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
May 2, 2011 TN SB 113 Teachers' Unions Negotiations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
April 28, 2011 MT SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
April 28, 2011 MT SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 49)
April 28, 2011 MI HB 4481 Public School Employees' Pension and Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (56 - 50)
April 28, 2011 NC HB 546 Alternative Teacher Salary Plans Bill Passed - House (72 - 42)
April 27, 2011 IN HB 1003 School Vouchers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 43)
April 27, 2011 IN HB 1002 Charter School Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37)
April 25, 2011 OR HB 2732 High School Diploma Requirements Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
April 21, 2011 IN HB 1003 School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
April 21, 2011 TN SB 485 Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
April 20, 2011 OR HB 3555 Qualifications for Superintendents of Public Schools Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
April 19, 2011 IN SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
April 14, 2011 CA SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
April 13, 2011 IN SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 40)
April 13, 2011 AZ HB 2415 Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 13, 2011 OR SB 5552 Department of Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
April 12, 2011 IN HB 1002 Charter School Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
April 12, 2011 AL HB 123 Education Appropriations for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (64 - 36)
April 7, 2011 TN HB 368 Scientific Theories in the Classroom Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
April 6, 2011 OR SB 552 Establishes the Governor as the Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
April 3, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 49)
April 1, 2011 ID S 1184 Technology in the Classroom Bill Passed - House (44 - 26)
March 30, 2011 IN HB 1003 School Vouchers Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
March 30, 2011 National HR 471 School Vouchers for Washington, D.C. Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
March 25, 2011 AR HB 1032 Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts Bill Passed - House (71 - 16)
March 24, 2011 TN SB 1528 Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
March 24, 2011 ID S 1184 Technology in the Classroom Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 23, 2011 MT SB 403 Revised K-12 School Funding Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 25)
March 22, 2011 IA HF 534 School Instructional Hours and Days Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
March 18, 2011 NM HB 172 Prohibiting Corporal Punishment as School Discipline Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
March 17, 2011 AR HB 1936 Dress Codes for Public Schools Bill Passed - House (73 - 19)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
March 16, 2011 FL SB 736 Public School Evaluation Procedures Bill Passed - House (80 - 39)
March 16, 2011 NM SB 427 Rating System for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 14, 2011 OR HB 2287 Public Charter Schools Bill Failed - House (28 - 32)
March 10, 2011 FL SB 736 Public School Evaluation Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 10, 2011 TN SB 1528 Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
March 9, 2011 UT HB 183 School District Leave Policies Conference Report Adopted - House (42 - 28)
March 9, 2011 UT SB 73 Public School Teacher Tenure Modifications Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
March 8, 2011 UT HB 183 School District Leave Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
March 8, 2011 NM HB 172 Prohibiting Corporal Punishment as School Discipline Bill Passed - House (36 - 31)
March 7, 2011 AZ HB 2415 Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
March 4, 2011 ID H 104a Teacher Union Activities Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
March 3, 2011 NV AB 183 Revising Payment for Outstanding Bonds in School Districts Bill Passed - House (25 - 16)
March 3, 2011 MN SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 50)
March 3, 2011 MN SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 19)
March 3, 2011 UT HB 301 School District Property Tax Revisions Bill Passed - House (39 - 31)
March 2, 2011 UT SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 2, 2011 WV HB 2879 One-Time Pay Raise for State Employees Bill Passed - House (78 - 22)
March 1, 2011 UT SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10)
Feb. 24, 2011 NC SB 8 Repeal on the Number of Charter Schools Allowed Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Feb. 24, 2011 ID S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 24, 2011 ID S 1110 Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2011 UT SJR 9 Supervision of Public Education Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
Feb. 23, 2011 UT HB 183 School District Leave Policies Bill Passed - House (46 - 22)
Feb. 23, 2011 SC H 3241 Funding for Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (85 - 32)
Feb. 22, 2011 IN SB 1 Evaluating and Licensing of Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Feb. 22, 2011 MT HB 456 Sexual Education in K-12 Public Schools Bill Passed - House (67 - 30)
Feb. 21, 2011 OK SB 435 Modifying Board of Education Membership Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 18, 2011 ND HB 1258 Contribution Retirement Plans for Teachers Bill Failed - House (38 - 56)
Feb. 18, 2011 ND HB 1412 Teaching Personal Finance in Middle Schools Bill Failed - House (47 - 47)
Feb. 17, 2011 IA HF 260 House Rule School Governance Bill Passed - House (65 - 30)
Feb. 17, 2011 IN SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Feb. 16, 2011 AR HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
Feb. 16, 2011 WY SF 106 School Finances Bill Failed - House (20 - 35)
Feb. 16, 2011 OH HB 30 Reduce Required School Funding Bill Passed - House (59 - 36)
Feb. 16, 2011 UT HB 75 Guns On School Premises Bill Passed - House (58 - 15)
Feb. 8, 2011 WY SF 140 Kindergarten Attendance Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
Feb. 8, 2011 IN HB 1002 Charter School Amendments Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
Feb. 8, 2011 WY SF 52 Repealing Teacher Tenure Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
Feb. 3, 2011 MN SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
Feb. 2, 2011 WY SF 106 School Finances Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 1, 2011 VA HJ 593 Free Exercise of Religion Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 33)
Feb. 1, 2011 AR HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Passed - House (53 - 41)
Jan. 31, 2011 AR HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - House (46 - 47)
Jan. 31, 2011 NY S 2707 Funding State Mandated Programs Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Bill Passed - House (51 - 18)
Aug. 30, 2010 CA SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
Aug. 27, 2010 CA SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Bill Passed - House (52 - 22)
Aug. 10, 2010 National HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (247 - 161)
Aug. 5, 2010 National HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
April 29, 2010 AZ HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (32 - 26)
April 28, 2010 AZ HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 21, 2010 AL HB 105 Required Physical Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 7)
April 14, 2010 AL HB 105 Required Physical Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
March 21, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 211)
July 19, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
July 25, 2006 National S Amdt 4689 Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Dec. 14, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
Dec. 8, 2005 National HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (234 - 197)
Nov. 17, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
Oct. 27, 2005 National S Amdt 2287 After School Funding Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
Oct. 27, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
Oct. 26, 2005 National S Amdt 2292 Individuals with Disabilities Education Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Oct. 26, 2005 National S Amdt 2275 Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 51)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/02 SB 113 Teachers' Unions Negotiations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
4/28 SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
4/28 SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 49)
4/28 HB 4481 Public School Employees' Pension and Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (56 - 50)
4/28 HB 546 Alternative Teacher Salary Plans Bill Passed - House (72 - 42)
4/27 HB 1003 School Vouchers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 43)
4/27 HB 1002 Charter School Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37)
4/25 HB 2732 High School Diploma Requirements Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
4/21 HB 1003 School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
4/21 SB 485 Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
4/20 HB 3555 Qualifications for Superintendents of Public Schools Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
4/19 SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
4/14 SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
4/13 SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 40)
4/13 HB 2415 Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/13 SB 5552 Department of Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
4/12 HB 1002 Charter School Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
4/12 HB 123 Education Appropriations for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (64 - 36)
4/07 HB 368 Scientific Theories in the Classroom Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
4/06 SB 552 Establishes the Governor as the Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/03 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 49)
4/01 S 1184 Technology in the Classroom Bill Passed - House (44 - 26)
3/30 HB 1003 School Vouchers Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
3/30 HR 471 School Vouchers for Washington, D.C. Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
3/25 HB 1032 Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts Bill Passed - House (71 - 16)
3/24 SB 1528 Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
3/24 S 1184 Technology in the Classroom Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/23 SB 403 Revised K-12 School Funding Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 25)
3/22 HF 534 School Instructional Hours and Days Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
3/18 HB 172 Prohibiting Corporal Punishment as School Discipline Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
3/17 HB 1936 Dress Codes for Public Schools Bill Passed - House (73 - 19)
3/17 SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
3/16 SB 736 Public School Evaluation Procedures Bill Passed - House (80 - 39)
3/16 SB 427 Rating System for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/14 HB 2287 Public Charter Schools Bill Failed - House (28 - 32)
3/10 SB 736 Public School Evaluation Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/10 SB 1528 Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
3/09 HB 183 School District Leave Policies Conference Report Adopted - House (42 - 28)
3/09 SB 73 Public School Teacher Tenure Modifications Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
3/08 HB 183 School District Leave Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
3/08 HB 172 Prohibiting Corporal Punishment as School Discipline Bill Passed - House (36 - 31)
3/07 HB 2415 Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
3/04 H 104a Teacher Union Activities Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
3/03 AB 183 Revising Payment for Outstanding Bonds in School Districts Bill Passed - House (25 - 16)
3/03 SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 50)
3/03 SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 19)
3/03 HB 301 School District Property Tax Revisions Bill Passed - House (39 - 31)
3/02 SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/02 HB 2879 One-Time Pay Raise for State Employees Bill Passed - House (78 - 22)
3/01 SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10)
2/24 SB 8 Repeal on the Number of Charter Schools Allowed Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
2/24 S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/24 S 1110 Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/23 SJR 9 Supervision of Public Education Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
2/23 HB 183 School District Leave Policies Bill Passed - House (46 - 22)
2/23 H 3241 Funding for Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (85 - 32)
2/22 SB 1 Evaluating and Licensing of Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
2/22 HB 456 Sexual Education in K-12 Public Schools Bill Passed - House (67 - 30)
2/21 SB 435 Modifying Board of Education Membership Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
2/18 HB 1258 Contribution Retirement Plans for Teachers Bill Failed - House (38 - 56)
2/18 HB 1412 Teaching Personal Finance in Middle Schools Bill Failed - House (47 - 47)
2/17 HF 260 House Rule School Governance Bill Passed - House (65 - 30)
2/17 SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
2/16 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
2/16 SF 106 School Finances Bill Failed - House (20 - 35)
2/16 HB 30 Reduce Required School Funding Bill Passed - House (59 - 36)
2/16 HB 75 Guns On School Premises Bill Passed - House (58 - 15)
2/08 SF 140 Kindergarten Attendance Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
2/08 HB 1002 Charter School Amendments Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
2/08 SF 52 Repealing Teacher Tenure Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
2/03 SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
2/02 SF 106 School Finances Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/01 HJ 593 Free Exercise of Religion Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 33)
2/01 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Passed - House (53 - 41)
1/31 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - House (46 - 47)
1/31 S 2707 Funding State Mandated Programs Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
8/31 SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
8/31 SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/31 SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Bill Passed - House (51 - 18)
8/30 SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
8/27 SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
8/26 SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Bill Passed - House (52 - 22)
8/10 HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (247 - 161)
8/05 HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
4/29 HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (32 - 26)
4/28 HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/21 HB 105 Required Physical Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 7)
4/14 HB 105 Required Physical Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
3/21 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 211)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
7/25 S Amdt 4689 Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
12/14 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
12/08 HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (234 - 197)
11/17 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224)
10/27 S Amdt 2287 After School Funding Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
10/27 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
10/26 S Amdt 2292 Individuals with Disabilities Education Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
10/26 S Amdt 2275 Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 51)

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