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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 4, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
May 2, 2011 TN SB 113 Teachers' Unions Negotiations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
April 28, 2011 MT SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
April 21, 2011 IN HB 1003 School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
April 21, 2011 TN SB 485 Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
April 19, 2011 IN SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
April 14, 2011 CA SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
April 13, 2011 AZ HB 2415 Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 12, 2011 IN HB 1002 Charter School Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
April 6, 2011 OR SB 552 Establishes the Governor as the Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
March 24, 2011 ID S 1184 Technology in the Classroom Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 23, 2011 MT SB 403 Revised K-12 School Funding Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 25)
March 18, 2011 NM HB 172 Prohibiting Corporal Punishment as School Discipline Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
March 16, 2011 NM SB 427 Rating System for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 10, 2011 TN SB 1528 Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
March 10, 2011 FL SB 736 Public School Evaluation Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 8, 2011 UT HB 183 School District Leave Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
March 3, 2011 MN SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 19)
March 2, 2011 UT SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 1, 2011 UT SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10)
Feb. 24, 2011 NC SB 8 Repeal on the Number of Charter Schools Allowed Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Feb. 24, 2011 ID S 1110 Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 24, 2011 ID S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2011 UT SJR 9 Supervision of Public Education Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
Feb. 22, 2011 IN SB 1 Evaluating and Licensing of Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Feb. 21, 2011 OK SB 435 Modifying Board of Education Membership Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 17, 2011 IN SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Feb. 16, 2011 AR HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
Feb. 8, 2011 WY SF 140 Kindergarten Attendance Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
Feb. 8, 2011 WY SF 52 Repealing Teacher Tenure Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
Feb. 3, 2011 MN SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
Feb. 2, 2011 WY SF 106 School Finances Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Jan. 31, 2011 NY S 2707 Funding State Mandated Programs Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Aug. 27, 2010 CA SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
Aug. 5, 2010 National HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
April 28, 2010 AZ HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 14, 2010 AL HB 105 Required Physical Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
July 25, 2006 National S Amdt 4689 Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Oct. 27, 2005 National S Amdt 2287 After School Funding Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
Oct. 27, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
Oct. 26, 2005 National S Amdt 2292 Individuals with Disabilities Education Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Oct. 26, 2005 National S Amdt 2275 Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 51)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 172 Perkins Vocational Education Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 56)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
May 13, 2004 National HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
Dec. 18, 2001 National HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
June 28, 2000 National S Amdt 3655 Funding for Special Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
May 18, 1999 National S Amdt 351 Religious Memorials at Schools Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (85 - 13)
April 21, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
March 11, 1999 National HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
June 24, 1998 National HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 36)
April 23, 1998 National HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
April 1, 1998 National S Amdt 2175 School Modernization Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
March 31, 1998 National S Amdt 2165 Deficit Neutral Reserve Fund Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52)
May 23, 1997 National S Amdt 357 Violent Crime Victims Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
April 25, 1996 National S Amdt 3670 Foreign Student Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
April 25, 1996 National S Amdt 3669 Foreign Student Public Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 46)
July 27, 1994 National S Amdt 2417 Demonstration Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 53)
July 27, 1994 National S Amdt 2416 Voluntary Prayer Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
March 26, 1994 National HR 1804 Goals 2000: Educate America Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (63 - 22)
Oct. 18, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15)
Sept. 29, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/04 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
5/02 SB 113 Teachers' Unions Negotiations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
4/28 SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
4/21 HB 1003 School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
4/21 SB 485 Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
4/19 SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
4/14 SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
4/13 HB 2415 Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/12 HB 1002 Charter School Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
4/06 SB 552 Establishes the Governor as the Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
3/24 S 1184 Technology in the Classroom Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/23 SB 403 Revised K-12 School Funding Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 25)
3/18 HB 172 Prohibiting Corporal Punishment as School Discipline Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
3/17 SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
3/16 SB 427 Rating System for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/10 SB 1528 Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
3/10 SB 736 Public School Evaluation Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/08 HB 183 School District Leave Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
3/03 SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 19)
3/02 SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/01 SB 65 Statewide Online Education Program Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10)
2/24 SB 8 Repeal on the Number of Charter Schools Allowed Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
2/24 S 1110 Redistributing Public School Funds for Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/24 S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/23 SJR 9 Supervision of Public Education Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
2/22 SB 1 Evaluating and Licensing of Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
2/21 SB 435 Modifying Board of Education Membership Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
2/17 SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
2/16 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
2/08 SF 140 Kindergarten Attendance Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
2/08 SF 52 Repealing Teacher Tenure Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
2/03 SF 40 Amends Licensing and Codes for Education Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
2/02 SF 106 School Finances Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
1/31 S 2707 Funding State Mandated Programs Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
8/31 SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/31 SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
8/27 SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
8/05 HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
4/28 HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/14 HB 105 Required Physical Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
7/25 S Amdt 4689 Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
10/27 S Amdt 2287 After School Funding Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
10/27 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
10/26 S Amdt 2292 Individuals with Disabilities Education Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
10/26 S Amdt 2275 Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 51)
3/17 S Amdt 172 Perkins Vocational Education Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 56)
3/17 S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
5/13 HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
12/18 HR 1 No Child Left Behind Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
6/28 S Amdt 3655 Funding for Special Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
5/18 S Amdt 351 Religious Memorials at Schools Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (85 - 13)
4/21 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
3/11 HR 800 Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
6/24 HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 36)
4/23 HR 2646 Education Savings Accounts bill Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
4/01 S Amdt 2175 School Modernization Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
3/31 S Amdt 2165 Deficit Neutral Reserve Fund Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52)
5/23 S Amdt 357 Violent Crime Victims Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
4/25 S Amdt 3670 Foreign Student Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
4/25 S Amdt 3669 Foreign Student Public Education Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 46)
7/27 S Amdt 2417 Demonstration Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 53)
7/27 S Amdt 2416 Voluntary Prayer Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
3/26 HR 1804 Goals 2000: Educate America Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (63 - 22)
10/18 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15)
9/29 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)

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