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
Feb. 12, 2025 MS HB 1432 Authorizes Charter Schools in Mississippi to be Located Within C-Rated School Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 49)
Feb. 11, 2025 AZ SB 1003 Prohibits Individuals from Using Locker Rooms or Bathrooms that Do Not Match Their Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
Feb. 11, 2025 AR HB 1060 Amends and Revises the Educational Instruction Provided on the Failure of Communism and Autocratic Systems Bill Passed - House (70 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2025 SD SB 51 Requires Public Schools Display the 10 Commandments in Every Classroom Bill Failed - House (31 - 37)
Feb. 7, 2025 ID H 93 Establishes a Tax Credit for Individuals with Children in Homeschooling or Private Education Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
Feb. 4, 2025 SC S 62 Establishes a State Education Scholarship Trust Fund to Authorize Private School Tuition Payments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 3, 2025 IN HB 1002 Amends Various Student and Teacher Protections and Regulations Bill Passed - House (75 - 16)
Jan. 30, 2025 TN HB 6004 Appropriates Public Funding to Provide Private School Vouchers to Students Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Jan. 30, 2025 DE HB 29 Amends and Streamlines Data Published by the Department of Education on Delaware Schools Bill Passed - House (37 - 0)
Jan. 30, 2025 TN HB 6004 Appropriates Public Funding to Provide Private School Vouchers to Students Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
Jan. 29, 2025 WY HB 199 Repeals the State School Voucher Program Income Limit and Increases Payments to $7,000 Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
Jan. 28, 2025 SD SB 51 Requires Public Schools Display the 10 Commandments in Every Classroom Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Jan. 27, 2025 IN SB 143 Establishes an Educational Parental Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
Dec. 11, 2024 MI HB 5741 Requires High School Health Courses to Include Instruction on How to Stop Bleeding Bill Passed - House (97 - 12)
Dec. 6, 2024 National HR 5349 Crucial Communism Teaching Act Bill Passed - House (327 - 62)
Oct. 28, 2024 NJ A 3446 Establishes Requirements for Library Material in Public Schools and Libraries under the "Freedom to Read Act" Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Oct. 8, 2024 WV HB 227 Amends Funding Application Procedures for Public Charter Schools in West Virginia Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 1)
Oct. 8, 2024 WV HB 227 Amends Funding Application Procedures for Public Charter Schools in West Virginia Bill Passed - House (74 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2024 CA AB 1113 Establishes a Framework for Collecting Pupil Enrollment Data in Expanded Learning Opportunity Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 0)
Aug. 28, 2024 CA AB 1864 Expand Pesticide Regulations Near Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 10)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 1864 Expand Pesticide Regulations Near Schools Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
July 1, 2024 PA HB 2180 Establishes a School Meal Debt Fund Bill Passed - House (118 - 84)
June 30, 2024 DE HB 311 Amends Post-Secondary Colleges and Universities to the Safe School Zone Concurrence Vote Passed - House (27 - 14)
June 28, 2024 NJ A 3446 Establishes Requirements for Library Material in Public Schools and Libraries under the "Freedom to Read Act" Bill Passed - House (53 - 20)
June 27, 2024 OH SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
June 26, 2024 OH SB 29 Requires Public Schools to Stop Monitoring Student Web-Browsing During Non-School Hours Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
June 26, 2024 OH HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 30)
June 26, 2024 DE HB 311 Amends Post-Secondary Colleges and Universities to the Safe School Zone Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 26, 2024 OH HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
June 26, 2024 OH SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Bill Passed - House (85 - 11)
June 13, 2024 NH HB 1665 Expands the Educational Freedom Account Voucher Program Eligibility Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
May 23, 2024 LA HB 122 Prohibits K-12 Teachers from Discussing Gender or Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
May 23, 2024 IL SB 726 Requires Development of Mental Health Screening for K-12 Public School Students Bill Passed - House (80 - 31)
May 23, 2024 IL SB 461 Requires Public Universities Charge In-State Tuition for Illinois Residents Who Attended a State High School for At Least 2 Years or Graduated Bill Passed - House (73 - 40)
May 21, 2024 CA AB 2226 Requires Children to Attend and Complete Kindergarten as Part of California State Education Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
May 16, 2024 RI S 2146 Requires Athletic Trainers be Available for High School Athletic Practices Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
May 9, 2024 OK HB 3278 Amends Requirements for High School Graduation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 14)
May 7, 2024 CO SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - House (53 - 10)
May 7, 2024 AL SB 54 Requires the State Textbook Committee to Regularly Review Periodicals Used in Public School Classrooms Bill Passed - House (92 - 5)
May 1, 2024 MI SB 249 Requires Certain Notices from Education Program Sponsors Bill Passed - House (101 - 4)
April 26, 2024 CO SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
April 22, 2024 OK HB 3278 Amends Requirements for High School Graduation Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
April 16, 2024 IL HB 4653 Amends Practices Associated with Inservice Training Workshops and Training for Responding to Trauma in Schools Bill Passed - House (100 - 11)
April 16, 2024 LA HB 122 Prohibits K-12 Teachers from Discussing Gender or Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - House (69 - 28)
April 15, 2024 IA HF 2586 Authorizes School Employees to be Issued Permits to Carry Weapons Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 36)
April 11, 2024 IL SB 461 Requires Public Universities Charge In-State Tuition for Illinois Residents Who Attended a State High School for At Least 2 Years or Graduated Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16)
April 11, 2024 NE LB 1284 Establishes a Computer Science Education Program Expansion in Schools Along with Other Pilot Programs to Promote Education Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0)
April 11, 2024 NE LB 71 Establishes New K-12 School Policies to Modernize Parental Involvement in Certain School Settings. Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
April 10, 2024 IA HF 2586 Authorizes School Employees to be Issued Permits to Carry Weapons Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 14)
March 27, 2024 KS SB 387 Amends Various State Educational Reforms and Regulations Bill Passed - House (65 - 58)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/12 HB 1432 Authorizes Charter Schools in Mississippi to be Located Within C-Rated School Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 49)
2/11 SB 1003 Prohibits Individuals from Using Locker Rooms or Bathrooms that Do Not Match Their Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
2/11 HB 1060 Amends and Revises the Educational Instruction Provided on the Failure of Communism and Autocratic Systems Bill Passed - House (70 - 16)
2/10 SB 51 Requires Public Schools Display the 10 Commandments in Every Classroom Bill Failed - House (31 - 37)
2/07 H 93 Establishes a Tax Credit for Individuals with Children in Homeschooling or Private Education Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
2/04 S 62 Establishes a State Education Scholarship Trust Fund to Authorize Private School Tuition Payments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/03 HB 1002 Amends Various Student and Teacher Protections and Regulations Bill Passed - House (75 - 16)
1/30 HB 6004 Appropriates Public Funding to Provide Private School Vouchers to Students Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
1/30 HB 29 Amends and Streamlines Data Published by the Department of Education on Delaware Schools Bill Passed - House (37 - 0)
1/30 HB 6004 Appropriates Public Funding to Provide Private School Vouchers to Students Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
1/29 HB 199 Repeals the State School Voucher Program Income Limit and Increases Payments to $7,000 Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
1/28 SB 51 Requires Public Schools Display the 10 Commandments in Every Classroom Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
1/27 SB 143 Establishes an Educational Parental Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
12/11 HB 5741 Requires High School Health Courses to Include Instruction on How to Stop Bleeding Bill Passed - House (97 - 12)
12/06 HR 5349 Crucial Communism Teaching Act Bill Passed - House (327 - 62)
10/28 A 3446 Establishes Requirements for Library Material in Public Schools and Libraries under the "Freedom to Read Act" Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
10/08 HB 227 Amends Funding Application Procedures for Public Charter Schools in West Virginia Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 1)
10/08 HB 227 Amends Funding Application Procedures for Public Charter Schools in West Virginia Bill Passed - House (74 - 17)
8/31 AB 1113 Establishes a Framework for Collecting Pupil Enrollment Data in Expanded Learning Opportunity Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 0)
8/28 AB 1864 Expand Pesticide Regulations Near Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 10)
8/27 AB 1864 Expand Pesticide Regulations Near Schools Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
7/01 HB 2180 Establishes a School Meal Debt Fund Bill Passed - House (118 - 84)
6/30 HB 311 Amends Post-Secondary Colleges and Universities to the Safe School Zone Concurrence Vote Passed - House (27 - 14)
6/28 A 3446 Establishes Requirements for Library Material in Public Schools and Libraries under the "Freedom to Read Act" Bill Passed - House (53 - 20)
6/27 SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
6/26 SB 29 Requires Public Schools to Stop Monitoring Student Web-Browsing During Non-School Hours Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
6/26 HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 30)
6/26 HB 311 Amends Post-Secondary Colleges and Universities to the Safe School Zone Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/26 HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
6/26 SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Bill Passed - House (85 - 11)
6/13 HB 1665 Expands the Educational Freedom Account Voucher Program Eligibility Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
5/23 HB 122 Prohibits K-12 Teachers from Discussing Gender or Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
5/23 SB 726 Requires Development of Mental Health Screening for K-12 Public School Students Bill Passed - House (80 - 31)
5/23 SB 461 Requires Public Universities Charge In-State Tuition for Illinois Residents Who Attended a State High School for At Least 2 Years or Graduated Bill Passed - House (73 - 40)
5/21 AB 2226 Requires Children to Attend and Complete Kindergarten as Part of California State Education Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
5/16 S 2146 Requires Athletic Trainers be Available for High School Athletic Practices Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
5/09 HB 3278 Amends Requirements for High School Graduation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 14)
5/07 SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - House (53 - 10)
5/07 SB 54 Requires the State Textbook Committee to Regularly Review Periodicals Used in Public School Classrooms Bill Passed - House (92 - 5)
5/01 SB 249 Requires Certain Notices from Education Program Sponsors Bill Passed - House (101 - 4)
4/26 SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
4/22 HB 3278 Amends Requirements for High School Graduation Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
4/16 HB 4653 Amends Practices Associated with Inservice Training Workshops and Training for Responding to Trauma in Schools Bill Passed - House (100 - 11)
4/16 HB 122 Prohibits K-12 Teachers from Discussing Gender or Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - House (69 - 28)
4/15 HF 2586 Authorizes School Employees to be Issued Permits to Carry Weapons Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 36)
4/11 SB 461 Requires Public Universities Charge In-State Tuition for Illinois Residents Who Attended a State High School for At Least 2 Years or Graduated Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16)
4/11 LB 1284 Establishes a Computer Science Education Program Expansion in Schools Along with Other Pilot Programs to Promote Education Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0)
4/11 LB 71 Establishes New K-12 School Policies to Modernize Parental Involvement in Certain School Settings. Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
4/10 HF 2586 Authorizes School Employees to be Issued Permits to Carry Weapons Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 14)
3/27 SB 387 Amends Various State Educational Reforms and Regulations Bill Passed - House (65 - 58)

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