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
Nov. 15, 2024 National HR 8932 FAFSA Deadline Act Bill Passed - House (381 - 1)
Nov. 13, 2024 OH SB 104 Prohibits K-12 Schools and Colleges From Allowing Transgender Individuals To Use Bathrooms That Align With Their Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Oct. 30, 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 - Senate (27 - 10)
Sept. 30, 2024 WV HB 206 Amends Appropriations to West Virginia University General Administrative Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
Sept. 30, 2024 WV HB 206 Amends Appropriations to West Virginia University General Administrative Fund Bill Passed - House (88 - 3)
Sept. 25, 2024 MI SB 568 Increases Standards on Teacher Education Programs Bill Passed - House (99 - 10)
Sept. 19, 2024 National HR 3724 Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2023 Bill Passed - House (213 - 201)
Sept. 17, 2024 MI SB 402 Establishes a Voting and Elections Database and Institute Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Aug. 29, 2024 CA SB 1348 Establishes Designation of Black-Serving Institutions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Aug. 28, 2024 CA SB 1348 Establishes Designation of Black-Serving Institutions Bill Passed - House (69 - 0)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 2508 Establishes the California Kids Investment and Development Savings (KIDS) Program Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 1780 Prohibits Legacy or Donor Preference in College Admission Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
July 11, 2024 PA SB 1154 Amends the Public School Code of 1949 for Higher Education Institutions and Establishes Performance Based Funding Council Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
July 11, 2024 PA SB 1150 Establishes the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
July 11, 2024 PA SB 1154 Amends the Public School Code of 1949 for Higher Education Institutions and Establishes Performance Based Funding Council Bill Passed - House (188 - 14)
July 11, 2024 PA HB 897 Expands Programs Related to Higher Education Institutions and Outlines Protocol for Credits Needed when a Student is Transferring Into the Institution Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3)
July 11, 2024 PA HB 897 Expands Programs Related to Higher Education Institutions and Outlines Protocol for Credits Needed when a Student is Transferring Into the Institution Concurrence Vote Passed - House (187 - 15)
June 27, 2024 OH SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
June 27, 2024 CA AB 1790 Amends Policy for Sex Discrimination in the California State University System that Classifies Sexual Harassment as a Form of Sex Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
June 26, 2024 OH SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Bill Passed - House (85 - 11)
June 26, 2024 OH SB 104 Prohibits K-12 Schools and Colleges From Allowing Transgender Individuals To Use Bathrooms That Align With Their Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (60 - 31)
June 26, 2024 OH SB 94 Establishes the CAMPUS Act Bill Passed - House (80 - 14)
June 26, 2024 OH SB 117 Establishes "Intellectual Diversity' Centers on All College Campuses Bill Passed - House (85 - 12)
June 12, 2024 AZ HB 2735 Limits Faculty Participation in Decision Making Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
June 11, 2024 PA SB 1155 Establishes a Higher Education Task Force to Improve Higher Education and Career Preparation Programs Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
June 11, 2024 PA SB 1151 Establishes the Grow PA Merit Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
June 10, 2024 PA SB 1153 Expands the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program Nationwide Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
June 7, 2024 NY S 8596 Expands Eligibility Under the Veterans Tuition Awards Program to All New York Residents Bill Passed - House (140 - 0)
June 6, 2024 NY S 8596 Expands Eligibility Under the Veterans Tuition Awards Program to All New York Residents Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0)
May 30, 2024 OK SB 1193 Establishes the Workforce Development Revolving Fund for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (85 - 9)
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 3771 Authorizes Exonerated Individuals to Pass State Benefits Covering Higher Education Costs on to Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 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 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 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 IL SB 2690 Requires Public Universities to Pay or Reimburse Refugee Transcript Evaluation Fees Bill Passed - House (87 - 22)
May 22, 2024 CA SB 1287 Amends Education Code Relating to Public Post-Secondary Education Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
May 21, 2024 MI SB 753 Appropriates Funding for the State Community Colleges Bill Passed - House (56 - 51)
May 21, 2024 CA AB 2925 Amends Education Codes by Prohibiting Discrimination in Higher Education Bill Passed - House (73 - 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 20, 2024 WV SB 1003 Appropriates $50 Million for a New Agriculture Lab at West Virginia State University Bill Passed - House (87 - 7)
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 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 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 7, 2024 CT HB 5523 Appropriates Funding for the State Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
May 7, 2024 MN HF 5299 Increases Funding Levels for State Higher Education Budgets Bill Passed - House (69 - 58)
May 7, 2024 CT HB 5523 Appropriates Funding for the State Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (103 - 48)
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)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/15 HR 8932 FAFSA Deadline Act Bill Passed - House (381 - 1)
11/13 SB 104 Prohibits K-12 Schools and Colleges From Allowing Transgender Individuals To Use Bathrooms That Align With Their Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
10/30 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 - Senate (27 - 10)
9/30 HB 206 Amends Appropriations to West Virginia University General Administrative Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
9/30 HB 206 Amends Appropriations to West Virginia University General Administrative Fund Bill Passed - House (88 - 3)
9/25 SB 568 Increases Standards on Teacher Education Programs Bill Passed - House (99 - 10)
9/19 HR 3724 Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2023 Bill Passed - House (213 - 201)
9/17 SB 402 Establishes a Voting and Elections Database and Institute Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
8/29 SB 1348 Establishes Designation of Black-Serving Institutions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
8/28 SB 1348 Establishes Designation of Black-Serving Institutions Bill Passed - House (69 - 0)
8/27 AB 2508 Establishes the California Kids Investment and Development Savings (KIDS) Program Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/27 AB 1780 Prohibits Legacy or Donor Preference in College Admission Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
7/11 SB 1154 Amends the Public School Code of 1949 for Higher Education Institutions and Establishes Performance Based Funding Council Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
7/11 SB 1150 Establishes the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
7/11 SB 1154 Amends the Public School Code of 1949 for Higher Education Institutions and Establishes Performance Based Funding Council Bill Passed - House (188 - 14)
7/11 HB 897 Expands Programs Related to Higher Education Institutions and Outlines Protocol for Credits Needed when a Student is Transferring Into the Institution Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3)
7/11 HB 897 Expands Programs Related to Higher Education Institutions and Outlines Protocol for Credits Needed when a Student is Transferring Into the Institution Concurrence Vote Passed - House (187 - 15)
6/27 SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
6/27 AB 1790 Amends Policy for Sex Discrimination in the California State University System that Classifies Sexual Harassment as a Form of Sex Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
6/26 SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Bill Passed - House (85 - 11)
6/26 SB 104 Prohibits K-12 Schools and Colleges From Allowing Transgender Individuals To Use Bathrooms That Align With Their Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (60 - 31)
6/26 SB 94 Establishes the CAMPUS Act Bill Passed - House (80 - 14)
6/26 SB 117 Establishes "Intellectual Diversity' Centers on All College Campuses Bill Passed - House (85 - 12)
6/12 HB 2735 Limits Faculty Participation in Decision Making Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
6/11 SB 1155 Establishes a Higher Education Task Force to Improve Higher Education and Career Preparation Programs Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
6/11 SB 1151 Establishes the Grow PA Merit Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
6/10 SB 1153 Expands the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program Nationwide Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
6/07 S 8596 Expands Eligibility Under the Veterans Tuition Awards Program to All New York Residents Bill Passed - House (140 - 0)
6/06 S 8596 Expands Eligibility Under the Veterans Tuition Awards Program to All New York Residents Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0)
5/30 SB 1193 Establishes the Workforce Development Revolving Fund for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (85 - 9)
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 3771 Authorizes Exonerated Individuals to Pass State Benefits Covering Higher Education Costs on to Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
5/24 SB 3081 Requires Public Universities Provide Information About Transfer Fee Waivers to Community College Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (58 - 0)
5/23 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)
5/22 SB 3771 Authorizes Exonerated Individuals to Pass State Benefits Covering Higher Education Costs on to Dependents Bill Passed - House (71 - 38)
5/22 SB 2690 Requires Public Universities to Pay or Reimburse Refugee Transcript Evaluation Fees Bill Passed - House (87 - 22)
5/22 SB 1287 Amends Education Code Relating to Public Post-Secondary Education Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
5/21 SB 753 Appropriates Funding for the State Community Colleges Bill Passed - House (56 - 51)
5/21 AB 2925 Amends Education Codes by Prohibiting Discrimination in Higher Education Bill Passed - House (73 - 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)
5/20 SB 1003 Appropriates $50 Million for a New Agriculture Lab at West Virginia State University Bill Passed - House (87 - 7)
5/20 SB 1007 Appropriates Over 80 Million Dollars of Funds to Higher Education Institutions and Their Programs Bill Passed - House (71 - 16)
5/15 HB 148 Increases the Amount of the State's Merit-Based Scholarship Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 1)
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)
5/07 HB 5523 Appropriates Funding for the State Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
5/07 HF 5299 Increases Funding Levels for State Higher Education Budgets Bill Passed - House (69 - 58)
5/07 HB 5523 Appropriates Funding for the State Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (103 - 48)
5/03 SB 3006 Appropriates Resources for the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning Conference Report Adopted - House (114 - 4)

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