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 23, 2012 ID H 426 Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 6)
March 21, 2012 IL HB 3810 Eliminates General Assembly Scholarships Bill Passed - House (79 - 25)
March 19, 2012 ID H 426 Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 13, 2012 IA HF 2380 Amends Education Provisions Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
March 5, 2012 GA SB 458 Repeals Certain Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
Feb. 29, 2012 SD HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33)
Feb. 28, 2012 National HR 2117 Repeals Department of Education Regulations Bill Passed - House (303 - 114)
Feb. 27, 2012 SD HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 24, 2012 UT SB 44 Providing Tuition Assistance for Military Veterans Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 14)
Feb. 23, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
Feb. 22, 2012 MI SB 971 Repeals Collective Bargaining Rights for Graduate Research Assistants Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Feb. 17, 2012 VA SB 131 Establishes Tax Deductions for Corporations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
Feb. 13, 2012 SD HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
Feb. 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (79 - 38)
Feb. 1, 2012 NH HB 1383 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Non-US Residents Bill Passed - House (250 - 88)
Nov. 9, 2011 ND SB 2370 Authorizes Changing the Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - House (63 - 31)
Nov. 8, 2011 ND SB 2370 Authorizes Changing the Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
Sept. 1, 2011 CA SB 185 Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Aug. 29, 2011 CA SB 185 Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 30)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 14, 2011 CA AB 130 Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
June 20, 2011 OR SB 909 Appropriates Education Funds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
June 8, 2011 CT SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
June 1, 2011 CT SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - House (61 - 53)
May 24, 2011 CT HB 6390 Access to Postsecondary Education Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 12, 2011 CT HB 6390 Access to Postsecondary Education Bill Passed - House (77 - 63)
May 9, 2011 TX SB 1581 Concealed Handguns on Campus Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
May 5, 2011 CA AB 130 Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (51 - 22)
May 4, 2011 IL SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
April 18, 2011 CO SB 126 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
April 11, 2011 MD SB 167 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 65)
April 11, 2011 MD SB 167 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19)
April 1, 2011 AZ SB 1618 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
April 1, 2011 TX Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
April 1, 2011 AZ SB 1618 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 31, 2011 ID S 1181 Post-Secondary Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 21)
March 29, 2011 OR SB 742 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 27, 2011 MS SB 3100 Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10)
March 27, 2011 MS SB 3100 Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 27)
March 24, 2011 ID S 1181 Post-Secondary Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
March 16, 2011 ID H 222 Authorizes Guns on Campus Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
March 15, 2011 IA SF 328 Funding for Education and Employment Training Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
March 14, 2011 AZ SB 1467 Concealed Weapons on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 11, 2011 ND HB 1263 Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 15)
March 8, 2011 GA HB 326 Amends the HOPE Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/23 H 426 Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 6)
3/21 HB 3810 Eliminates General Assembly Scholarships Bill Passed - House (79 - 25)
3/19 H 426 Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/13 HF 2380 Amends Education Provisions Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
3/05 SB 458 Repeals Certain Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
2/29 HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33)
2/28 HR 2117 Repeals Department of Education Regulations Bill Passed - House (303 - 114)
2/27 HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/24 SB 44 Providing Tuition Assistance for Military Veterans Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 14)
2/23 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
2/22 SB 971 Repeals Collective Bargaining Rights for Graduate Research Assistants Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
2/17 SB 131 Establishes Tax Deductions for Corporations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
2/13 HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
2/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (79 - 38)
2/01 HB 1383 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Non-US Residents Bill Passed - House (250 - 88)
11/09 SB 2370 Authorizes Changing the Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - House (63 - 31)
11/08 SB 2370 Authorizes Changing the Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
9/01 SB 185 Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
8/29 SB 185 Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
7/19 HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 30)
7/19 HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/14 AB 130 Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
6/20 SB 909 Appropriates Education Funds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
6/08 SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
6/01 SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/30 SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - House (61 - 53)
5/24 HB 6390 Access to Postsecondary Education Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/12 HB 6390 Access to Postsecondary Education Bill Passed - House (77 - 63)
5/09 SB 1581 Concealed Handguns on Campus Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
5/05 AB 130 Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (51 - 22)
5/04 SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
4/18 SB 126 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
4/11 SB 167 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 65)
4/11 SB 167 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19)
4/01 SB 1618 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
4/01 Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
4/01 SB 1618 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/31 S 1181 Post-Secondary Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 21)
3/29 SB 742 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/27 SB 3100 Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10)
3/27 SB 3100 Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 27)
3/24 S 1181 Post-Secondary Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/17 SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
3/16 H 222 Authorizes Guns on Campus Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
3/15 SF 328 Funding for Education and Employment Training Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
3/14 SB 1467 Concealed Weapons on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/11 HB 1263 Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 15)
3/08 HB 326 Amends the HOPE Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)

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