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
April 23, 2008 FL SB 2692 Science Curriculum Flexibility Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
April 22, 2008 IA S 5408 Changes to School Infrastructure Sales Tax Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 30)
April 22, 2008 IA HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
April 17, 2008 IL SB 2858 Public School Trans Fat Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19)
April 15, 2008 MS SB 2149 Superintendent Removal Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 14)
April 10, 2008 CO HB 1375 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
April 10, 2008 AZ SB 1096 English Language Education Funding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
April 8, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
April 7, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
April 7, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
April 7, 2008 NE LB 1157 Uniform School Testing Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
April 4, 2008 CO SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 3, 2008 MO SB 858 Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
April 2, 2008 GA HB 881 Georgia Charter Schools Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
April 1, 2008 GA HB 1133 Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20)
April 1, 2008 IL SB 1997 Interscholastic Event Image Release Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5)
March 31, 2008 ME LD 2289 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 28, 2008 NE LB 959 2007-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
March 27, 2008 CO HB 1186 Amending Public School Performance Ratings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 26, 2008 KS Journey Amnd. 2 Repealing In-State Tuition for Immigrants Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 25)
March 26, 2008 MD SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 25, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
March 24, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
March 24, 2008 IA HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
March 20, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8)
March 20, 2008 NH SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
March 13, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
March 6, 2008 NH Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 MO SB 778 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
March 4, 2008 UT SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 3, 2008 UT SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
Feb. 29, 2008 GA SB 506 Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
Feb. 29, 2008 ID S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2008 CO SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2008 IN HB 1210 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 MS SB 2149 Election of School Board Members Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Feb. 27, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Feb. 27, 2008 MO HB 1066 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
Feb. 26, 2008 IA SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
Feb. 21, 2008 NH CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
Feb. 20, 2008 CO SB 73 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Feb. 13, 2008 TN SB 3419 Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
Feb. 11, 2008 NM HB 180 Healthy Food Initiatives Board Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Feb. 7, 2008 MA H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Feb. 5, 2008 UT SB 35 Salary Supplement for Math and Science Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
Jan. 30, 2008 CA SB 908 Global Warming Education in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Jan. 30, 2008 KY SB 112 Restricting Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
Jan. 22, 2008 SD SB 26 State Regulation of Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Dec. 18, 2007 National HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
Nov. 20, 2007 MI HB 5408 Michigan Business Tax Surcharge Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Nov. 8, 2007 WI SB 299 School Tax Credit Formula Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Oct. 30, 2007 MI S Sub for Sub HB 4360 2007-2008 Community College and Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
Oct. 29, 2007 MI SB 231 2007-2008 Department of Art, History, and Library Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
Oct. 23, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
Oct. 3, 2007 IL SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
Oct. 1, 2007 MI H Sub for S Sub SB 546 Public School Employee Retirement Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Oct. 1, 2007 MI H Sub for Sub SB 547 Public School Employee Retirement Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Sept. 23, 2007 MI Sub SB 237 2007-2008 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Sept. 18, 2007 IL HB 2035 Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
Sept. 7, 2007 National HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 12)
July 20, 2007 National HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 18)
June 27, 2007 NH HB 927 Adequate Education Definition Conference Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 9)
June 26, 2007 WI SS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
June 26, 2007 MI Sub for SB 547 Public School Employee Retirement Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
June 22, 2007 NH HB 1 208-2009 Operating Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8)
June 21, 2007 NJ S 3000 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 18, 2007 AZ HB 2781 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
June 14, 2007 OR HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
June 14, 2007 NH CACR 19 Constitutional Amendment Regarding Education Resolution Failed - Senate (14 - 10)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 606 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
June 6, 2007 NH HB 927 Adequate Education Definition Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
June 1, 2007 CT HB 5656 Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
May 31, 2007 SC H 3124 Open Enrollment and Optional Programs Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
May 31, 2007 NE LB 653 Standard Academic Testing Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
May 30, 2007 SC Amendment No. P-2B State Scholarships for Private Schools Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15)
May 25, 2007 OR HB 2650 School Food Nutritional Standards Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
May 24, 2007 NE LB 641 School Property Tax and Learning Communities Bill Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
May 23, 2007 TX CSHB 3678 Religious Expression at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
May 19, 2007 MN HF 464 School District Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16)
May 16, 2007 MN SF 653 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 20)
May 9, 2007 CT Sub HB 7350 In-School Suspensions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 8, 2007 MN SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 21)
May 1, 2007 CO SB 199 Education Funding and Property Tax Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
May 1, 2007 CO HB 1301 Cervical Cancer Immunization Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
April 30, 2007 KS Sub HB 2237 Maintenance for State Colleges and Universities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 8)
April 27, 2007 IA HF 920 Univeristy Capital Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
April 27, 2007 FL CS SB 1710 State University Tuition Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
April 24, 2007 NV SB 52 Governor Guinn Millennium Teaching Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
April 24, 2007 NV SB 415 Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/23 SB 2692 Science Curriculum Flexibility Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
4/22 S 5408 Changes to School Infrastructure Sales Tax Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 30)
4/22 HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
4/17 SB 2858 Public School Trans Fat Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19)
4/15 SB 2149 Superintendent Removal Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 14)
4/10 HB 1375 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
4/10 SB 1096 English Language Education Funding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
4/08 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
4/07 LD 1932 School Consolidation Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
4/07 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
4/07 LB 1157 Uniform School Testing Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
4/04 SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/03 SB 858 Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
4/02 HB 881 Georgia Charter Schools Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
4/01 HB 1133 Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20)
4/01 SB 1997 Interscholastic Event Image Release Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5)
3/31 LD 2289 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/28 LB 959 2007-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
3/27 HB 1186 Amending Public School Performance Ratings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/26 Journey Amnd. 2 Repealing In-State Tuition for Immigrants Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 25)
3/26 SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/25 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
3/24 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
3/24 HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
3/20 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8)
3/20 SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/14 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
3/13 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
3/06 Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 SB 778 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
3/04 SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/03 SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
2/29 SB 506 Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
2/29 S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
2/28 SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
2/27 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/27 HB 1210 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/27 SB 2149 Election of School Board Members Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
2/27 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
2/27 HB 1066 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
2/26 SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
2/21 CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
2/20 SB 73 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
2/19 SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/18 SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
2/13 SB 3419 Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
2/11 HB 180 Healthy Food Initiatives Board Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
2/07 H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
2/05 SB 35 Salary Supplement for Math and Science Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7)
2/04 SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
1/30 SB 908 Global Warming Education in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
1/30 SB 112 Restricting Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
1/22 SB 26 State Regulation of Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/07 A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
12/18 HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
11/20 HB 5408 Michigan Business Tax Surcharge Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
11/19 HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
11/08 SB 299 School Tax Credit Formula Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
10/30 S Sub for Sub HB 4360 2007-2008 Community College and Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
10/29 SB 231 2007-2008 Department of Art, History, and Library Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
10/23 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
10/03 SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
10/01 H Sub for S Sub SB 546 Public School Employee Retirement Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
10/01 H Sub for Sub SB 547 Public School Employee Retirement Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
9/23 Sub SB 237 2007-2008 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
9/18 HB 2035 Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
9/07 HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 12)
7/20 HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 18)
6/27 HB 927 Adequate Education Definition Conference Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 9)
6/26 SS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
6/26 Sub for SB 547 Public School Employee Retirement Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
6/22 HB 1 208-2009 Operating Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8)
6/21 S 3000 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/18 HB 2781 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
6/14 HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
6/14 CACR 19 Constitutional Amendment Regarding Education Resolution Failed - Senate (14 - 10)
6/07 SB 606 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
6/06 HB 927 Adequate Education Definition Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
6/01 HB 5656 Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
5/31 H 3124 Open Enrollment and Optional Programs Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
5/31 LB 653 Standard Academic Testing Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
5/30 Amendment No. P-2B State Scholarships for Private Schools Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15)
5/25 HB 2650 School Food Nutritional Standards Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
5/24 LB 641 School Property Tax and Learning Communities Bill Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
5/23 CSHB 3678 Religious Expression at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
5/19 HF 464 School District Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16)
5/16 SF 653 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 20)
5/09 Sub HB 7350 In-School Suspensions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/08 SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 21)
5/01 SB 199 Education Funding and Property Tax Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
5/01 HB 1301 Cervical Cancer Immunization Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
4/30 Sub HB 2237 Maintenance for State Colleges and Universities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 8)
4/27 HF 920 Univeristy Capital Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
4/27 CS SB 1710 State University Tuition Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
4/24 SB 52 Governor Guinn Millennium Teaching Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
4/24 SB 415 Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)

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