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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 11, 2013 | CA | AB 484 | Amends State School Testing Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 22) |
| Sept. 10, 2013 | CA | AB 484 | Amends State School Testing Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| July 23, 2013 | NC | SB 337 | Establishes the North Carolina Charter School Advisory Board | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 11) |
| July 23, 2013 | NC | SB 337 | Establishes the North Carolina Charter School Advisory Board | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 22) |
| July 16, 2013 | NC | HB 250 | Amends Charter School Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
| July 16, 2013 | NC | HB 250 | Amends Charter School Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 47) |
| July 3, 2013 | CA | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| July 2, 2013 | NC | SB 132 | Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
| July 2, 2013 | OR | HB 2456 | Appropriates Increased Tax Funds to Schools and Health Services | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
| July 1, 2013 | OR | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| June 28, 2013 | OR | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots by Agreement | Bill Passed - House (41 - 19) |
| June 27, 2013 | NC | SB 132 | Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools | Bill Passed - House (69 - 42) |
| June 18, 2013 | ME | LD 1540 | Amends Public School Assessment System | Bill Passed - House (80 - 55) |
| June 18, 2013 | ME | LD 1540 | Amends Public School Assessment System | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
| June 10, 2013 | AZ | HB 2399 | Authorizes School Boards to Increase Property Taxes to Pay for Bonds | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| May 29, 2013 | MI | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 29, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - House (64 - 11) |
| May 28, 2013 | MI | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 43) |
| May 22, 2013 | IL | HB 2675 | Expands Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21) |
| May 22, 2013 | TX | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| May 16, 2013 | CA | SB 552 | Authorizes a Violence Awareness Component of School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| May 14, 2013 | MO | SB 125 | Amends State Intervention Process For Unaccredited Schools | Bill Passed - House (107 - 49) |
| May 9, 2013 | AL | HB 658 | Amends The School "Accountability Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41) |
| May 9, 2013 | AL | HB 658 | Amends The School "Accountability Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 9, 2013 | TX | SB 376 | Establishes a Free Breakfast Program for Students | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| May 9, 2013 | CA | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - House (46 - 25) |
| May 7, 2013 | NC | SB 337 | Establishes an Independent Charter School Board | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| May 6, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 64) |
| May 6, 2013 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (72 - 57) |
| May 6, 2013 | TX | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - House (123 - 22) |
| May 2, 2013 | ND | HB 1319 | Amends School Funding Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 42) |
| May 2, 2013 | FL | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 42) |
| May 1, 2013 | FL | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| May 1, 2013 | IL | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| May 1, 2013 | MI | HB 4388 | Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 32) |
| April 30, 2013 | FL | HB 867 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| April 29, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| April 26, 2013 | IN | HB 1427 | Amends Public School Evaluation System | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| April 26, 2013 | IN | HB 1427 | Amends Public School Evaluation System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 15) |
| April 25, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 28) |
| April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 243 | Requires New Instructions in Public School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| April 24, 2013 | MT | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| April 23, 2013 | OK | HB 1358 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| April 23, 2013 | OK | HB 1658 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| April 23, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| April 23, 2013 | NV | AB 230 | Amends State Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
| April 22, 2013 | IN | HB 1357 | Amends Licensing Requirements for Superintendents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 40) |
| April 22, 2013 | OR | HB 3014 | Requires Allotted Time for the Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (42 - 16) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/11 | AB 484 | Amends State School Testing Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 22) |
| 9/10 | AB 484 | Amends State School Testing Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 7/23 | SB 337 | Establishes the North Carolina Charter School Advisory Board | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 11) |
| 7/23 | SB 337 | Establishes the North Carolina Charter School Advisory Board | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 22) |
| 7/16 | HB 250 | Amends Charter School Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
| 7/16 | HB 250 | Amends Charter School Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 47) |
| 7/03 | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 7/02 | SB 132 | Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
| 7/02 | HB 2456 | Appropriates Increased Tax Funds to Schools and Health Services | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
| 7/01 | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| 6/28 | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots by Agreement | Bill Passed - House (41 - 19) |
| 6/27 | SB 132 | Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools | Bill Passed - House (69 - 42) |
| 6/18 | LD 1540 | Amends Public School Assessment System | Bill Passed - House (80 - 55) |
| 6/18 | LD 1540 | Amends Public School Assessment System | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 6/10 | HB 2399 | Authorizes School Boards to Increase Property Taxes to Pay for Bonds | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| 5/29 | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 5/29 | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - House (64 - 11) |
| 5/28 | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 43) |
| 5/22 | HB 2675 | Expands Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21) |
| 5/22 | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/19 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
| 5/18 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| 5/16 | SB 552 | Authorizes a Violence Awareness Component of School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| 5/14 | SB 125 | Amends State Intervention Process For Unaccredited Schools | Bill Passed - House (107 - 49) |
| 5/09 | HB 658 | Amends The School "Accountability Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41) |
| 5/09 | HB 658 | Amends The School "Accountability Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 5/09 | SB 376 | Establishes a Free Breakfast Program for Students | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| 5/09 | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - House (46 - 25) |
| 5/07 | SB 337 | Establishes an Independent Charter School Board | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| 5/06 | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 64) |
| 5/06 | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (72 - 57) |
| 5/06 | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - House (123 - 22) |
| 5/02 | HB 1319 | Amends School Funding Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 42) |
| 5/02 | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 42) |
| 5/01 | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 5/01 | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| 5/01 | HB 4388 | Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 32) |
| 4/30 | HB 867 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 4/29 | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 4/26 | HB 1427 | Amends Public School Evaluation System | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| 4/26 | HB 1427 | Amends Public School Evaluation System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 15) |
| 4/25 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 28) |
| 4/25 | SB 243 | Requires New Instructions in Public School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| 4/24 | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 4/23 | HB 1358 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| 4/23 | HB 1658 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| 4/23 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 4/23 | AB 230 | Amends State Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
| 4/22 | HB 1357 | Amends Licensing Requirements for Superintendents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 40) |
| 4/22 | HB 3014 | Requires Allotted Time for the Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (42 - 16) |