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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 10, 2012 | HI | SB 2115 | Amends Charter School System | Bill Passed - House (40 - 11) |
| April 10, 2012 | CO | SB 68 | Prohibits Food with Trans Fat in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 9, 2012 | IA | SF 2284 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| April 9, 2012 | CO | SB 15 | College Tuition Rates for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| April 5, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
| April 5, 2012 | LA | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
| April 5, 2012 | MD | HB 373 | Raises the Dropout Age for Public School Students | Bill Passed - House (88 - 49) |
| April 4, 2012 | LA | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| April 4, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| April 2, 2012 | MN | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 28) |
| April 2, 2012 | MN | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 56) |
| March 29, 2012 | GA | HB 797 | Establishes a State Charter School Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 55) |
| March 29, 2012 | GA | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
| March 29, 2012 | GA | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Bill Passed - House (94 - 67) |
| March 29, 2012 | SC | H 4894 | Authorizes Income Tax Credit for Tuition Payments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 38) |
| March 29, 2012 | NH | HB 1607 | Establishes a Tax Credit for Businesses that Donate to Certain Scholarship Funds | Bill Passed - House (173 - 127) |
| March 29, 2012 | IL | HB 5531 | Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees | Bill Failed - House (26 - 75) |
| March 28, 2012 | IL | HB 5290 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (61 - 49) |
| March 28, 2012 | AK | SB 9 | Extends Cumpulsory School Attendance | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| March 27, 2012 | LA | HB 969 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donating to Scholarship Programs | Bill Passed - House (66 - 37) |
| March 26, 2012 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 23) |
| March 26, 2012 | GA | HB 797 | Establishes a State Charter School Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
| March 23, 2012 | ID | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 6) |
| March 23, 2012 | ID | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 6) |
| March 23, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - House (64 - 40) |
| March 22, 2012 | LA | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (62 - 43) |
| March 21, 2012 | IL | HB 3810 | Eliminates General Assembly Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (79 - 25) |
| March 20, 2012 | KY | SB 9 | Authorizes Student Enrollment in Neighborhood Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| March 19, 2012 | GA | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (40 - 16) |
| March 19, 2012 | ID | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| March 19, 2012 | ID | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| March 19, 2012 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 15, 2012 | ID | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| March 15, 2012 | OK | HB 1551 | Authorizes the Instruction of Various Scientific Theories | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| March 15, 2012 | MN | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Bill Passed - House (74 - 59) |
| March 15, 2012 | MD | HB 650 | Reduces Prison Sentences for Inmates Seeking Education | Bill Passed - House (81 - 54) |
| March 15, 2012 | ID | S 1358 | Amends Bullying Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 14, 2012 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Prayer in Schools | Bill Passed - House (93 - 24) |
| March 13, 2012 | WI | SB 237 | Amending Sexual Education Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (60 - 34) |
| March 13, 2012 | IA | HF 2380 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| March 13, 2012 | IA | HF 2380 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| March 13, 2012 | IA | HF 2385 | Authorizes Professionals to Teach Certain High School Courses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 859 | School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | SB 1718 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| March 8, 2012 | NH | HB 1654 | Reduces Sentences of Prisoners Pursuing Degrees | Bill Failed - House (152 - 171) |
| March 8, 2012 | AZ | SB 1462 | Expands Penalties for Bullying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| March 7, 2012 | MI | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 54) |
| March 7, 2012 | MI | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| March 7, 2012 | FL | HB 859 | School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (92 - 24) |
| March 7, 2012 | NH | HB 1146 | Requires Students to Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance | Bill Failed - House (155 - 170) |
| March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 312 | Require Development Activities for Certain Public Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14) |
| March 6, 2012 | UT | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| March 6, 2012 | UT | SB 223 | Requires Public School Students to Recite Pledge of Allegiance | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| March 5, 2012 | GA | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
| March 5, 2012 | GA | SB 458 | Repeals Certain Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| March 1, 2012 | FL | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - House (88 - 27) |
| March 1, 2012 | VT | S 199 | Repeals Philosophical Exemption to Immunization | Motion Agreed - Senate (25 - 4) |
| 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 | 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 | National | HR 2117 | Repeals Department of Education Regulations | Bill Passed - House (303 - 114) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1202 | Prohibits Partisan Instruction in Classrooms | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1205 | Requires Public School Teachers to Adhere to FCC Regulations | 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 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | AZ | SB 1204 | Authorizes Parents to Vote to Close Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | ID | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | WY | SF 57 | Amending Wyoming Accountability in Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| Feb. 24, 2012 | UT | SB 44 | Providing Tuition Assistance for Military Veterans | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/10 | SB 2115 | Amends Charter School System | Bill Passed - House (40 - 11) |
| 4/10 | SB 68 | Prohibits Food with Trans Fat in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 4/09 | SF 2284 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 4/09 | SB 15 | College Tuition Rates for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 4/05 | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
| 4/05 | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
| 4/05 | HB 373 | Raises the Dropout Age for Public School Students | Bill Passed - House (88 - 49) |
| 4/04 | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 4/04 | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 4/02 | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 28) |
| 4/02 | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 56) |
| 3/29 | HB 797 | Establishes a State Charter School Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 55) |
| 3/29 | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
| 3/29 | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Bill Passed - House (94 - 67) |
| 3/29 | H 4894 | Authorizes Income Tax Credit for Tuition Payments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 38) |
| 3/29 | HB 1607 | Establishes a Tax Credit for Businesses that Donate to Certain Scholarship Funds | Bill Passed - House (173 - 127) |
| 3/29 | HB 5531 | Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees | Bill Failed - House (26 - 75) |
| 3/28 | HB 5290 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (61 - 49) |
| 3/28 | SB 9 | Extends Cumpulsory School Attendance | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| 3/27 | HB 969 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donating to Scholarship Programs | Bill Passed - House (66 - 37) |
| 3/26 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 23) |
| 3/26 | HB 797 | Establishes a State Charter School Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
| 3/23 | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 6) |
| 3/23 | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 6) |
| 3/23 | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - House (64 - 40) |
| 3/22 | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (62 - 43) |
| 3/21 | HB 3810 | Eliminates General Assembly Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (79 - 25) |
| 3/20 | SB 9 | Authorizes Student Enrollment in Neighborhood Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 3/19 | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (40 - 16) |
| 3/19 | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 3/19 | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 3/19 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/15 | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 3/15 | HB 1551 | Authorizes the Instruction of Various Scientific Theories | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| 3/15 | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Bill Passed - House (74 - 59) |
| 3/15 | HB 650 | Reduces Prison Sentences for Inmates Seeking Education | Bill Passed - House (81 - 54) |
| 3/15 | S 1358 | Amends Bullying Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/14 | HB 638 | Authorizes Prayer in Schools | Bill Passed - House (93 - 24) |
| 3/13 | SB 237 | Amending Sexual Education Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (60 - 34) |
| 3/13 | HF 2380 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| 3/13 | HF 2380 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| 3/13 | HF 2385 | Authorizes Professionals to Teach Certain High School Courses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| 3/09 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 3/09 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 3/09 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37) |
| 3/09 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37) |
| 3/09 | HB 859 | School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 3/09 | SB 1718 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 3/08 | HB 1654 | Reduces Sentences of Prisoners Pursuing Degrees | Bill Failed - House (152 - 171) |
| 3/08 | SB 1462 | Expands Penalties for Bullying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 3/07 | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 54) |
| 3/07 | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 3/07 | HB 859 | School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (92 - 24) |
| 3/07 | HB 1146 | Requires Students to Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance | Bill Failed - House (155 - 170) |
| 3/07 | SB 312 | Require Development Activities for Certain Public Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14) |
| 3/06 | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| 3/06 | SB 223 | Requires Public School Students to Recite Pledge of Allegiance | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| 3/05 | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
| 3/05 | SB 458 | Repeals Certain Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| 3/01 | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - House (88 - 27) |
| 3/01 | S 199 | Repeals Philosophical Exemption to Immunization | Motion Agreed - Senate (25 - 4) |
| 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 | 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 | HR 2117 | Repeals Department of Education Regulations | Bill Passed - House (303 - 114) |
| 2/28 | SB 1202 | Prohibits Partisan Instruction in Classrooms | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| 2/28 | SB 1205 | Requires Public School Teachers to Adhere to FCC Regulations | 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 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 2/27 | SB 1204 | Authorizes Parents to Vote to Close Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 2/27 | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| 2/27 | SF 57 | Amending Wyoming Accountability in Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 2/24 | SB 44 | Providing Tuition Assistance for Military Veterans | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 14) |