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 1, 2011 UT SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10)
Feb. 28, 2011 NM SB 319 Eliminating Corporal Punishment Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 18)
Feb. 24, 2011 NC SB 8 Repeal on the Number of Charter Schools Allowed Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Feb. 24, 2011 ID S 1110 Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 24, 2011 ID S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2011 UT SJR 9 Supervision of Public Education Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
Feb. 22, 2011 IN SB 1 Evaluating and Licensing of Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Feb. 21, 2011 OK SB 435 Modifying Board of Education Membership Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 17, 2011 IN SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Feb. 16, 2011 AR HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
Feb. 16, 2011 IA SF 166 Funding for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Feb. 8, 2011 WY SF 140 Kindergarten Attendance Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
Feb. 8, 2011 WY SF 52 Repealing Teacher Tenure Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
Feb. 3, 2011 MN SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
Feb. 3, 2011 VA SB 831 Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 2, 2011 WY SF 106 School Finances Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Jan. 31, 2011 NY S 2707 Funding State Mandated Programs Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
Nov. 17, 2010 PA HB 101 Education Law Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Sept. 15, 2010 MI SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5)
Sept. 8, 2010 MI HB 6086 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Aug. 27, 2010 CA SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
Aug. 25, 2010 CA SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Aug. 5, 2010 National HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
June 21, 2010 NY A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
June 18, 2010 LA HB 1171 Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 14, 2010 LA HB 303 Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 10, 2010 RI H 8094 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
June 2, 2010 CA SB 969 College Tuition Prices for Students Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
May 28, 2010 NY A 11310 Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 14)
May 27, 2010 NC SB 704 School Change Models Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
May 27, 2010 CA SB 1255 Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 26, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 26, 2010 LA Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
May 18, 2010 OH SB 210 Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
May 12, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 642 Public University Borrowing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
May 5, 2010 CT SB 438 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
May 3, 2010 NY S 7678 Amending Charter School Cap Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 15)
April 30, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 28, 2010 MO HB 2002 2010-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6)
April 28, 2010 HI HB 2377 Board of Education Selection Advisory Council Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 2)
April 28, 2010 MN SF 2716 Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15)
April 28, 2010 AZ HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 21, 2010 AL SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 3)
April 20, 2010 MO SB 943 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 15, 2010 WI SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 14, 2010 AL HB 105 Required Physical Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
April 12, 2010 MD SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
April 1, 2010 KY HB 109 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18)
March 29, 2010 SD SB 121 Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
March 27, 2010 MS SB 2293 Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
March 25, 2010 IL SB 2494 Funding for School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
March 25, 2010 FL SJR 2 Classroom Size Limitation Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 24, 2010 MD SB 778 Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
March 24, 2010 MI SB 1163 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
March 24, 2010 ID S 1419 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 24, 2010 FL SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 23, 2010 KY HB 239 School Principal Selection Process Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 22, 2010 ID S 1418 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 16, 2010 IA SF 2376 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 12, 2010 WV HB 4652 School Calendar Committees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
March 9, 2010 VA SB 737 Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
March 8, 2010 SD HB 1240 Need-Based Education Grant Fund Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Feb. 24, 2010 SD HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 23, 2010 IN HB 1367 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Feb. 17, 2010 NM HB 150 Hispanic Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Feb. 16, 2010 NM HB 231 Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 15, 2010 WA SB 6562 Expanding State University Tuition Authority Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
Feb. 11, 2010 SD Jerstad Amdt Per Student Funding Increase Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 18)
Feb. 2, 2010 IN SB 150 School Year Beginning and Ending Limitations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Jan. 28, 2010 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Jan. 19, 2010 IA HF 2030 School District Budget Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Jan. 14, 2010 MA S 2247 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
Jan. 13, 2010 IL SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
Jan. 13, 2010 IA SF 2033 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Jan. 6, 2010 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Jan. 6, 2010 CA SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Dec. 17, 2009 OH HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Dec. 3, 2009 MI SB 638 "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Nov. 17, 2009 MA S 2205 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Oct. 8, 2009 MI HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
Sept. 22, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Aug. 6, 2009 NY A 8903-A Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 2 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
July 13, 2009 OH HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15)
June 30, 2009 CA SB 74 Deferring Education Funding (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
June 30, 2009 CA SB 80 Shifting Redevelopment Agency Funds (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
June 30, 2009 CA SB 64 Education Spending Reductions (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
June 27, 2009 OR SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/01 SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10)
2/28 SB 319 Eliminating Corporal Punishment Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 18)
2/24 SB 8 Repeal on the Number of Charter Schools Allowed Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
2/24 S 1110 Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/24 S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/23 SJR 9 Supervision of Public Education Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
2/22 SB 1 Evaluating and Licensing of Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
2/21 SB 435 Modifying Board of Education Membership Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
2/17 SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
2/16 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
2/16 SF 166 Funding for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
2/08 SF 140 Kindergarten Attendance Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
2/08 SF 52 Repealing Teacher Tenure Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
2/03 SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
2/03 SB 831 Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/02 SF 106 School Finances Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
1/31 S 2707 Funding State Mandated Programs Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
11/17 HB 101 Education Law Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
9/15 SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5)
9/08 HB 6086 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/31 SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/31 SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
8/27 SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
8/25 SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
8/05 HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
6/28 S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
6/21 A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
6/18 HB 1171 Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/14 HB 303 Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/10 H 8094 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
6/02 SB 969 College Tuition Prices for Students Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
5/28 A 11310 Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 14)
5/27 SB 704 School Change Models Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
5/27 SB 1255 Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/26 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/26 Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
5/18 SB 210 Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
5/12 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
5/06 SB 642 Public University Borrowing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
5/05 SB 438 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
5/03 S 7678 Amending Charter School Cap Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 15)
4/30 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/28 HB 2002 2010-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6)
4/28 HB 2377 Board of Education Selection Advisory Council Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 2)
4/28 SF 2716 Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15)
4/28 HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/21 SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 3)
4/20 SB 943 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/15 SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/14 HB 105 Required Physical Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
4/12 SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
4/01 HB 109 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18)
3/29 SB 121 Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
3/27 SB 2293 Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
3/25 SB 2494 Funding for School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
3/25 SJR 2 Classroom Size Limitation Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/24 SB 778 Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
3/24 SB 1163 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
3/24 S 1419 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/24 SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/23 HB 239 School Principal Selection Process Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/22 S 1418 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/16 SF 2376 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/12 HB 4652 School Calendar Committees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
3/09 SB 737 Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
3/08 HB 1240 Need-Based Education Grant Fund Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
2/24 HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/23 HB 1367 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
2/17 HB 150 Hispanic Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
2/16 HB 231 Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/15 SB 6562 Expanding State University Tuition Authority Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
2/11 Jerstad Amdt Per Student Funding Increase Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 18)
2/02 SB 150 School Year Beginning and Ending Limitations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
1/28 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
1/19 HF 2030 School District Budget Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
1/14 S 2247 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
1/13 SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
1/13 SF 2033 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
1/06 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
1/06 SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
12/17 HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
12/03 SB 638 "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
11/17 S 2205 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
11/05 SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
11/05 SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
11/03 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
10/08 HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
9/22 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
9/11 SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
9/08 SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
8/06 A 8903-A Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8)
7/24 ABX4 2 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
7/13 HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15)
6/30 SB 74 Deferring Education Funding (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
6/30 SB 80 Shifting Redevelopment Agency Funds (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
6/30 SB 64 Education Spending Reductions (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
6/27 SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 14)

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