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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 19, 2008 | MI | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 10) |
Dec. 11, 2008 | MI | HB 4141 | Expanding the Use of School Sinking Funds | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
Dec. 4, 2008 | MI | HB 5765 | Reducing Pupil Count for First Class School Districts | Bill Passed - House (59 - 42) |
Sept. 26, 2008 | National | HR 7060 | Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits | Bill Passed - House (257 - 166) |
Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
Aug. 7, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27) |
July 31, 2008 | National | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 49) |
July 8, 2008 | NC | HB 2436 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 20) |
July 4, 2008 | PA | HB 1067 | Omnibus Education Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (191 - 11) |
July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
June 30, 2008 | CA | SB 823 | Private Postsecondary Education Regulation | Bill Failed - House (41 - 33) |
June 23, 2008 | CA | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Passed - House (54 - 24) |
June 23, 2008 | NJ | A 2873 | School Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - House (42 - 36) |
June 23, 2008 | NJ | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
June 11, 2008 | LA | SB 733 | Supplemental Science Teaching Materials | Bill Passed - House (94 - 3) |
June 9, 2008 | CA | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Failed - House (49 - 26) |
June 9, 2008 | LA | HB 734 | Tuition Increase Bill | Bill Passed - House (84 - 18) |
May 31, 2008 | AL | SB 51 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (98 - 4) |
May 29, 2008 | SC | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16) |
May 28, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
May 28, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39) |
May 22, 2008 | IL | HB 2310 | Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
May 19, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166) |
May 14, 2008 | AZ | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 9) |
May 14, 2008 | NH | CACR 34 | Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education | Resolution Failed - House (97 - 238) |
May 14, 2008 | LA | HB 1347 | Vouchers Bill | Bill Passed - House (60 - 42) |
May 14, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46) |
May 13, 2008 | MN | HF 6 | 2008 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 35) |
May 12, 2008 | OK | HB 2633 | Religious Expression at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 28) |
May 8, 2008 | MN | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 49) |
May 7, 2008 | NH | SB 539 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - House (184 - 141) |
May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 5) |
May 5, 2008 | MO | HB 2002 | 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 62) |
May 5, 2008 | MO | HB 2003 | 2008-2009 Department of Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 63) |
May 1, 2008 | MN | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 15) |
May 1, 2008 | National | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 21) |
May 1, 2008 | AL | HB 787 | State Employees in Public Office | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
May 1, 2008 | CO | HB 1357 | Changing student testing requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
April 29, 2008 | LA | HB 674 | Anti-Bullying Bill | Bill Failed - House (28 - 63) |
April 28, 2008 | MN | Walker Amdt to SF 3001 | Sex Education in Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (79 - 53) |
April 28, 2008 | FL | SB 2692 | Teaching Evolution in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (71 - 43) |
April 24, 2008 | AZ | HB 2711 | State Control of Mismanaged Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 6) |
April 24, 2008 | MO | HB 2059 | Establishes the Professional Relationships Between Teachers and School Districts Act. | Bill Passed - House (83 - 67) |
April 23, 2008 | MI | HB 5221 | Capital Outlay Project | Bill Passed - House (59 - 45) |
April 17, 2008 | National | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Bill Passed - House (383 - 27) |
April 16, 2008 | MO | HB 1066 | Teacher Certification | Bill Passed - House (85 - 63) |
April 15, 2008 | MS | SB 2149 | Superintendent Removal Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 18) |
April 14, 2008 | IA | SF 2216 | State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools | Bill Passed - House (97 - 3) |
April 10, 2008 | CO | HB 1375 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 23) |
April 10, 2008 | MN | HF 3569 | Workers' Lung Health Study | Bill Passed - House (88 - 45) |
April 9, 2008 | AZ | SB 1096 | English Language Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (37 - 23) |
April 9, 2008 | IA | HF 2663 | Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
April 4, 2008 | ME | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 47) |
April 2, 2008 | KY | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21) |
April 2, 2008 | ME | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Rejected - House (97 - 46) |
April 1, 2008 | CO | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
April 1, 2008 | MN | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Bill Passed - House (118 - 11) |
April 1, 2008 | AZ | HB 2392 | Opting Out of No Child Left Behind Act | Bill Passed - House (46 - 11) |
April 1, 2008 | IL | HB 4232 | State Board of Education Selection Process | Bill Passed - House (86 - 21) |
March 31, 2008 | ME | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55) |
March 27, 2008 | KS | Rhoades Amnd. | Repealing In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Rejected - House (51 - 70) |
March 27, 2008 | MO | HB 2002 | 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (90 - 66) |
March 27, 2008 | MO | HB 2003 | 2008-2009 Department of Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (90 - 66) |
March 24, 2008 | AZ | HB 2713 | Student's Religious Liberties Act | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
March 20, 2008 | MD | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (105 - 34) |
March 20, 2008 | KS | HB 2936 | Capital Improvements Funding | Bill Passed - House (87 - 35) |
March 20, 2008 | KS | HB 2947 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 51) |
March 19, 2008 | MS | SB 2149 | Election of School Board Members | Bill Passed - House (106 - 14) |
March 19, 2008 | AZ | HB 2230 | College Textbook Information Disclosure | Bill Passed - House (48 - 11) |
March 19, 2008 | IA | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
March 12, 2008 | OK | HB 2628 | Parental Consent for Sex Education | Bill Failed - House (50 - 51) |
March 12, 2008 | KY | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
March 12, 2008 | AZ | HB 2711 | State Control of Mismanaged Schools | Bill Passed - House (52 - 7) |
March 12, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
March 11, 2008 | CO | SB 73 | College Textbook Information Disclosure | Bill Passed - House (60 - 4) |
March 11, 2008 | GA | HB 1133 | Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations | Bill Passed - House (92 - 73) |
March 11, 2008 | WI | AB 482 | Prohibiting Teacher Residency Requirements | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
March 6, 2008 | MN | HF 380 | Capital Improvements Budget | Bill Passed - House (99 - 34) |
March 5, 2008 | UT | HB 15 | Sexually Transmitted Disease Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17) |
March 5, 2008 | GA | SR 796 | Property Tax Assessment Cap | Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62) |
March 5, 2008 | WI | AB 67 | Business Education Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (55 - 40) |
March 5, 2008 | WI | AB 151 | Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (70 - 24) |
March 4, 2008 | KY | HB 186 | Dental Health Certificate Requirement for School Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (91 - 4) |
March 4, 2008 | IL | HB 4180 | Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection | Bill Passed - House (72 - 31) |
March 3, 2008 | UT | AM 1 | Mandating the Concealment of Firearms on Campus | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 29) |
March 3, 2008 | UT | HB 473 | Campus Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (60 - 11) |
Feb. 29, 2008 | KS | HB 2870 | Employment Incentive for Teachers | Bill Failed - House (59 - 63) |
Feb. 28, 2008 | KS | Ward Amnd. | Teacher Scholarship Program | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 71) |
Feb. 28, 2008 | KS | HB 2605 | Changing School Finance Formula | Bill Failed - House (62 - 63) |
Feb. 28, 2008 | UT | SB 162 | State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs | Bill Passed - House (38 - 33) |
Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | AB 870 | Virtual Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
Feb. 27, 2008 | KS | McKinney Amnd. A to HB 2760 | Per Student Public School Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 70) |
Feb. 27, 2008 | CO | HB 1001 | Expanding Bioscience Research Funding | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | ID | H 503 | Scholarships for Drug-Free Students | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | WV | HB 4023 | Linking Driving Privileges with Student Performance | Bill Passed - House (80 - 15) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (93 - 5) |
Feb. 20, 2008 | KY | HB 396 | HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students | Bill Passed - House (56 - 37) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/19 | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
12/15 | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 10) |
12/11 | HB 4141 | Expanding the Use of School Sinking Funds | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
12/04 | HB 5765 | Reducing Pupil Count for First Class School Districts | Bill Passed - House (59 - 42) |
9/26 | HR 7060 | Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits | Bill Passed - House (257 - 166) |
8/31 | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
8/13 | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
8/07 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27) |
7/31 | HR 4137 | Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions | Conference Report Adopted - House (380 - 49) |
7/08 | HB 2436 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 20) |
7/04 | HB 1067 | Omnibus Education Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (191 - 11) |
7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
6/30 | SB 823 | Private Postsecondary Education Regulation | Bill Failed - House (41 - 33) |
6/23 | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Passed - House (54 - 24) |
6/23 | A 2873 | School Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - House (42 - 36) |
6/23 | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
6/11 | SB 733 | Supplemental Science Teaching Materials | Bill Passed - House (94 - 3) |
6/09 | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Failed - House (49 - 26) |
6/09 | HB 734 | Tuition Increase Bill | Bill Passed - House (84 - 18) |
5/31 | SB 51 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (98 - 4) |
5/29 | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16) |
5/28 | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
5/28 | AB 1 | Education Line Item Veto Override | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39) |
5/22 | HB 2310 | Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
5/19 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
5/15 | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166) |
5/14 | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 9) |
5/14 | CACR 34 | Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education | Resolution Failed - House (97 - 238) |
5/14 | HB 1347 | Vouchers Bill | Bill Passed - House (60 - 42) |
5/14 | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46) |
5/13 | HF 6 | 2008 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 35) |
5/12 | HB 2633 | Religious Expression at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 28) |
5/08 | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 49) |
5/07 | SB 539 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - House (184 - 141) |
5/06 | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 5) |
5/05 | HB 2002 | 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 62) |
5/05 | HB 2003 | 2008-2009 Department of Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 63) |
5/01 | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 15) |
5/01 | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 21) |
5/01 | HB 787 | State Employees in Public Office | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
5/01 | HB 1357 | Changing student testing requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
4/29 | HB 674 | Anti-Bullying Bill | Bill Failed - House (28 - 63) |
4/28 | Walker Amdt to SF 3001 | Sex Education in Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (79 - 53) |
4/28 | SB 2692 | Teaching Evolution in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (71 - 43) |
4/24 | HB 2711 | State Control of Mismanaged Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 6) |
4/24 | HB 2059 | Establishes the Professional Relationships Between Teachers and School Districts Act. | Bill Passed - House (83 - 67) |
4/23 | HB 5221 | Capital Outlay Project | Bill Passed - House (59 - 45) |
4/17 | HR 5715 | Student Loan Provision Changes | Bill Passed - House (383 - 27) |
4/16 | HB 1066 | Teacher Certification | Bill Passed - House (85 - 63) |
4/15 | SB 2149 | Superintendent Removal Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 18) |
4/14 | SF 2216 | State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools | Bill Passed - House (97 - 3) |
4/10 | HB 1375 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 23) |
4/10 | HF 3569 | Workers' Lung Health Study | Bill Passed - House (88 - 45) |
4/09 | SB 1096 | English Language Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (37 - 23) |
4/09 | HF 2663 | Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
4/04 | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 47) |
4/02 | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21) |
4/02 | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Rejected - House (97 - 46) |
4/01 | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
4/01 | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Bill Passed - House (118 - 11) |
4/01 | HB 2392 | Opting Out of No Child Left Behind Act | Bill Passed - House (46 - 11) |
4/01 | HB 4232 | State Board of Education Selection Process | Bill Passed - House (86 - 21) |
3/31 | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55) |
3/27 | Rhoades Amnd. | Repealing In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Rejected - House (51 - 70) |
3/27 | HB 2002 | 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (90 - 66) |
3/27 | HB 2003 | 2008-2009 Department of Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (90 - 66) |
3/24 | HB 2713 | Student's Religious Liberties Act | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
3/20 | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (105 - 34) |
3/20 | HB 2936 | Capital Improvements Funding | Bill Passed - House (87 - 35) |
3/20 | HB 2947 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 51) |
3/19 | SB 2149 | Election of School Board Members | Bill Passed - House (106 - 14) |
3/19 | HB 2230 | College Textbook Information Disclosure | Bill Passed - House (48 - 11) |
3/19 | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
3/12 | HB 2628 | Parental Consent for Sex Education | Bill Failed - House (50 - 51) |
3/12 | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
3/12 | HB 2711 | State Control of Mismanaged Schools | Bill Passed - House (52 - 7) |
3/12 | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
3/11 | SB 73 | College Textbook Information Disclosure | Bill Passed - House (60 - 4) |
3/11 | HB 1133 | Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations | Bill Passed - House (92 - 73) |
3/11 | AB 482 | Prohibiting Teacher Residency Requirements | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
3/06 | HF 380 | Capital Improvements Budget | Bill Passed - House (99 - 34) |
3/05 | HB 15 | Sexually Transmitted Disease Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17) |
3/05 | SR 796 | Property Tax Assessment Cap | Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62) |
3/05 | AB 67 | Business Education Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (55 - 40) |
3/05 | AB 151 | Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (70 - 24) |
3/04 | HB 186 | Dental Health Certificate Requirement for School Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (91 - 4) |
3/04 | HB 4180 | Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection | Bill Passed - House (72 - 31) |
3/03 | AM 1 | Mandating the Concealment of Firearms on Campus | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 29) |
3/03 | HB 473 | Campus Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (60 - 11) |
2/29 | HB 2870 | Employment Incentive for Teachers | Bill Failed - House (59 - 63) |
2/28 | Ward Amnd. | Teacher Scholarship Program | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 71) |
2/28 | HB 2605 | Changing School Finance Formula | Bill Failed - House (62 - 63) |
2/28 | SB 162 | State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs | Bill Passed - House (38 - 33) |
2/28 | AB 870 | Virtual Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
2/27 | McKinney Amnd. A to HB 2760 | Per Student Public School Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 70) |
2/27 | HB 1001 | Expanding Bioscience Research Funding | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
2/26 | H 503 | Scholarships for Drug-Free Students | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
2/25 | HB 4023 | Linking Driving Privileges with Student Performance | Bill Passed - House (80 - 15) |
2/21 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (93 - 5) |
2/20 | HB 396 | HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students | Bill Passed - House (56 - 37) |