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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2014 | KS | SB 218 | Establishes School Financing and Administrative Measures | Conference Report Rejected - House (55 - 67) |
| April 3, 2014 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 31) |
| April 3, 2014 | KS | Knox Amdt | Prohibits Implementation of Common Core Standards Using Certain State Funds | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
| April 2, 2014 | MD | HB 727 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Certain School Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 1, 2014 | OK | HB 3399 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| March 26, 2014 | NH | HB 1508 | Prohibits Implementation of Common Core Educational Standards | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (201 - 138) |
| March 25, 2014 | KY | SB 211 | Authorizes the Formation of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| March 24, 2014 | CO | HB 1288 | Amends Student Immunization Laws | Bill Passed - House (42 - 19) |
| March 20, 2014 | FL | HB 7029 | Prohibits Administrators From Punishing Simulation Of Weapon Play | Bill Passed - House (98 - 17) |
| March 19, 2014 | OH | HB 334 | Amends the Circumstances a Student May be Expelled | Bill Passed - House (70 - 27) |
| March 18, 2014 | IA | SF 2318 | Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19) |
| March 17, 2014 | MD | HB 727 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Certain School Projects | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 18) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 32) |
| March 13, 2014 | NY | S 2031A | Amends the Board of Regents Appointment Process | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19) |
| March 13, 2014 | OK | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts to Issue Bonds for Improvements in Building Safety | Amendment Adopted - House (65 - 28) |
| March 12, 2014 | IN | SB 91 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 13) |
| March 12, 2014 | OK | HB 3399 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| March 10, 2014 | OK | HB 2329 | Authorizes Storage of a Handgun in a Secure Motor Vehicle on School Property | Bill Passed - House (76 - 17) |
| March 5, 2014 | AZ | SB 1310 | Prohibits the Implementation of Common Core Standards | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | IN | SB 91 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | VA | SB 236 | Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | GA | SB 167 | Prohibits Common Core Curriculum Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | AL | HB 45 | Authorizes Display of the Ten Commandments on State Property | Amendment Adopted - House (77 - 19) |
| Feb. 18, 2014 | GA | HB 875 | Authorizes Individuals to Carry Weapons in Previously Prohibited Locations | Bill Passed - House (119 - 56) |
| Feb. 18, 2014 | NM | SB 347 | Appropriates Funds to the Lottery Tuition Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| Feb. 13, 2014 | AL | SB 18 | Authorizes a School District to Educate on Traditional Winter Celebrations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| Feb. 13, 2014 | MS | SB 2325 | Establishes Individualized Education Funds for Certain Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| Feb. 12, 2014 | MS | S Amdt 2 | Repeals August School Start Date Requirement | Amendment Adopted - Senate (31 - 15) |
| Feb. 6, 2014 | VA | HB 11 | Requires New Textbooks to Refer to The East Sea | Bill Passed - House (81 - 15) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | IA | SF 2079 | Increases School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | MS | HB 504 | Increases Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - House (86 - 26) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | IN | SB 264 | Authorizes Annual Stipends for Certain Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | VA | SB 324 | Extends Deadline for Implementation of a School Performance Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | IN | SB 91 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | VA | HB 63 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Bill Passed - House (54 - 37) |
| Jan. 29, 2014 | SD | HCR 1008 | Prohibits Expansion of Common Core State Standards | Joint Resolution Failed - House (31 - 35) |
| Jan. 29, 2014 | KY | HB 154 | Requires Periodic Public School Financial Reports | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
| Jan. 28, 2014 | ME | LD 1254 | Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine | Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| Jan. 23, 2014 | IN | SB 113 | Requires Cursive Writing to be Taught in School | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
| Jan. 22, 2014 | OH | HB 8 | Authorizes Certain Employees to Carry Concealed Firearms on School Property | Bill Passed - House (63 - 29) |
| Jan. 21, 2014 | VA | SB 236 | Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Jan. 14, 2014 | ME | LD 1254 | Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine | Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 46) |
| Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1741 | Requires a School Board to Provide Public Notice Prior to Certain Votes | Bill Passed - House (102 - 98) |
| Nov. 5, 2013 | WI | AB 297 | Amends Laws Concerning the Use of Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Oct. 15, 2013 | WI | AB 297 | Amends Laws Concerning the Use of Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names | Bill Passed - House (52 - 41) |
| Oct. 8, 2013 | National | H J Res 84 | Head Start Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (248 - 168) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |