Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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 27, 2017 TX SB 457 Appropriates Funds for Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
April 25, 2017 NC HB 13 Establishes Maximum Class Size for Kindergarten Through Third Grade (48 - 1)
April 25, 2017 AZ SB 1042 Establishes New Requirements for Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
April 9, 2017 NY A 3009 Establishes State Fiscal Plan (53 - 4)
April 6, 2017 MD HB 978 Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
April 4, 2017 MN HF 890 Authorizes Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 28)
April 4, 2017 MN HF 890 Authorizes Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 28)
April 4, 2017 IN HB 1384 Expands Indiana's Voucher Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
April 4, 2017 AL SB 129 Establishes Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
April 4, 2017 TX SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
March 31, 2017 ND HB 1329 Authorizes Free Speech at Public Universities Bill Failed - Senate (7 - 37)
March 31, 2017 ND HB 1329 Authorizes Free Speech at Public Universities Bill Failed - Senate (7 - 37)
March 30, 2017 TX SB 2 Appropriates Funds for Private School Scholarships Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
March 30, 2017 TX SB 3 Appropriates State Funds for Education in Non-Rural Areas Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
March 30, 2017 TX SB 3 Appropriates State Funds for Education in Non-Rural Areas Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
March 29, 2017 KY HB 128 Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
March 29, 2017 KY HB 128 Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
March 28, 2017 ND HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
March 24, 2017 MD HB 978 Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 23, 2017 FL SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
March 23, 2017 FL SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
March 15, 2017 KY HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
March 15, 2017 KY HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
March 9, 2017 NM SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
March 9, 2017 NM SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/27 SB 457 Appropriates Funds for Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
4/25 HB 13 Establishes Maximum Class Size for Kindergarten Through Third Grade (48 - 1)
4/25 SB 1042 Establishes New Requirements for Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
4/09 A 3009 Establishes State Fiscal Plan (53 - 4)
4/06 HB 978 Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
4/04 HF 890 Authorizes Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 28)
4/04 HF 890 Authorizes Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 28)
4/04 HB 1384 Expands Indiana's Voucher Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
4/04 SB 129 Establishes Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
4/04 SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
3/31 HB 1329 Authorizes Free Speech at Public Universities Bill Failed - Senate (7 - 37)
3/31 HB 1329 Authorizes Free Speech at Public Universities Bill Failed - Senate (7 - 37)
3/30 SB 2 Appropriates Funds for Private School Scholarships Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
3/30 SB 3 Appropriates State Funds for Education in Non-Rural Areas Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
3/30 SB 3 Appropriates State Funds for Education in Non-Rural Areas Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
3/29 HB 128 Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
3/29 HB 128 Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
3/28 HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
3/24 HB 978 Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/23 SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
3/23 SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
3/15 HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
3/15 HB 520 Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
3/09 SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
3/09 SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)

arrow_upward