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 9, 2015 AR SB 5 Modifies Eligibility Requirements for the Academic Challenge Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 5, 2015 GA SB 133 Establishes Opportunity School District Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17)
March 5, 2015 GA SR 287 Authorizes Residents to Vote on New School District Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 15)
March 3, 2015 AR HB 1242 Amends Requirements for the Creation of a New School District Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
March 2, 2015 WV SB 14 Authorizes Public Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 27, 2015 KY SB 76 Prohibits Students from Using Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
Feb. 26, 2015 WY HB 144 Establishes a School Safety Tip Line Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2015 MT SB 12 Authorizes School Funding for 19-Year-Old Students Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
Feb. 25, 2015 ND SB 2254 Amends School District Funding Calculations to Include Early Childhood Education Programs Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 31)
Feb. 25, 2015 ND SB 2151 Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Feb. 25, 2015 KS SB 56 Prohibits Exposing Minors to Harmful Materials Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 24, 2015 WY HB 159 Repeals Statewide Writing Assessment Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 24, 2015 MT SB 107 Authorizes New High School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
Feb. 24, 2015 SD SB 189 Establishes Tax Credit Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 23, 2015 AZ SB 1172 Prohibits Schools from Releasing Student Information for Political Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
Feb. 23, 2015 AZ SB 1172 Prohibits Schools from Releasing Student Information for Political Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
Feb. 17, 2015 VA HB 1626 Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Feb. 16, 2015 NV SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
Feb. 12, 2015 WY HB 23 Authorizes Consideration of Next Generation Science Standards Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
Feb. 12, 2015 CO SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2015 MS SB 2161 Establishes College and Career Readiness Standards Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2015 MS SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Feb. 6, 2015 KY SB 8 Establishes Public Charter School Pilot Project Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 5, 2015 MT SB 143 Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Feb. 5, 2015 KY SB 9 Exempts Certain Construction Projects from Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Feb. 5, 2015 KY SB 9 Exempts Certain Construction Projects from Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Feb. 4, 2015 NC SB 14 Transfers Funds to Rules Review Commission for Litigation Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
Jan. 20, 2015 VA SB 722 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
Jan. 15, 2015 AZ HB 2064 Requires Additional Testing for High School Students Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
Dec. 16, 2014 MI HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Sept. 23, 2014 PA HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
Sept. 10, 2014 MO SB 656 Authorizes School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Aug. 26, 2014 CA SB 1174 Repeals Prohibition on Bilingual Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Aug. 19, 2014 CA AB 420 Prohibits Student Suspensions for Certain Actions and Misconduct Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
July 31, 2014 MA H 4278 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
July 30, 2014 NC HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
July 16, 2014 MA H 4108 Amends Charter School Laws Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 30)
July 10, 2014 NC SB 812 Repeals Common Core Standards Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 12)
July 8, 2014 PA HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
July 2, 2014 AR HB 1004 Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
July 2, 2014 AR HB 1003 Limits Eligibility for School Employee Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
July 1, 2014 PA HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
June 26, 2014 NJ S 2264 Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
June 11, 2014 National S 2432 Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 38)
June 3, 2014 OH HB 171 Authorizes Off-Campus Religious Courses for High School Credit Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
May 30, 2014 IL HB 105 Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
May 29, 2014 CA SB 837 Establishes the California Prekindergarten Program Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
May 28, 2014 LA HB 953 Extends Timeline for Implementation of Common Core Standards Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
May 27, 2014 IL SB 16 Amends Formula for School Funding Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
May 27, 2014 CA SB 1174 Repeals Prohibition on Bilingual Education Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/09 SB 5 Modifies Eligibility Requirements for the Academic Challenge Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/05 SB 133 Establishes Opportunity School District Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17)
3/05 SR 287 Authorizes Residents to Vote on New School District Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 15)
3/03 HB 1242 Amends Requirements for the Creation of a New School District Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
3/02 SB 14 Authorizes Public Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/27 SB 76 Prohibits Students from Using Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
2/26 HB 144 Establishes a School Safety Tip Line Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
2/26 SB 12 Authorizes School Funding for 19-Year-Old Students Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
2/25 SB 2254 Amends School District Funding Calculations to Include Early Childhood Education Programs Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 31)
2/25 SB 2151 Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
2/25 SB 56 Prohibits Exposing Minors to Harmful Materials Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
2/24 HB 159 Repeals Statewide Writing Assessment Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/24 SB 107 Authorizes New High School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
2/24 SB 189 Establishes Tax Credit Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/23 SB 1172 Prohibits Schools from Releasing Student Information for Political Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
2/23 SB 1172 Prohibits Schools from Releasing Student Information for Political Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
2/17 HB 1626 Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
2/16 SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
2/12 HB 23 Authorizes Consideration of Next Generation Science Standards Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
2/12 SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/11 SB 2161 Establishes College and Career Readiness Standards Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
2/11 SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
2/06 SB 8 Establishes Public Charter School Pilot Project Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/05 SB 143 Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
2/05 SB 9 Exempts Certain Construction Projects from Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
2/05 SB 9 Exempts Certain Construction Projects from Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
2/04 SB 14 Transfers Funds to Rules Review Commission for Litigation Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
1/20 SB 722 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
1/15 HB 2064 Requires Additional Testing for High School Students Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
12/16 HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
9/23 HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
9/10 SB 656 Authorizes School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
8/26 SB 1174 Repeals Prohibition on Bilingual Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
8/19 AB 420 Prohibits Student Suspensions for Certain Actions and Misconduct Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
7/31 H 4278 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
7/30 HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
7/16 H 4108 Amends Charter School Laws Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 30)
7/10 SB 812 Repeals Common Core Standards Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 12)
7/08 HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
7/02 HB 1004 Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
7/02 HB 1003 Limits Eligibility for School Employee Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
7/01 HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
6/26 S 2264 Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
6/11 S 2432 Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 38)
6/03 HB 171 Authorizes Off-Campus Religious Courses for High School Credit Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
5/30 HB 105 Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
5/29 SB 837 Establishes the California Prekindergarten Program Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
5/28 HB 953 Extends Timeline for Implementation of Common Core Standards Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
5/27 SB 16 Amends Formula for School Funding Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
5/27 SB 1174 Repeals Prohibition on Bilingual Education Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)

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