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 19, 2025 NV AB 48 Requires Schools to Investigate Race-Based Bullying Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0)
May 19, 2025 NV SB 161 Specifies Authorized Actions for Teachers That do Not Constitute a Strike Under Existing State Law Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
May 17, 2025 AK HB 174 Authorizes Rural School Fund Would be Able to Pay for Teacher Housing and Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka Bill Passed - House (34 - 5)
May 15, 2025 NH HB 324 Amends the Process for Banning Books in New Hampshire Schools by Creating a Procedure for Removal and Cause of Action "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 8)
May 15, 2025 NH HB 324 Amends the Process for Banning Books in New Hampshire Schools by Creating a Procedure for Removal and Cause of Action "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 8)
May 15, 2025 CT SB 1234 Prohibits Libraries From Agreeing To Certain Terms In Electronic Book And Digital Audiobook License Agreements Or Contracts Bill Passed - House (106 - 38)
May 15, 2025 TX SB 462 Requires Any Waiting List for Child Care Services to Give Priority to Children of Child Care Workers Bill Passed - House (124 - 18)
May 14, 2025 IA HF 189 Establishes Requirements for Public School Districts with Nonpublic School Students Wishing to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 26)
May 14, 2025 IA HF 189 Establishes Requirements for Public School Districts with Nonpublic School Students Wishing to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 26)
May 14, 2025 IA HF 189 Establishes Requirements for Public School Districts with Nonpublic School Students Wishing to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
May 14, 2025 IA HF 189 Establishes Requirements for Public School Districts with Nonpublic School Students Wishing to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
May 14, 2025 NE LB 140 Prohibits Student Cell Phone Use in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
May 14, 2025 NE LB 89 Defines "Male" and "Female" in State Law Targeted for K-12 or Collegiate Bathrooms, Sports Teams and Locker Rooms Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
May 14, 2025 NE LB 89 Defines "Male" and "Female" in State Law Targeted for K-12 or Collegiate Bathrooms, Sports Teams and Locker Rooms Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
May 14, 2025 OR SB 315 Requires the Department of Education to Review Make Recommendations and Develop Best Practices for Dealing with Student Absences Bill Passed - House (49 - 3)
May 14, 2025 OH SB 158 Prohibits Cell-Phone Use by Students During the School Day Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
May 13, 2025 IA HF 856 Prohibits Certain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives and Offices in Private and Community Colleges Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 32)
May 13, 2025 OK SB 105 Repeals Prior Public School Enrollment Requirements for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
May 13, 2025 OK SB 105 Repeals Prior Public School Enrollment Requirements for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
May 13, 2025 IA HF 972 Requires the Iowa Health and Human Services Department (HHS) to Use No More than $150 Million Federal Funds to Create 115 New Medical Residency Slots at State Teaching Hospitals Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 4)
May 13, 2025 MO SB 68 Require School Districts to Ban Cellphone Use During the School Day Bill Passed - House (132 - 20)
May 13, 2025 CT HB 7009 Requires the State Board of Education to establish a Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement Bill Passed - House (128 - 20)
May 13, 2025 CT HB 7009 Requires the State Board of Education to establish a Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement Bill Passed - House (128 - 20)
May 13, 2025 RI S 771 Requires Each Public School to have a Policy Regarding the Use of Personal Electronic Devices on School Grounds and During School-Sponsored Activities Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
May 12, 2025 MO SB 160 Reduces Hazing on College Campuses Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/19 AB 48 Requires Schools to Investigate Race-Based Bullying Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0)
5/19 SB 161 Specifies Authorized Actions for Teachers That do Not Constitute a Strike Under Existing State Law Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
5/17 HB 174 Authorizes Rural School Fund Would be Able to Pay for Teacher Housing and Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka Bill Passed - House (34 - 5)
5/15 HB 324 Amends the Process for Banning Books in New Hampshire Schools by Creating a Procedure for Removal and Cause of Action "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 8)
5/15 HB 324 Amends the Process for Banning Books in New Hampshire Schools by Creating a Procedure for Removal and Cause of Action "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 8)
5/15 SB 1234 Prohibits Libraries From Agreeing To Certain Terms In Electronic Book And Digital Audiobook License Agreements Or Contracts Bill Passed - House (106 - 38)
5/15 SB 462 Requires Any Waiting List for Child Care Services to Give Priority to Children of Child Care Workers Bill Passed - House (124 - 18)
5/14 HF 189 Establishes Requirements for Public School Districts with Nonpublic School Students Wishing to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 26)
5/14 HF 189 Establishes Requirements for Public School Districts with Nonpublic School Students Wishing to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 26)
5/14 HF 189 Establishes Requirements for Public School Districts with Nonpublic School Students Wishing to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
5/14 HF 189 Establishes Requirements for Public School Districts with Nonpublic School Students Wishing to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
5/14 LB 140 Prohibits Student Cell Phone Use in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
5/14 LB 89 Defines "Male" and "Female" in State Law Targeted for K-12 or Collegiate Bathrooms, Sports Teams and Locker Rooms Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
5/14 LB 89 Defines "Male" and "Female" in State Law Targeted for K-12 or Collegiate Bathrooms, Sports Teams and Locker Rooms Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
5/14 SB 315 Requires the Department of Education to Review Make Recommendations and Develop Best Practices for Dealing with Student Absences Bill Passed - House (49 - 3)
5/14 SB 158 Prohibits Cell-Phone Use by Students During the School Day Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
5/13 HF 856 Prohibits Certain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives and Offices in Private and Community Colleges Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 32)
5/13 SB 105 Repeals Prior Public School Enrollment Requirements for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
5/13 SB 105 Repeals Prior Public School Enrollment Requirements for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
5/13 HF 972 Requires the Iowa Health and Human Services Department (HHS) to Use No More than $150 Million Federal Funds to Create 115 New Medical Residency Slots at State Teaching Hospitals Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 4)
5/13 SB 68 Require School Districts to Ban Cellphone Use During the School Day Bill Passed - House (132 - 20)
5/13 HB 7009 Requires the State Board of Education to establish a Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement Bill Passed - House (128 - 20)
5/13 HB 7009 Requires the State Board of Education to establish a Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement Bill Passed - House (128 - 20)
5/13 S 771 Requires Each Public School to have a Policy Regarding the Use of Personal Electronic Devices on School Grounds and During School-Sponsored Activities Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
5/12 SB 160 Reduces Hazing on College Campuses Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 11)

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