Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
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)

arrow_upward