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 30, 2013 TX SB 1907 Authorizes Firearms in Vehicles on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
April 25, 2013 MN SF 1236 Increases Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (86 - 44)
April 23, 2013 ND HCR 3047 Establishes a Commission of Higher Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 34)
April 22, 2013 ND HCR 3047 Establishes a Commission of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
April 18, 2013 IA HF 604 2013-2014 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 18, 2013 CT HB 6648 Authorizes University Board of Regents to Appoint President of the Board Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
April 17, 2013 MN SF 1236 Increases Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 18)
April 5, 2013 KS SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8)
April 5, 2013 KS SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30)
April 1, 2013 IA SF 429 2013-14 Community Colleges Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
March 26, 2013 KS SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Bill Passed - House (90 - 32)
March 21, 2013 OR HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 18, 2013 TN HB 534 Authorizes University Student Organizations to Limit Membership Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (75 - 21)
March 14, 2013 TN SB 514 Prohibits Universities from Disciplining Students Who Refuse to Treat Someone Based on Religious Beliefs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4)
March 13, 2013 WA HB 1817 Authorizes Undocumented Students to Apply for State Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
March 8, 2013 CO SB 33 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (40 - 21)
March 4, 2013 OK HB 1721 Reduces the Income Cap for the Oklahoma Promise Scholarship Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
Feb. 25, 2013 AR HB 1243 Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Feb. 25, 2013 CO SB 33 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 23, 2013 MT HB 240 Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
Feb. 22, 2013 OR HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (38 - 18)
Feb. 18, 2013 AR HB 1295 Establishes Tiered System for Lottery Scholarships Bill Passed - House (69 - 21)
Feb. 18, 2013 CO HB 1226 Prohibits the Possession of Concealed Handguns on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
Feb. 15, 2013 AR HB 1243 Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun Bill Passed - House (70 - 11)
Feb. 11, 2013 VA HB 1617 Authorizes Student Organizations to Limit Membership Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 7, 2013 IN HB 1005 Changes Eligibility for College Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (86 - 13)
Jan. 31, 2013 VA HB 1617 Authorizes Student Organizations to Limit Membership Bill Passed - House (80 - 19)
Aug. 29, 2012 CA AB 2132 Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
Aug. 28, 2012 CA AB 2132 Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 18, 2012 NC HB 7 Authorizes Community Colleges to Opt Out of Federal Loan Program Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
June 14, 2012 NC HB 7 Authorizes Community Colleges to Opt Out of Federal Loan Program Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 46)
June 5, 2012 MI HB 5372 School Aid Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
June 1, 2012 MI HB 5372 School Aid Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 51)
May 31, 2012 CA SB 1525 Establishes a Student Athlete Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
May 24, 2012 National S 2343 Extends Student Loan Interest Rates (Reid Bill) Bill Failed - Senate (51 - 43)
May 24, 2012 National S Amdt 2153 Prohibits Increase in Interest Rates for Student Loans (Lamar Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 62)
May 16, 2012 AL HB 658 Amends Immigration Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 37)
May 16, 2012 NH HB 1607 Establishes a Tax Credit for Businesses that Donate to Certain Scholarship Funds Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
May 16, 2012 AL HB 658 Amends Immigration Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
May 8, 2012 National S 2343 Extends Student Loan Interest Rates (Reid Bill) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 45)
May 3, 2012 KS King Amendment Amends the State Retirement System for New Public Employees Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20)
May 2, 2012 NH HB 1383 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Non-US Residents Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
April 30, 2012 TN SB 3597 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Groups at Public Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 22)
April 30, 2012 TN SB 3597 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Groups at Public Universities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
April 27, 2012 National HR 4628 Extending Student Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - House (215 - 195)
April 19, 2012 AL HB 658 Amends Immigration Regulations Bill Passed - House (64 - 34)
April 16, 2012 TN SB 2514 Amends Eligibility Requirements for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
April 9, 2012 CO SB 15 College Tuition Rates for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 29, 2012 NH HB 1607 Establishes a Tax Credit for Businesses that Donate to Certain Scholarship Funds Bill Passed - House (173 - 127)
March 29, 2012 IL HB 5531 Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees Bill Failed - House (26 - 75)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/30 SB 1907 Authorizes Firearms in Vehicles on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
4/25 SF 1236 Increases Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (86 - 44)
4/23 HCR 3047 Establishes a Commission of Higher Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 34)
4/22 HCR 3047 Establishes a Commission of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
4/18 HF 604 2013-2014 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/18 HB 6648 Authorizes University Board of Regents to Appoint President of the Board Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
4/17 SF 1236 Increases Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 18)
4/05 SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8)
4/05 SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30)
4/01 SF 429 2013-14 Community Colleges Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
3/26 SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Bill Passed - House (90 - 32)
3/21 HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/18 HB 534 Authorizes University Student Organizations to Limit Membership Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (75 - 21)
3/14 SB 514 Prohibits Universities from Disciplining Students Who Refuse to Treat Someone Based on Religious Beliefs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4)
3/13 HB 1817 Authorizes Undocumented Students to Apply for State Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
3/08 SB 33 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (40 - 21)
3/04 HB 1721 Reduces the Income Cap for the Oklahoma Promise Scholarship Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
2/25 HB 1243 Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
2/25 SB 33 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/23 HB 240 Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
2/22 HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (38 - 18)
2/18 HB 1295 Establishes Tiered System for Lottery Scholarships Bill Passed - House (69 - 21)
2/18 HB 1226 Prohibits the Possession of Concealed Handguns on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
2/15 HB 1243 Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun Bill Passed - House (70 - 11)
2/11 HB 1617 Authorizes Student Organizations to Limit Membership Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/07 HB 1005 Changes Eligibility for College Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (86 - 13)
1/31 HB 1617 Authorizes Student Organizations to Limit Membership Bill Passed - House (80 - 19)
8/29 AB 2132 Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
8/28 AB 2132 Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/18 HB 7 Authorizes Community Colleges to Opt Out of Federal Loan Program Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
6/14 HB 7 Authorizes Community Colleges to Opt Out of Federal Loan Program Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 46)
6/05 HB 5372 School Aid Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
6/01 HB 5372 School Aid Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 51)
5/31 SB 1525 Establishes a Student Athlete Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
5/24 S 2343 Extends Student Loan Interest Rates (Reid Bill) Bill Failed - Senate (51 - 43)
5/24 S Amdt 2153 Prohibits Increase in Interest Rates for Student Loans (Lamar Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 62)
5/16 HB 658 Amends Immigration Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 37)
5/16 HB 1607 Establishes a Tax Credit for Businesses that Donate to Certain Scholarship Funds Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
5/16 HB 658 Amends Immigration Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
5/08 S 2343 Extends Student Loan Interest Rates (Reid Bill) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 45)
5/03 King Amendment Amends the State Retirement System for New Public Employees Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20)
5/02 HB 1383 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Non-US Residents Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
4/30 SB 3597 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Groups at Public Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 22)
4/30 SB 3597 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Groups at Public Universities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
4/27 HR 4628 Extending Student Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - House (215 - 195)
4/19 HB 658 Amends Immigration Regulations Bill Passed - House (64 - 34)
4/16 SB 2514 Amends Eligibility Requirements for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
4/09 SB 15 College Tuition Rates for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/29 HB 1607 Establishes a Tax Credit for Businesses that Donate to Certain Scholarship Funds Bill Passed - House (173 - 127)
3/29 HB 5531 Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees Bill Failed - House (26 - 75)

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