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 31, 2017 MN HF 890 Authorizes Education Funding Bill Passed - House (75 - 54)
March 31, 2017 MN HF 890 Authorizes Education Funding Bill Passed - House (75 - 54)
March 30, 2017 GA HB 280 Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (96 - 70)
March 26, 2017 NC HB 174 Authorizes Concealed Handguns at Certain Church Services Bill Passed - House (82 - 34)
March 17, 2017 NM HB 241 Establishes New Standards of Evaluation for Teachers Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 31)
March 17, 2017 NM HB 241 Establishes New Standards of Evaluation for Teachers Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 31)
March 17, 2017 NM SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - House (60 - 0)
March 17, 2017 NM SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - House (60 - 0)
March 15, 2017 KY HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43)
March 15, 2017 KY HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43)
March 15, 2017 KY SB 1 Amends State Educational Standards Bill Passed - House (94 - 0)
March 10, 2017 MD HB 978 Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools Bill Passed - House (91 - 46)
March 3, 2017 WY HB 236 Reduces the Education Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - House (9 - 51)
March 3, 2017 KY HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
March 3, 2017 KY HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
Feb. 22, 2017 WA HB 1843 Amends Public Education Funding Formula Bill Passed - House (52 - 45)
Feb. 22, 2017 GA HB 37 Prohibits State Funding for Sanctuary Campuses Bill Passed - House (112 - 57)
Feb. 7, 2017 WY HB 236 Reduces the Education Budget Bill Passed - House (43 - 16)
Feb. 6, 2017 IA SF 166 Authorizes School Funding Increase of 1.11 Percent Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
Feb. 6, 2017 IA SF 166 Authorizes School Funding Increase of 1.11 Percent Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
Feb. 6, 2017 ND HB 1329 Prohibits Safe Spaces at Public Universities Bill Passed - House (65 - 25)
Feb. 6, 2017 ND HB 1329 Prohibits Safe Spaces at Public Universities Bill Passed - House (65 - 25)
Jan. 31, 2017 RI HB 5098 Exempts University Researchers from Public Records Requests Bill Passed - House (59 - 8)
Jan. 24, 2017 VA HB 1578 Authorizes Home-schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
June 9, 2016 MI HB 5384 Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 54)
May 17, 2016 IL HB 4167 Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants Bill Passed - House (68 - 45)
May 5, 2016 AK HB 156 Amends Certain Public Education Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (21 - 18)
April 25, 2016 MN HF 2749 Appropriates Funds for Education Bill Passed - House (84 - 46)
April 25, 2016 MN HF 2749 Appropriates Funds for Education Bill Passed - House (84 - 46)
April 25, 2016 LA HB 863 Prohibits Schools from Holding Membership in Certain Associations or Organizations Bill Failed - House (33 - 51)
April 21, 2016 TN HB 2248 Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 21)
April 20, 2016 TN SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - House (69 - 24)
April 18, 2016 TN HB 2248 Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office Bill Passed - House (66 - 22)
April 13, 2016 OH HB 425 Authorizes Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - House (73 - 22)
April 7, 2016 MD HB 172 Amends School Board Nominating Commission Veto Override Passed - House (90 - 50)
March 30, 2016 MD SB 1052 Establishes Consolidated University of Maryland Bill Passed - House (92 - 44)
March 23, 2016 IA SF 175 Increases K-12 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 41)
March 23, 2016 IA SF 174 Increases K-12 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 41)
March 21, 2016 ID S 1342 Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
March 16, 2016 KS SB 175 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Associations Bill Passed - House (81 - 41)
March 12, 2016 MD HB 1002 Prohibits Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (81 - 54)
March 11, 2016 VA HB 8 Establishes Virtual Public School Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 36)
March 10, 2016 MO HB 2003 Appropriates Funds to the Department of Higher Education Bill Passed - House (108 - 46)
March 9, 2016 IN HB 1005 Establishes Regulations Regarding Education Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 43)
March 9, 2016 WA SB 6194 Authorizes Public Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
March 8, 2016 SD SB 159 Authorizes Education Tax Credit for Insurance Companies Bill Passed - House (45 - 23)
March 3, 2016 SD HB 1008 Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 29)
March 3, 2016 IN SB 334 Amends School Voucher Program Bill Passed - House (60 - 33)
March 3, 2016 MS HB 989 Establishes the Mississippi Achievement School District Bill Passed - House (82 - 38)
March 2, 2016 IL SB 2043 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Veto Override Failed - House (69 - 48)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/31 HF 890 Authorizes Education Funding Bill Passed - House (75 - 54)
3/31 HF 890 Authorizes Education Funding Bill Passed - House (75 - 54)
3/30 HB 280 Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (96 - 70)
3/26 HB 174 Authorizes Concealed Handguns at Certain Church Services Bill Passed - House (82 - 34)
3/17 HB 241 Establishes New Standards of Evaluation for Teachers Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 31)
3/17 HB 241 Establishes New Standards of Evaluation for Teachers Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 31)
3/17 SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - House (60 - 0)
3/17 SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - House (60 - 0)
3/15 HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43)
3/15 HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43)
3/15 SB 1 Amends State Educational Standards Bill Passed - House (94 - 0)
3/10 HB 978 Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools Bill Passed - House (91 - 46)
3/03 HB 236 Reduces the Education Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - House (9 - 51)
3/03 HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
3/03 HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
2/22 HB 1843 Amends Public Education Funding Formula Bill Passed - House (52 - 45)
2/22 HB 37 Prohibits State Funding for Sanctuary Campuses Bill Passed - House (112 - 57)
2/07 HB 236 Reduces the Education Budget Bill Passed - House (43 - 16)
2/06 SF 166 Authorizes School Funding Increase of 1.11 Percent Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
2/06 SF 166 Authorizes School Funding Increase of 1.11 Percent Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
2/06 HB 1329 Prohibits Safe Spaces at Public Universities Bill Passed - House (65 - 25)
2/06 HB 1329 Prohibits Safe Spaces at Public Universities Bill Passed - House (65 - 25)
1/31 HB 5098 Exempts University Researchers from Public Records Requests Bill Passed - House (59 - 8)
1/24 HB 1578 Authorizes Home-schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
6/09 HB 5384 Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 54)
5/17 HB 4167 Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants Bill Passed - House (68 - 45)
5/05 HB 156 Amends Certain Public Education Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (21 - 18)
4/25 HF 2749 Appropriates Funds for Education Bill Passed - House (84 - 46)
4/25 HF 2749 Appropriates Funds for Education Bill Passed - House (84 - 46)
4/25 HB 863 Prohibits Schools from Holding Membership in Certain Associations or Organizations Bill Failed - House (33 - 51)
4/21 HB 2248 Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 21)
4/20 SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - House (69 - 24)
4/18 HB 2248 Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office Bill Passed - House (66 - 22)
4/13 HB 425 Authorizes Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - House (73 - 22)
4/07 HB 172 Amends School Board Nominating Commission Veto Override Passed - House (90 - 50)
3/30 SB 1052 Establishes Consolidated University of Maryland Bill Passed - House (92 - 44)
3/23 SF 175 Increases K-12 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 41)
3/23 SF 174 Increases K-12 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 41)
3/21 S 1342 Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
3/16 SB 175 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Associations Bill Passed - House (81 - 41)
3/12 HB 1002 Prohibits Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (81 - 54)
3/11 HB 8 Establishes Virtual Public School Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 36)
3/10 HB 2003 Appropriates Funds to the Department of Higher Education Bill Passed - House (108 - 46)
3/09 HB 1005 Establishes Regulations Regarding Education Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 43)
3/09 SB 6194 Authorizes Public Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
3/08 SB 159 Authorizes Education Tax Credit for Insurance Companies Bill Passed - House (45 - 23)
3/03 HB 1008 Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 29)
3/03 SB 334 Amends School Voucher Program Bill Passed - House (60 - 33)
3/03 HB 989 Establishes the Mississippi Achievement School District Bill Passed - House (82 - 38)
3/02 SB 2043 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Veto Override Failed - House (69 - 48)

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