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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - House (64 - 11) |
| May 28, 2013 | ME | LD 468 | Prohibits Smoking on College Campuses | Veto Override Failed - House (85 - 54) |
| May 28, 2013 | MI | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 43) |
| May 28, 2013 | MI | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 43) |
| May 23, 2013 | National | HR 1911 | Smarter Solutions for Students Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 198) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 56) |
| May 14, 2013 | MO | SB 125 | Amends State Intervention Process For Unaccredited Schools | Bill Passed - House (107 - 49) |
| May 9, 2013 | AL | HB 658 | Amends The School "Accountability Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41) |
| May 9, 2013 | TX | SB 376 | Establishes a Free Breakfast Program for Students | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| May 9, 2013 | CA | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - House (46 - 25) |
| May 7, 2013 | NC | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (78 - 42) |
| May 6, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 64) |
| May 6, 2013 | TX | HB 972 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns on Higher Education Campuses | Bill Passed - House (102 - 41) |
| May 6, 2013 | TX | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - House (123 - 22) |
| May 6, 2013 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (72 - 57) |
| May 2, 2013 | ND | HB 1319 | Amends School Funding Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 42) |
| May 2, 2013 | FL | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 42) |
| May 1, 2013 | MI | HB 4388 | Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 32) |
| April 30, 2013 | HI | SB 1084 | Authorizes the Use of Public Funds for Private Preschools | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
| April 27, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| April 26, 2013 | IN | HB 1427 | Amends Public School Evaluation System | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| April 25, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (86 - 44) |
| April 24, 2013 | MT | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| April 23, 2013 | ND | HCR 3047 | Establishes a Commission of Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 34) |
| April 23, 2013 | NV | AB 230 | Amends State Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
| April 23, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| April 22, 2013 | IN | HB 1357 | Amends Licensing Requirements for Superintendents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 40) |
| April 22, 2013 | OR | HB 3014 | Requires Allotted Time for the Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (42 - 16) |
| April 18, 2013 | TN | HB 702 | Increases the Appeal Time Period for Establishing Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (62 - 30) |
| April 17, 2013 | MT | SB 175 | Increases Public Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
| April 17, 2013 | IL | HB 2675 | Expands Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (66 - 52) |
| April 15, 2013 | WA | SB 5329 | Requires Superintendent to Take Action in Certain Schools | Bill Passed - House (68 - 29) |
| April 15, 2013 | IN | SB 207 | Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| April 8, 2013 | MD | SB 422 | Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees | Bill Passed - House (99 - 41) |
| April 6, 2013 | MD | HB 1107 | Amends Prince George's County School System Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 47) |
| April 5, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30) |
| April 4, 2013 | FL | HB 867 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Passed - House (68 - 51) |
| April 4, 2013 | AK | HB 162 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - House (28 - 10) |
| April 3, 2013 | MS | SB 2659 | Establishes a Grant for School Resource Officers in Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 36) |
| April 3, 2013 | ID | H 221 | Amends Public Charter School Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 22) |
| April 3, 2013 | CT | SB 1160 | Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (105 - 44) |
| April 3, 2013 | AR | HB 1938 | Prohibits the Closure of Schools Based on Student Enrollment for 2 Years | Bill Failed - House (46 - 26) |
| April 2, 2013 | MS | SB 2199 | Requires Appointed Superintendents | Conference Report Rejected - House (52 - 66) |
| March 26, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Bill Passed - House (90 - 32) |
| March 22, 2013 | MD | HB 860 | Authorizes Construction and Renovation of Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (107 - 30) |
| March 21, 2013 | MI | HB 4369 | Expands the Education Achievement Authority | Bill Passed - House (57 - 53) |
| March 18, 2013 | TN | HB 534 | Authorizes University Student Organizations to Limit Membership Based on Religion | Bill Passed - House (75 - 21) |
| March 14, 2013 | OK | HB 1940 | Authorizes Students to Express Religious Viewpoints in Schools | Bill Passed - House (79 - 13) |
| March 13, 2013 | WA | HB 1817 | Authorizes Undocumented Students to Apply for State Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/29 | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - House (64 - 11) |
| 5/28 | LD 468 | Prohibits Smoking on College Campuses | Veto Override Failed - House (85 - 54) |
| 5/28 | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 43) |
| 5/28 | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 43) |
| 5/23 | HR 1911 | Smarter Solutions for Students Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 198) |
| 5/18 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| 5/17 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 56) |
| 5/14 | SB 125 | Amends State Intervention Process For Unaccredited Schools | Bill Passed - House (107 - 49) |
| 5/09 | HB 658 | Amends The School "Accountability Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41) |
| 5/09 | SB 376 | Establishes a Free Breakfast Program for Students | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| 5/09 | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - House (46 - 25) |
| 5/07 | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (78 - 42) |
| 5/06 | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 64) |
| 5/06 | HB 972 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns on Higher Education Campuses | Bill Passed - House (102 - 41) |
| 5/06 | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - House (123 - 22) |
| 5/06 | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (72 - 57) |
| 5/02 | HB 1319 | Amends School Funding Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 42) |
| 5/02 | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 42) |
| 5/01 | HB 4388 | Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 32) |
| 4/30 | SB 1084 | Authorizes the Use of Public Funds for Private Preschools | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
| 4/27 | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| 4/26 | HB 1427 | Amends Public School Evaluation System | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| 4/25 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (86 - 44) |
| 4/24 | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 4/23 | HCR 3047 | Establishes a Commission of Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 34) |
| 4/23 | AB 230 | Amends State Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
| 4/23 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 4/22 | HB 1357 | Amends Licensing Requirements for Superintendents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 40) |
| 4/22 | HB 3014 | Requires Allotted Time for the Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (42 - 16) |
| 4/18 | HB 702 | Increases the Appeal Time Period for Establishing Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (62 - 30) |
| 4/17 | SB 175 | Increases Public Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
| 4/17 | HB 2675 | Expands Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (66 - 52) |
| 4/15 | SB 5329 | Requires Superintendent to Take Action in Certain Schools | Bill Passed - House (68 - 29) |
| 4/15 | SB 207 | Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| 4/08 | SB 422 | Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees | Bill Passed - House (99 - 41) |
| 4/06 | HB 1107 | Amends Prince George's County School System Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 47) |
| 4/05 | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30) |
| 4/04 | HB 867 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Passed - House (68 - 51) |
| 4/04 | HB 162 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - House (28 - 10) |
| 4/03 | SB 2659 | Establishes a Grant for School Resource Officers in Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 36) |
| 4/03 | H 221 | Amends Public Charter School Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 22) |
| 4/03 | SB 1160 | Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (105 - 44) |
| 4/03 | HB 1938 | Prohibits the Closure of Schools Based on Student Enrollment for 2 Years | Bill Failed - House (46 - 26) |
| 4/02 | SB 2199 | Requires Appointed Superintendents | Conference Report Rejected - House (52 - 66) |
| 3/26 | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Bill Passed - House (90 - 32) |
| 3/22 | HB 860 | Authorizes Construction and Renovation of Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (107 - 30) |
| 3/21 | HB 4369 | Expands the Education Achievement Authority | Bill Passed - House (57 - 53) |
| 3/18 | HB 534 | Authorizes University Student Organizations to Limit Membership Based on Religion | Bill Passed - House (75 - 21) |
| 3/14 | HB 1940 | Authorizes Students to Express Religious Viewpoints in Schools | Bill Passed - House (79 - 13) |
| 3/13 | HB 1817 | Authorizes Undocumented Students to Apply for State Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |