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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2018 | NC | HB 514 | Authorizes Municipalities to Form Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 53) |
| June 4, 2018 | NC | HB 514 | Authorizes Municipalities to Form Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2892 | Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - House (65 - 47) |
| May 29, 2018 | CA | AB 2160 | Defines Playground Aides as Classified Employees | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 874 | Increases Penalties for Failing to Report Child Abuse or Neglect | Bill Passed - House (107 - 2) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | HB 6043 | Requires School Districts to Report Inappropriate Conduct within 60 Days | Bill Passed - House (88 - 21) |
| May 23, 2018 | IL | SB 2428 | Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students | Bill Passed - House (66 - 44) |
| May 17, 2018 | RI | H 7419 | Prohibits Advertising of Unhealthy Food and Beverages in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 10) |
| May 17, 2018 | IL | SB 2892 | Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 16) |
| May 16, 2018 | OH | SB 246 | Limits Out-of-School Suspensions and Expulsions For Students in Kindergarten to Third Grade | (32 - 0) |
| May 9, 2018 | CT | HB 5170 | Authorizes Schools to Search Student Cell Phones | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
| May 9, 2018 | CO | SB 18-272 | Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training | Bill Passed - House (53 - 12) |
| May 7, 2018 | CO | SB 18-272 | Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| May 2, 2018 | NY | A 10475 | Prohibits State Test Scores from Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (133 - 1) |
| May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 3249 | Requires LGBT History in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| May 2, 2018 | RI | S 2350 | Prohibits Advertising Unhealthy Food in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| April 25, 2018 | RI | S 2353 | Requires Educators to Report Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0) |
| April 17, 2018 | CO | SB 18-083 | Establishes Educational Tax Credit System | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 14, 2018 | AK | HB 287 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4) |
| April 14, 2018 | AK | HB 339 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - House (22 - 18) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 764 | Requires Panic Alarms in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (66 - 6) |
| April 11, 2018 | OH | HB 360 | Requires Additional Anti-Bullying Policies in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (69 - 27) |
| April 11, 2018 | OH | SB 82 | Requires Schools to Contact Parents for Unexcused Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| April 11, 2018 | OH | HB 318 | Requires New Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers | Bill Passed - House (92 - 2) |
| April 5, 2018 | KS | SB 423 | Appropriates Funds for Department of Education and Board of Regents | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| April 4, 2018 | TN | HB 2331 | Requires Schools to Report on Use of Corporal Punishment | Bill Passed - House (80 - 1) |
| April 3, 2018 | IA | HF 2467 | Establishes Guidelines for Handling Students' Lunch Debt | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| March 29, 2018 | DE | SB 85 | Requires Report on School Suspensions | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| March 28, 2018 | OK | HB 1010 | Increases Taxes to Provide More Funding for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| March 26, 2018 | OK | HB 1010 | Increases Taxes to Provide More Funding for Education | Bill Passed - House (79 - 19) |
| March 22, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| March 21, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 21, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| March 20, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| March 19, 2018 | TN | SB 2661 | Requires Public Schools to Display National Motto | Bill Passed - House (81 - 8) |
| March 16, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| March 16, 2018 | KY | HB 604 | Requires Mental Health Workers in Schools | Bill Passed - House (81 - 1) |
| March 9, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
| March 8, 2018 | KS | HB 2757 | Authorizes Public School Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (73 - 48) |
| March 8, 2018 | MI | HB 5531 | Requires Expulsion of Students Convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct | Bill Passed - House (93 - 14) |
| March 5, 2018 | IN | SB 387 | Authorizes Teachers without Licenses in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - House (35 - 12) |
| Feb. 26, 2018 | NJ | S 414 | Requires Employment Background Checks for Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| Feb. 21, 2018 | FL | HB 839 | Requires Schools to Display State Motto | Bill Passed - House (97 - 10) |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | WV | SB 267 | Increases State Public Worker Salaries | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | OR | HB 4113 | Requires School Districts to Bargain About Class Size | Bill Passed - House (33 - 25) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | NC | HB 90 | Limits Public School Class Sizes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 5) |
| Feb. 8, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Feb. 6, 2018 | IN | SB 387 | Authorizes Teachers without Licenses in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| Feb. 2, 2018 | WV | SB 267 | Increases State Public Worker Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| Jan. 19, 2018 | WA | SB 5766 | Requires School Districts to Adopt Transgender Student Policies and Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| Jan. 18, 2018 | MI | SB 574 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Collect Revenues From Enhancement Millages | Bill Passed - House (55 - 52) |
| Oct. 18, 2017 | PA | HB 178 | Amends Public School Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (105 - 81) |
| Oct. 18, 2017 | MI | SB 574 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Collect Revenues From Enhancement Millages | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Sept. 19, 2017 | RI | S 608 | Requires Notification of Sex Offenders Living Near School Bus Stops | Bill Passed - House (61 - 0) |
| Aug. 13, 2017 | IL | SB 1 | Specifies School Funding Reallocation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (38 - 19) |
| July 9, 2017 | PA | HB 97 | Authorizes Budget Cuts for Low-Performing Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| June 22, 2017 | OH | HB 170 | Authorizes Students to Take Computer Science in Lieu of Algebra II | Bill Passed - House (83 - 12) |
| June 20, 2017 | MI | SB 401 | Amends Teacher Retirement Plans | Bill Passed - House (55 - 51) |
| June 15, 2017 | MI | SB 401 | Amends Teacher Retirement Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| June 6, 2017 | RI | S 608 | Requires Notification of Sex Offenders Living Near School Bus Stops | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0) |
| June 1, 2017 | NH | SB 8 | Authorizes Overpopulated Public Schools to Transfer Students Elsewhere | Bill Passed - House (210 - 147) |
| May 5, 2017 | FL | HB 989 | Authorizes Residents to Challenge School Textbooks | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| May 4, 2017 | TX | HB 22 | Amends Education Accountability Standards | Bill Tabled - House (97 - 46) |
| May 2, 2017 | NE | LB 427 | Requires Schools to Accommodate Pregnant and Parenting Students | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| April 26, 2017 | IL | HB 2977 | Requires Public Schools to Provide Cursive Writing Courses | Bill Passed - House (67 - 48) |
| April 25, 2017 | PA | HB 97 | Prohibits Failing Students from Continuing Online Charter School | Bill Passed - House (108 - 84) |
| April 20, 2017 | FL | HB 989 | Authorizes Parents to Object to Instructional Material | Bill Passed - House (94 - 25) |
| April 6, 2017 | MD | HB 978 | Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 6, 2017 | MD | HB 978 | Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools | Veto Override Passed - House (90 - 50) |
| April 6, 2017 | MO | HB 2 | Appropriates Education Funds | Bill Passed - House (119 - 34) |
| 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 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 17, 2017 | NM | HB 241 | Establishes New Standards of Evaluation for Teachers | Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 31) |
| March 17, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - House (60 - 0) |
| March 15, 2017 | KY | HB 520 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| March 15, 2017 | KY | HB 520 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 15, 2017 | KY | SB 1 | Amends State Educational Standards | Bill Passed - House (94 - 0) |
| March 10, 2017 | MD | HB 978 | Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| March 9, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| March 6, 2017 | KY | SB 17 | Authorizes Expression of Religious or Political Viewpoints in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| March 3, 2017 | WY | HB 236 | Reduces the Education Budget | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (9 - 51) |
| March 3, 2017 | KY | HB 520 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| March 1, 2017 | WY | HB 236 | Reduces the Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| Feb. 23, 2017 | NH | SB 8 | Authorizes Overpopulated Public Schools to Transfer Students Elsewhere | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | WA | HB 1843 | Amends Public Education Funding Formula | Bill Passed - House (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 15, 2017 | KY | SB 1 | Amends State Educational Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
| Feb. 7, 2017 | WY | HB 236 | Reduces the Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (43 - 16) |
| Feb. 6, 2017 | IA | SF 166 | Authorizes School Funding Increase of 1.11 Percent | Bill Passed - House (55 - 40) |
| Feb. 2, 2017 | IA | SF 166 | Authorizes School Funding Increase of 1.11 Percent | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Jan. 24, 2017 | VA | HB 1578 | Authorizes Home-schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| June 9, 2016 | MI | HB 5384 | Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 54) |
| June 8, 2016 | MI | HB 5384 | Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
| May 10, 2016 | IL | SB 231 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21) |
| May 5, 2016 | AK | HB 156 | Amends Certain Public Education Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (21 - 18) |
| May 4, 2016 | AK | HB 156 | Amends Certain Public Education Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 4) |
| April 25, 2016 | LA | HB 863 | Prohibits Schools from Holding Membership in Certain Associations or Organizations | Bill Failed - House (33 - 51) |
| April 25, 2016 | MN | HF 2749 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - House (84 - 46) |
| April 17, 2016 | AK | HB 156 | Amends Certain Public Education Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |