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
Dec. 17, 2009 OH HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Dec. 3, 2009 MI SB 638 "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Nov. 17, 2009 MA S 2205 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Oct. 8, 2009 MI HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
Sept. 22, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Aug. 6, 2009 NY A 8903-A Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 2 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
July 13, 2009 OH HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15)
June 30, 2009 CA SB 74 Deferring Education Funding (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
June 30, 2009 CA SB 80 Shifting Redevelopment Agency Funds (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
June 30, 2009 CA SB 64 Education Spending Reductions (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
June 27, 2009 OR SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 14)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4048 2009 Economic Package Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
June 25, 2009 NJ A4141 Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 24, 2009 NC HB 442 Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
June 24, 2009 MI HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
June 23, 2009 MI HB 4441 2009-2010 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
June 22, 2009 AZ HCR 2019 Ends Affirmative Action Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11)
June 19, 2009 OR SB 5520 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
June 18, 2009 LA HB 531 Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 17, 2009 LA HB 689 Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
June 15, 2009 LA HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
June 10, 2009 OR HB 2834 Funding School for Blind Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
June 8, 2009 ME LD 1438 Allowing Charter Schools "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14)
June 4, 2009 ME LD 977 Repealing School District Consolidation "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19)
June 3, 2009 OH HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
June 3, 2009 NY S 2020 SUNY Buffalo Education Bill Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17)
June 1, 2009 NV AB 458 Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 9)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 612 Raising the Cap on Charter Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
May 27, 2009 AZ HB 2001 Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
May 27, 2009 OR HB 2599 Expanding School Bullying Law Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2)
May 26, 2009 CA SB 219 Extending Whistle-Blower Protection to UC Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
May 18, 2009 OR HB 2509 Sexual Education Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
May 14, 2009 CA SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
May 13, 2009 AZ HB 2028 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
May 8, 2009 FL SB 788 Gambling Expansion Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
May 8, 2009 ID H 374 Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
May 7, 2009 TN SB 2133 Charter School Access Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
May 6, 2009 NC SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 29, 2009 National S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43)
April 29, 2009 OK SB 834 Increased Local School Board Control Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
April 27, 2009 FL SB 762 Allowing Universities to Levy "Tuition Differential" Charges Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 27, 2009 CO HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
April 25, 2009 WA HB 2344 Allowing Tuition Increases Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
April 21, 2009 ID H 262 Teacher Compensation Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/17 HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
12/03 SB 638 "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
11/17 S 2205 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
11/05 SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
11/05 SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
11/03 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
10/08 HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
9/22 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
9/11 SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
9/08 SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
8/06 A 8903-A Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8)
7/24 ABX4 2 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
7/13 HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15)
6/30 SB 74 Deferring Education Funding (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
6/30 SB 80 Shifting Redevelopment Agency Funds (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
6/30 SB 64 Education Spending Reductions (2009-2010 Budget Financing) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
6/27 SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 14)
6/25 A 4048 2009 Economic Package Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
6/25 A4141 Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/24 HB 442 Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
6/24 HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
6/23 HB 4441 2009-2010 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
6/22 HCR 2019 Ends Affirmative Action Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11)
6/19 SB 5520 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
6/18 HB 531 Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/17 HB 689 Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
6/15 HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
6/10 HB 2834 Funding School for Blind Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
6/08 LD 1438 Allowing Charter Schools "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14)
6/04 LD 977 Repealing School District Consolidation "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19)
6/03 HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
6/03 S 2020 SUNY Buffalo Education Bill Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17)
6/01 AB 458 Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 9)
5/31 SB 612 Raising the Cap on Charter Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
5/27 HB 2001 Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
5/27 HB 2599 Expanding School Bullying Law Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2)
5/26 SB 219 Extending Whistle-Blower Protection to UC Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
5/18 HB 2509 Sexual Education Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
5/14 SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
5/13 HB 2028 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
5/08 SB 788 Gambling Expansion Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
5/08 H 374 Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
5/07 SB 2133 Charter School Access Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
5/06 SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/29 S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43)
4/29 SB 834 Increased Local School Board Control Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
4/27 SB 762 Allowing Universities to Levy "Tuition Differential" Charges Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/27 HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
4/25 HB 2344 Allowing Tuition Increases Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
4/21 H 262 Teacher Compensation Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)

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