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
May 29, 2024 LA HB 429 Prohibits Public Schools or Any Other School Receiving State Funding from Serving Imported Seafood Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 4)
May 29, 2024 LA HB 121 Requires Teachers get Parental Consent to Use a Student's Preferred Pronoun Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
May 29, 2024 RI H 8190 Establishes Requirements for School Student Attendance Policies Bill Passed - House (64 - 3)
May 28, 2024 OK SB 1193 Establishes the Workforce Development Revolving Fund for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
May 24, 2024 IL SB 3081 Requires Public Universities Provide Information About Transfer Fee Waivers to Community College Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (58 - 0)
May 24, 2024 IL SB 3771 Authorizes Exonerated Individuals to Pass State Benefits Covering Higher Education Costs on to Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
May 23, 2024 LA HB 334 Authorizes Schools to Bring in Chaplains to Work with Students Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
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 HB 5057 Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 2)
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 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 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 23, 2024 IL HB 4895 Requires Climate Change Education be Taught in State Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
May 23, 2024 CA AB 1825 Establishes the California Freedom to Read Act Bill Passed - House (62 - 3)
May 22, 2024 IL SB 3771 Authorizes Exonerated Individuals to Pass State Benefits Covering Higher Education Costs on to Dependents Bill Passed - House (71 - 38)
May 22, 2024 MI SB 744 Amends Requirements for Teachers to Successfully Complete Probationary Employment Periods to be More Broad Bill Passed - House (56 - 47)
May 22, 2024 IL SB 2690 Requires Public Universities to Pay or Reimburse Refugee Transcript Evaluation Fees Bill Passed - House (87 - 22)
May 22, 2024 IL HB 4175 Prohibits Corporeal and Physical Punishment in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 8)
May 22, 2024 CA SB 1287 Amends Education Code Relating to Public Post-Secondary Education Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
May 22, 2024 CA SB 1287 Amends Education Code Relating to Public Post-Secondary Education Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
May 22, 2024 CA SB 1277 Amends Curriculum Standards to Add Holocaust and Genocide Education Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
May 21, 2024 MI SB 753 Appropriates Funding for the State Community Colleges Bill Passed - House (56 - 51)
May 21, 2024 DE SB 297 Requires the Department of Education to Update Regulations Using a List of Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Groups Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
May 21, 2024 DE SB 297 Requires the Department of Education to Update Regulations Using a List of Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Groups Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
May 21, 2024 CA SB 971 Exempts Certain Students from Nonresident Tuition Fee Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
May 21, 2024 CA SB 1263 Amends Teacher Credentialing Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
May 21, 2024 CA AB 2925 Amends Education Codes by Prohibiting Discrimination in Higher Education Bill Passed - House (73 - 0)
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 20, 2024 WV SB 1007 Appropriates Over 80 Million Dollars of Funds to Higher Education Institutions and Their Programs Bill Passed - House (71 - 16)
May 20, 2024 WV SB 1003 Appropriates $50 Million for a New Agriculture Lab at West Virginia State University Bill Passed - House (87 - 7)
May 16, 2024 NH HB 1312 Requires Educators Provide 2 Week Notice on All Curriculum Coverage to Parents and Guardians "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 10)
May 16, 2024 LA HB 608 Requires Students Use the Same Restroom that Aligns with Their Sex at Birth Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
May 16, 2024 CA AB 2865 Authorizes K-12 Courses Over Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Disorders Bill Passed - House (71 - 0)
May 16, 2024 RI S 2148 Requires a Maximum Class Size of 20 Pupils Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
May 16, 2024 RI S 2844 Establishes the RI Ombudsman for Special Education Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
May 16, 2024 RI S 2146 Requires Athletic Trainers be Available for High School Athletic Practices Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
May 15, 2024 AK HB 148 Increases the Amount of the State's Merit-Based Scholarship Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 1)
May 15, 2024 AK HB 148 Increases the Amount of the State's Merit-Based Scholarship Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 1)
May 9, 2024 OK HB 3278 Amends Requirements for High School Graduation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 14)
May 9, 2024 IL SB 1 Establishes the Early Childhood Education Act to Focus on Early Childhood Development Bill Passed - House (93 - 18)
May 9, 2024 MI SB 753 Appropriates Funding for the State Community Colleges Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 9, 2024 MI HB 5522 Authorizes the Director of the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLeap) be Added as a Nonvoting Member of Michigan's Delegation to the Midwest Higher Education Compact Bill Passed - House (69 - 38)
May 9, 2024 AK HB 230 Repeals the Limit on How Many Years Out-of-State Teachers Can Apply Toward the Teacher Pay Scale Bill Passed - House (39 - 1)
May 9, 2024 MI HB 5522 Authorizes the Director of the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLeap) be Added as a Nonvoting Member of Michigan's Delegation to the Midwest Higher Education Compact Bill Passed - House (69 - 38)
May 8, 2024 CO HB 24-1307 Prohibits School Districts from Using Federal Funding to Hire Uncertified HVAC Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 18)
May 7, 2024 CO HB 24-1307 Prohibits School Districts from Using Federal Funding to Hire Uncertified HVAC Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 7, 2024 CO SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - House (53 - 10)
May 7, 2024 CO SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - House (53 - 10)
May 7, 2024 CT HB 5523 Appropriates Funding for the State Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 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 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 7, 2024 CT HB 5523 Appropriates Funding for the State Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (103 - 48)
May 7, 2024 MN HF 5299 Increases Funding Levels for State Higher Education Budgets Bill Passed - House (69 - 58)
May 6, 2024 CO HB 24-1216 Establishes Support for Juveniles in the Justice System to Graduate Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 17)
May 6, 2024 CO HB 24-1237 Establishes 3 new Programs Within the Division of Housing to Support the Development of Child Care Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
May 6, 2024 MN HF 5237 Appropriates Funding for State K-12 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 30)
May 6, 2024 CO HB 24-1282 Increases Measures to Support Success Rates of Ninth-Grade Students in Public High Schools in Colorado Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
May 4, 2024 CO HB 24-1216 Establishes Support for Juveniles in the Justice System to Graduate Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
May 3, 2024 MS SB 3006 Appropriates Resources for the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning Conference Report Adopted - House (114 - 4)
May 3, 2024 HI SB 1511 Amends and Alters How and What the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii Studies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 0)
May 2, 2024 CT HB 5437 Establishes New Professional Development Programs for Teachers Bill Passed - House (129 - 20)
May 1, 2024 MI SB 249 Requires Certain Notices from Education Program Sponsors Bill Passed - House (101 - 4)
May 1, 2024 MI SB 249 Requires Certain Notices from Education Program Sponsors Bill Passed - House (101 - 4)
May 1, 2024 CO HB 24-1237 Establishes 3 new Programs Within the Division of Housing to Support the Development of Child Care Facilities Bill Passed - House (39 - 12)
May 1, 2024 CO HB 24-1282 Increases Measures to Support Success Rates of Ninth-Grade Students in Public High Schools in Colorado Bill Passed - House (58 - 6)
May 1, 2024 National HR 6090 Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 Bill Passed - House (320 - 91)
April 30, 2024 KS SB 287 Prohibits Administering Any Drug, Diagnostic Test, or Behavioral Health Treatment to a Minor Without Parental Consent Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 10)
April 30, 2024 National HR 1767 Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act Bill Passed - House (406 - 6)
April 30, 2024 MN HF 5237 Appropriates Funding for State K-12 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (68 - 61)
April 30, 2024 CT SB 203 Prohibits Legacy Admissions in Higher Education Institutions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
April 30, 2024 CT SB 356 Repeals Prohibition of Compensation for Education Board Members Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
April 27, 2024 MS HB 4130 Establishes a Funding Mechanism for the Public Schools System of Mississippi Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 3)
April 26, 2024 CO SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
April 26, 2024 CO SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
April 24, 2024 OH HB 250 Limits the Use of Cellphones in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/29 HB 429 Prohibits Public Schools or Any Other School Receiving State Funding from Serving Imported Seafood Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 4)
5/29 HB 121 Requires Teachers get Parental Consent to Use a Student's Preferred Pronoun Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
5/29 H 8190 Establishes Requirements for School Student Attendance Policies Bill Passed - House (64 - 3)
5/28 SB 1193 Establishes the Workforce Development Revolving Fund for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
5/24 SB 3081 Requires Public Universities Provide Information About Transfer Fee Waivers to Community College Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (58 - 0)
5/24 SB 3771 Authorizes Exonerated Individuals to Pass State Benefits Covering Higher Education Costs on to Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
5/23 HB 334 Authorizes Schools to Bring in Chaplains to Work with Students Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
5/23 SB 726 Requires Development of Mental Health Screening for K-12 Public School Students Bill Passed - House (80 - 31)
5/23 HB 5057 Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 2)
5/23 HB 122 Prohibits K-12 Teachers from Discussing Gender or Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
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)
5/23 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)
5/23 HB 4895 Requires Climate Change Education be Taught in State Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
5/23 AB 1825 Establishes the California Freedom to Read Act Bill Passed - House (62 - 3)
5/22 SB 3771 Authorizes Exonerated Individuals to Pass State Benefits Covering Higher Education Costs on to Dependents Bill Passed - House (71 - 38)
5/22 SB 744 Amends Requirements for Teachers to Successfully Complete Probationary Employment Periods to be More Broad Bill Passed - House (56 - 47)
5/22 SB 2690 Requires Public Universities to Pay or Reimburse Refugee Transcript Evaluation Fees Bill Passed - House (87 - 22)
5/22 HB 4175 Prohibits Corporeal and Physical Punishment in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 8)
5/22 SB 1287 Amends Education Code Relating to Public Post-Secondary Education Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
5/22 SB 1287 Amends Education Code Relating to Public Post-Secondary Education Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
5/22 SB 1277 Amends Curriculum Standards to Add Holocaust and Genocide Education Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
5/21 SB 753 Appropriates Funding for the State Community Colleges Bill Passed - House (56 - 51)
5/21 SB 297 Requires the Department of Education to Update Regulations Using a List of Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Groups Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
5/21 SB 297 Requires the Department of Education to Update Regulations Using a List of Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Groups Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
5/21 SB 971 Exempts Certain Students from Nonresident Tuition Fee Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
5/21 SB 1263 Amends Teacher Credentialing Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
5/21 AB 2925 Amends Education Codes by Prohibiting Discrimination in Higher Education Bill Passed - House (73 - 0)
5/21 AB 2226 Requires Children to Attend and Complete Kindergarten as Part of California State Education Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
5/20 SB 1007 Appropriates Over 80 Million Dollars of Funds to Higher Education Institutions and Their Programs Bill Passed - House (71 - 16)
5/20 SB 1003 Appropriates $50 Million for a New Agriculture Lab at West Virginia State University Bill Passed - House (87 - 7)
5/16 HB 1312 Requires Educators Provide 2 Week Notice on All Curriculum Coverage to Parents and Guardians "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 10)
5/16 HB 608 Requires Students Use the Same Restroom that Aligns with Their Sex at Birth Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
5/16 AB 2865 Authorizes K-12 Courses Over Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Disorders Bill Passed - House (71 - 0)
5/16 S 2148 Requires a Maximum Class Size of 20 Pupils Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
5/16 S 2844 Establishes the RI Ombudsman for Special Education Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
5/16 S 2146 Requires Athletic Trainers be Available for High School Athletic Practices Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
5/15 HB 148 Increases the Amount of the State's Merit-Based Scholarship Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 1)
5/15 HB 148 Increases the Amount of the State's Merit-Based Scholarship Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 1)
5/09 HB 3278 Amends Requirements for High School Graduation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 14)
5/09 SB 1 Establishes the Early Childhood Education Act to Focus on Early Childhood Development Bill Passed - House (93 - 18)
5/09 SB 753 Appropriates Funding for the State Community Colleges Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/09 HB 5522 Authorizes the Director of the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLeap) be Added as a Nonvoting Member of Michigan's Delegation to the Midwest Higher Education Compact Bill Passed - House (69 - 38)
5/09 HB 230 Repeals the Limit on How Many Years Out-of-State Teachers Can Apply Toward the Teacher Pay Scale Bill Passed - House (39 - 1)
5/09 HB 5522 Authorizes the Director of the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLeap) be Added as a Nonvoting Member of Michigan's Delegation to the Midwest Higher Education Compact Bill Passed - House (69 - 38)
5/08 HB 24-1307 Prohibits School Districts from Using Federal Funding to Hire Uncertified HVAC Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 18)
5/07 HB 24-1307 Prohibits School Districts from Using Federal Funding to Hire Uncertified HVAC Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/07 SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - House (53 - 10)
5/07 SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - House (53 - 10)
5/07 HB 5523 Appropriates Funding for the State Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
5/07 SB 54 Requires the State Textbook Committee to Regularly Review Periodicals Used in Public School Classrooms Bill Passed - House (92 - 5)
5/07 SB 54 Requires the State Textbook Committee to Regularly Review Periodicals Used in Public School Classrooms Bill Passed - House (92 - 5)
5/07 HB 5523 Appropriates Funding for the State Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (103 - 48)
5/07 HF 5299 Increases Funding Levels for State Higher Education Budgets Bill Passed - House (69 - 58)
5/06 HB 24-1216 Establishes Support for Juveniles in the Justice System to Graduate Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 17)
5/06 HB 24-1237 Establishes 3 new Programs Within the Division of Housing to Support the Development of Child Care Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
5/06 HF 5237 Appropriates Funding for State K-12 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 30)
5/06 HB 24-1282 Increases Measures to Support Success Rates of Ninth-Grade Students in Public High Schools in Colorado Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
5/04 HB 24-1216 Establishes Support for Juveniles in the Justice System to Graduate Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
5/03 SB 3006 Appropriates Resources for the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning Conference Report Adopted - House (114 - 4)
5/03 SB 1511 Amends and Alters How and What the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii Studies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 0)
5/02 HB 5437 Establishes New Professional Development Programs for Teachers Bill Passed - House (129 - 20)
5/01 SB 249 Requires Certain Notices from Education Program Sponsors Bill Passed - House (101 - 4)
5/01 SB 249 Requires Certain Notices from Education Program Sponsors Bill Passed - House (101 - 4)
5/01 HB 24-1237 Establishes 3 new Programs Within the Division of Housing to Support the Development of Child Care Facilities Bill Passed - House (39 - 12)
5/01 HB 24-1282 Increases Measures to Support Success Rates of Ninth-Grade Students in Public High Schools in Colorado Bill Passed - House (58 - 6)
5/01 HR 6090 Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 Bill Passed - House (320 - 91)
4/30 SB 287 Prohibits Administering Any Drug, Diagnostic Test, or Behavioral Health Treatment to a Minor Without Parental Consent Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 10)
4/30 HR 1767 Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act Bill Passed - House (406 - 6)
4/30 HF 5237 Appropriates Funding for State K-12 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (68 - 61)
4/30 SB 203 Prohibits Legacy Admissions in Higher Education Institutions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
4/30 SB 356 Repeals Prohibition of Compensation for Education Board Members Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
4/27 HB 4130 Establishes a Funding Mechanism for the Public Schools System of Mississippi Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 3)
4/26 SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
4/26 SB 24-078 Establishes Outdoor Nature-Based Preschool Programs as Child Care Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
4/24 HB 250 Limits the Use of Cellphones in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)

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