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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2018 | WV | SB 267 | Increases State Public Worker Salaries | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | OR | HB 4113 | Requires School Districts to Bargain About Class Size | Bill Passed - House (33 - 25) |
| Jan. 18, 2018 | MI | SB 574 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Collect Revenues From Enhancement Millages | Bill Passed - House (55 - 52) |
| Oct. 18, 2017 | PA | HB 178 | Amends Public School Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (105 - 81) |
| Sept. 19, 2017 | RI | S 608 | Requires Notification of Sex Offenders Living Near School Bus Stops | Bill Passed - House (61 - 0) |
| June 22, 2017 | OH | HB 170 | Authorizes Students to Take Computer Science in Lieu of Algebra II | Bill Passed - House (83 - 12) |
| June 20, 2017 | MI | SB 401 | Amends Teacher Retirement Plans | Bill Passed - House (55 - 51) |
| June 1, 2017 | NH | SB 8 | Authorizes Overpopulated Public Schools to Transfer Students Elsewhere | Bill Passed - House (210 - 147) |
| May 4, 2017 | TX | HB 22 | Amends Education Accountability Standards | Bill Tabled - House (97 - 46) |
| April 26, 2017 | IL | HB 2977 | Requires Public Schools to Provide Cursive Writing Courses | Bill Passed - House (67 - 48) |
| April 25, 2017 | PA | HB 97 | Prohibits Failing Students from Continuing Online Charter School | Bill Passed - House (108 - 84) |
| April 20, 2017 | FL | HB 989 | Authorizes Parents to Object to Instructional Material | Bill Passed - House (94 - 25) |
| April 6, 2017 | MD | HB 978 | Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools | Veto Override Passed - House (90 - 50) |
| April 6, 2017 | MO | HB 2 | Appropriates Education Funds | Bill Passed - House (119 - 34) |
| March 17, 2017 | NM | HB 241 | Establishes New Standards of Evaluation for Teachers | Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 31) |
| March 17, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - House (60 - 0) |
| March 15, 2017 | KY | HB 520 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| March 15, 2017 | KY | SB 1 | Amends State Educational Standards | Bill Passed - House (94 - 0) |
| March 10, 2017 | MD | HB 978 | Requires Improvement and Accountability Programs for Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| March 3, 2017 | WY | HB 236 | Reduces the Education Budget | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (9 - 51) |
| March 3, 2017 | KY | HB 520 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | WA | HB 1843 | Amends Public Education Funding Formula | Bill Passed - House (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 7, 2017 | WY | HB 236 | Reduces the Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (43 - 16) |
| Feb. 6, 2017 | IA | SF 166 | Authorizes School Funding Increase of 1.11 Percent | Bill Passed - House (55 - 40) |
| Jan. 24, 2017 | VA | HB 1578 | Authorizes Home-schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| June 9, 2016 | MI | HB 5384 | Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 54) |
| May 5, 2016 | AK | HB 156 | Amends Certain Public Education Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (21 - 18) |
| April 25, 2016 | MN | HF 2749 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - House (84 - 46) |
| April 25, 2016 | LA | HB 863 | Prohibits Schools from Holding Membership in Certain Associations or Organizations | Bill Failed - House (33 - 51) |
| April 13, 2016 | OH | HB 425 | Authorizes Religious Expression in Schools | Bill Passed - House (73 - 22) |
| April 7, 2016 | MD | HB 172 | Amends School Board Nominating Commission | Veto Override Passed - House (90 - 50) |
| March 23, 2016 | IA | SF 175 | Increases K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 41) |
| March 23, 2016 | IA | SF 174 | Increases K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 41) |
| March 21, 2016 | ID | S 1342 | Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References | Bill Passed - House (54 - 15) |
| March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 8 | Establishes Virtual Public School | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 36) |
| March 9, 2016 | IN | HB 1005 | Establishes Regulations Regarding Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 43) |
| March 9, 2016 | WA | SB 6194 | Authorizes Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| March 3, 2016 | SD | HB 1008 | Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex | Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 29) |
| March 3, 2016 | IN | SB 334 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
| March 3, 2016 | MS | HB 989 | Establishes the Mississippi Achievement School District | Bill Passed - House (82 - 38) |
| March 1, 2016 | OK | HB 2797 | Requires Public High Schools to Teach Students about Fetal Development During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - House (64 - 12) |
| March 1, 2016 | AZ | HB 2151 | Authorizes Teachers to Receive Tax Credits for Purchased School Supplies | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | AZ | HB 2338 | Authorizes Concealed Carry near Schools | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| Feb. 26, 2016 | WV | HB 4014 | Prohibits State Board of Education From Implementing Common Core | Bill Passed - House (73 - 20) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | WA | SB 6195 | Amends Education Funding System | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | FL | HB 7043 | Establishes Funding Programs Related to Education | Bill Passed - House (81 - 31) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | FL | HB 7029 | Amends Charter School Regulations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 35) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | WI | AB 873 | Requires Open Meetings and Public Records for Interscholastic Athletics Associations | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | HB 389 | Establishes School Choice Program for Children with Disabilities | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| Feb. 15, 2016 | VA | HB 1234 | Authorizes School Security Officers to Carry Firearms | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | HB 518 | Authorizes Students to Transfer from Certain Schools | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | SD | HB 1112 | Repeals Transgender Policies Adopted by High School Sports Associations | Bill Passed - House (45 - 23) |
| Feb. 3, 2016 | IN | HB 1004 | Authorizes Higher Wages for Hard-to-Fill Teaching Positions | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| Jan. 27, 2016 | RI | H 7051 | Requires City Council Approval to Establish or Expand a Charter School | Bill Passed - House (60 - 11) |
| Jan. 27, 2016 | SD | HB 1008 | Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex | Bill Passed - House (58 - 10) |
| Jan. 25, 2016 | WA | HB 2366 | Amends Education Funding System | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
| Oct. 21, 2015 | National | HR 10 | Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 191) |
| Sept. 30, 2015 | OH | HB 2 | Amends Charter School Regulations | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (34 - 58) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | AB 329 | Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| Sept. 1, 2015 | CA | SB 707 | Prohibits Concealed Firearms on School Grounds | Bill Passed - House (54 - 24) |
| July 8, 2015 | WI | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| July 8, 2015 | National | HR 5 | Student Success Act | Bill Passed - House (218 - 213) |
| July 2, 2015 | OR | SB 895 | Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| June 23, 2015 | PA | HB 805 | Requires Schools to Use Teacher Performance Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (100 - 91) |
| June 15, 2015 | OR | HB 2655 | Authorizes Parents to Excuse Children from Statewide Assessments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (32 - 28) |
| June 2, 2015 | MI | HB 4041 | Amends Requirements to Receive Certain Assistance Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 34) |
| May 29, 2015 | NV | SB 302 | Establishes Education Savings Account | Bill Passed - House (25 - 17) |
| May 28, 2015 | AL | SB 71 | Increases Cumulative Cap on Tax Credits Available for Scholarship Donations | Bill Passed - House (68 - 26) |
| May 27, 2015 | IL | HB 4151 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (66 - 47) |
| May 22, 2015 | NV | AB 448 | Authorizes Conversion of a Public School to a Charter School | Bill Passed - House (25 - 17) |
| May 21, 2015 | OR | SB 553 | Limits School Disciplinary Policies | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| May 20, 2015 | IL | SB 100 | Establishes Educational Disciplinary Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (73 - 41) |
| May 17, 2015 | MN | HF 844 | Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 59) |
| May 13, 2015 | MI | SB 139 | Limits Fund-Raising Activities | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
| May 7, 2015 | AL | HB 236 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (52 - 43) |
| May 4, 2015 | CO | SB 14 | Authorizes Caregivers to Administer Medical Marijuana Treatments to Certain Students on School Property | Bill Passed - House (51 - 13) |
| May 1, 2015 | CO | SB 213 | Limits Immunity for Public Schools in Incidents of School Violence | Bill Passed - House (43 - 21) |
| April 29, 2015 | IN | HB 1001 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 30) |
| April 29, 2015 | MI | HB 4115 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (60 - 50) |
| April 25, 2015 | MN | HF 844 | 2015-2017 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 61) |
| April 21, 2015 | MT | SB 107 | Authorizes New High School Districts | Bill Failed - House (48 - 52) |
| April 21, 2015 | NV | AB 375 | Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex | Bill Failed - House (20 - 22) |
| April 20, 2015 | MT | SB 410 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Donations to Certain Educational Programs and Student Scholarship Organizations | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| April 15, 2015 | ND | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Bill Passed - House (50 - 41) |
| April 15, 2015 | NH | SB 101 | Prohibits the Requirement of Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (202 - 138) |
| April 15, 2015 | CO | HB 1165 | Requires Approval to Use Native American School Mascots | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| April 15, 2015 | NV | AB 121 | Prohibits Disciplining Students for Simulating Firearms | Bill Passed - House (24 - 17) |
| April 13, 2015 | MD | HB 70 | 2015-2016 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 49) |
| April 13, 2015 | MT | HB 284 | Prohibits Bullying in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 42) |
| April 13, 2015 | MD | SB 183 | Amends Funding for the Geographic Cost of Education Index | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
| April 8, 2015 | MO | HB 63 | Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards | Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 49) |
| April 2, 2015 | OK | SB 711 | Encourages School Districts to Report Alleged Criminal Actions of Teachers | Bill Passed - House (61 - 29) |
| April 2, 2015 | MO | HB 499 | Requires Public Schools to Recite the Pledge of Allegiance in English | Bill Passed - House (118 - 30) |
| April 1, 2015 | AZ | SB 1332 | Expands Empowerment Scholarship to Include Native Americans | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| April 1, 2015 | AK | SB 64 | Amends School Bond Debt Reimbursement | Bill Passed - House (23 - 15) |
| April 1, 2015 | NV | AB 165 | Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (25 - 17) |
| March 31, 2015 | NY | S 2006B | Establishes Annual Teacher Evaluation Program | Bill Passed - House (92 - 55) |
| March 27, 2015 | FL | HB 7037 | Appropriates Funds for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (75 - 35) |
| March 26, 2015 | OH | HB 2 | Amends Charter School Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| March 26, 2015 | MI | HB 4041 | Requires School Attendance to Receive Assistance Funds | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |