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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2012 | OR | SB 1594 | Prohibits weapons on school grounds | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | WA | SB 5895 | Authorizes the Use of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (82 - 16) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1205 | Requires Public School Teachers to Adhere to FCC Regulations | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1202 | Prohibits Partisan Instruction in Classrooms | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | MN | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | WY | SF 57 | Amending Wyoming Accountability in Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | ID | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | AZ | SB 1204 | Authorizes Parents to Vote to Close Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | GA | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 48) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | MS | SB 2401 | Establishes Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | UT | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | AZ | HB 2563 | Authorizing High School Elective Courses about the Bible | Bill Passed - House (42 - 15) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | WI | SB 386 | Removes Voter Registration at High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | MN | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - House (68 - 61) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | SB 438 | Amends Teacher Contracts | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | VA | HB 576 | Amends Teacher Contract and Evaluation Policies | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | AZ | SB 1061 | Authorizes Schools to Opt-Out of the National School Lunch Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (79 - 38) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | UT | SB 31 | Reduces Classroom Sizes | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | GA | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Rejected - House (110 - 62) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | VA | HB 947 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 6, 2012 | NY | S 6087-A | Authorizes the Use of School Property for Religious Meetings and Worship | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 7) |
| Feb. 2, 2012 | CA | SB 81 | Funding For School Transportation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | FL | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| Jan. 31, 2012 | IN | SB 89 | Authorizes the Instruction of Origin of Life Theories from Multiple Religions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Jan. 30, 2012 | SD | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Jan. 27, 2012 | VA | HB 1112 | Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| Jan. 25, 2012 | SD | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - House (55 - 13) |
| Jan. 9, 2012 | GA | SB 184 | Guidelines for Teacher Dismissal | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3173 | Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |
| Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3173 | Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | MI | SB618 | Repeals Limit on Number of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 49) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | H Amdt 7732 | Tuition Vouchers for Charter Schools | Amendment Rejected - House (90 - 105) |
| Nov. 30, 2011 | NH | CACR 14 | Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education | Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264) |
| Nov. 17, 2011 | National | HR 2112 | Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 30) |
| Nov. 17, 2011 | National | HR 2112 | Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration | Conference Report Adopted - House (298 - 121) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | IL | SB 2147 | Paying Regional Superintendents | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
| Nov. 9, 2011 | MI | HB 4005 | School Board Election Dates | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| Nov. 9, 2011 | IL | SB 2147 | Paying Regional Superintendents | Bill Failed - House (70 - 43) |
| Nov. 9, 2011 | IL | SB 2147 | Paying Regional Superintendents | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| Nov. 3, 2011 | MI | HB 4005 | School Board Election Dates | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Nov. 2, 2011 | MI | SB 137 | Bullying Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Nov. 2, 2011 | WI | SB 237 | Amending Sexual Education Guidelines | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| Nov. 1, 2011 | WI | SB 45 | Administration of Medications to Students | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |
| Oct. 27, 2011 | MI | SB 619 | Cyber Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Oct. 26, 2011 | PA | SB 1 | Charter School Guidelines | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/01 | SB 1594 | Prohibits weapons on school grounds | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
| 2/29 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33) |
| 2/29 | SB 5895 | Authorizes the Use of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (82 - 16) |
| 2/28 | SB 1205 | Requires Public School Teachers to Adhere to FCC Regulations | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| 2/28 | SB 1202 | Prohibits Partisan Instruction in Classrooms | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| 2/27 | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
| 2/27 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 2/27 | SF 57 | Amending Wyoming Accountability in Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 2/27 | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| 2/27 | SB 1204 | Authorizes Parents to Vote to Close Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 2/23 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
| 2/22 | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 48) |
| 2/22 | SB 2401 | Establishes Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
| 2/22 | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| 2/21 | HB 2563 | Authorizing High School Elective Courses about the Bible | Bill Passed - House (42 - 15) |
| 2/21 | SB 386 | Removes Voter Registration at High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| 2/16 | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - House (68 - 61) |
| 2/14 | SB 438 | Amends Teacher Contracts | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| 2/13 | HB 576 | Amends Teacher Contract and Evaluation Policies | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| 2/13 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| 2/09 | SB 1061 | Authorizes Schools to Opt-Out of the National School Lunch Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| 2/09 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (79 - 38) |
| 2/08 | SB 31 | Reduces Classroom Sizes | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 2/08 | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Rejected - House (110 - 62) |
| 2/08 | HB 947 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 2/06 | S 6087-A | Authorizes the Use of School Property for Religious Meetings and Worship | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 7) |
| 2/02 | SB 81 | Funding For School Transportation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 2/01 | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| 1/31 | SB 89 | Authorizes the Instruction of Origin of Life Theories from Multiple Religions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 1/30 | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 1/27 | HB 1112 | Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| 1/25 | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - House (55 - 13) |
| 1/09 | SB 184 | Guidelines for Teacher Dismissal | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| 1/09 | S 3173 | Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |
| 1/09 | S 3173 | Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| 12/14 | SB618 | Repeals Limit on Number of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 49) |
| 12/14 | H Amdt 7732 | Tuition Vouchers for Charter Schools | Amendment Rejected - House (90 - 105) |
| 11/30 | CACR 14 | Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education | Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264) |
| 11/17 | HR 2112 | Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 30) |
| 11/17 | HR 2112 | Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration | Conference Report Adopted - House (298 - 121) |
| 11/10 | SB 2147 | Paying Regional Superintendents | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
| 11/09 | HB 4005 | School Board Election Dates | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| 11/09 | SB 2147 | Paying Regional Superintendents | Bill Failed - House (70 - 43) |
| 11/09 | SB 2147 | Paying Regional Superintendents | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| 11/03 | HB 4005 | School Board Election Dates | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 11/02 | SB 137 | Bullying Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 11/02 | SB 237 | Amending Sexual Education Guidelines | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 11/01 | SB 45 | Administration of Medications to Students | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |
| 10/27 | SB 619 | Cyber Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 10/26 | SB 1 | Charter School Guidelines | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |