authorizes Guns on Campus | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| March 14, 2011 | OR | HB 2287 | Public Charter Schools | Bill Failed - House (28 - 32) |
| March 9, 2011 | UT | HB 183 | School District Leave Policies | Conference Report Adopted - House (42 - 28) |
| March 9, 2011 | UT | SB 73 | Public School Teacher Tenure Modifications | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| March 8, 2011 | NM | HB 172 | Prohibiting Corporal Punishment as School Discipline | Bill Passed - House (36 - 31) |
| 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 | UT | HB 301 | School District Property Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - House (39 - 31) |
| March 2, 2011 | WV | HB 2879 | One-Time Pay Raise for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (78 - 22) |
| 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. 23, 2011 | SC | H 3241 | Funding for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | UT | HB 183 | School District Leave Policies | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | KS | HB 2006 | Prohibiting Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving In-State Tuition Rates | Bill Passed - House (72 - 50) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | MT | HB 456 | Sexual Education in K-12 Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| 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. 16, 2011 | WY | SF 106 | School Finances | Bill Failed - House (20 - 35) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | UT | HB 75 | Guns On School Premises | Bill Passed - House (58 - 15) |
| 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. 11, 2011 | ND | HB 1470 | Higher Education Tuition | Bill Failed - House (41 - 51) |
| 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. 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. 7, 2011 | ID | HJM 1 | Parental Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 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) |
| Dec. 8, 2010 | National | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
| 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) |
| Sept. 15, 2010 | MI | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49) |
| 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. 26, 2010 | CA | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 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) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 36) |
| June 23, 2010 | PA | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 1171 | Standards for Colleges and Universities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| June 18, 2010 | LA | SB 584 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority | Bill Passed - House (75 - 23) |
| June 18, 2010 | NY | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 52) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/27 | HB 1003 | School Vouchers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| 4/25 | HB 2732 | High School Diploma Requirements | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
| 4/20 | HB 3555 | Qualifications for Superintendents of Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (38 - 22) |
| 4/13 | SB 575 | Collective Bargaining for School Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 40) |
| 4/13 | SB 5552 | Department of Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
| 4/12 | HB 123 | Education Appropriations for 2011-2012 | Bill Passed - House (64 - 36) |
| 4/11 | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 65) |
| 4/07 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| 4/03 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (98 - 49) |
| 4/01 | SB 1618 | 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| 4/01 | SB 1617 | K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| 4/01 | Amdt 143 | Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values | Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24) |
| 4/01 | S 1184 | Technology in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (44 - 26) |
| 3/31 | S 1181 | Post-Secondary Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 21) |
| 3/30 | HR 471 | School Vouchers for Washington, D.C. | Bill Passed - House (225 - 195) |
| 3/30 | HB 1003 | School Vouchers | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| 3/27 | SB 3100 | Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions | Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 27) |
| 3/25 | HB 1032 | Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts | Bill Passed - House (71 - 16) |
| 3/24 | SB 1528 | Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| 3/22 | HF 534 | School Instructional Hours and Days | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| 3/17 | SB 70 | Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (53 - 25) |
| 3/17 | HB 1936 | Dress Codes for Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (73 - 19) |
| 3/16 | SB 736 | Public School Evaluation Procedures | Bill Passed - House (80 - 39) |
| 3/16 | H 222 | Authorizes Guns on Campus | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| 3/14 | HB 2287 | Public Charter Schools | Bill Failed - House (28 - 32) |
| 3/09 | HB 183 | School District Leave Policies | Conference Report Adopted - House (42 - 28) |
| 3/09 | SB 73 | Public School Teacher Tenure Modifications | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| 3/08 | HB 172 | Prohibiting Corporal Punishment as School Discipline | Bill Passed - House (36 - 31) |
| 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 | HB 301 | School District Property Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - House (39 - 31) |
| 3/02 | HB 2879 | One-Time Pay Raise for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (78 - 22) |
| 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) |
| 2/23 | H 3241 | Funding for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
| 2/23 | HB 183 | School District Leave Policies | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| 2/22 | HB 2006 | Prohibiting Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving In-State Tuition Rates | Bill Passed - House (72 - 50) |
| 2/22 | HB 456 | Sexual Education in K-12 Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| 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) |
| 2/16 | SF 106 | School Finances | Bill Failed - House (20 - 35) |
| 2/16 | HB 75 | Guns On School Premises | Bill Passed - House (58 - 15) |
| 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) |
| 2/11 | HB 1470 | Higher Education Tuition | Bill Failed - House (41 - 51) |
| 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) |
| 2/08 | HB 2314 | Education Improvement Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 2/08 | HB 1002 | Charter School Amendments | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| 2/07 | HJM 1 | Parental Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 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) |
| 12/08 | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
| 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) |
| 9/15 | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49) |
| 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) |
| 8/26 | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 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) |
| 6/28 | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 36) |
| 6/23 | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| 6/20 | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |
| 6/20 | HB 1171 | Standards for Colleges and Universities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| 6/18 | SB 584 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority | Bill Passed - House (75 - 23) |
| 6/18 | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 52) |