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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nov. 17, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
Sept. 15, 2010 | MI | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5) |
Sept. 8, 2010 | MI | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1381 | Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
Aug. 27, 2010 | CA | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
Aug. 5, 2010 | National | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39) |
June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
June 21, 2010 | NY | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
June 18, 2010 | LA | HB 1171 | Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
June 14, 2010 | LA | HB 303 | Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
June 10, 2010 | RI | H 8094 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
June 2, 2010 | CA | SB 969 | College Tuition Prices for Students | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
May 28, 2010 | NY | A 11310 | Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 14) |
May 27, 2010 | NC | SB 704 | School Change Models | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
May 27, 2010 | CA | SB 1255 | Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
May 26, 2010 | LA | HB 1033 | Evaluation and Assessment Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
May 26, 2010 | LA | Amdt 4002 | Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation | Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
May 18, 2010 | OH | SB 210 | Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
May 12, 2010 | CO | SB 191 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
May 6, 2010 | IL | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11) |
May 5, 2010 | CT | SB 438 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
May 3, 2010 | NY | S 7678 | Amending Charter School Cap | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 15) |
April 30, 2010 | CO | SB 191 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
April 28, 2010 | MO | HB 2002 | 2010-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6) |
April 28, 2010 | HI | HB 2377 | Board of Education Selection Advisory Council | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 2) |
April 28, 2010 | MN | SF 2716 | Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15) |
April 28, 2010 | AZ | HB 2281 | Ethnic Studies Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
April 21, 2010 | AL | SB 162 | PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 3) |
April 20, 2010 | MO | SB 943 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
April 15, 2010 | WI | SB 437 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
April 14, 2010 | AL | HB 105 | Required Physical Education | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
April 12, 2010 | MD | SB 590 | Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
April 1, 2010 | KY | HB 109 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
March 29, 2010 | SD | SB 121 | Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
March 27, 2010 | MS | SB 2293 | Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
March 25, 2010 | FL | SJR 2 | Classroom Size Limitation Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
March 25, 2010 | IL | SB 2494 | Funding for School Vouchers | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20) |
March 24, 2010 | MD | SB 778 | Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
March 24, 2010 | MI | SB 1163 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
March 24, 2010 | ID | S 1419 | 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
March 24, 2010 | FL | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
March 23, 2010 | KY | HB 239 | School Principal Selection Process Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
March 22, 2010 | ID | S 1418 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
March 16, 2010 | IA | SF 2376 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
March 12, 2010 | WV | HB 4652 | School Calendar Committees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
March 9, 2010 | VA | SB 737 | Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
March 8, 2010 | SD | HB 1240 | Need-Based Education Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
Feb. 24, 2010 | SD | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
Feb. 23, 2010 | IN | HB 1367 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
Feb. 17, 2010 | NM | HB 150 | Hispanic Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Feb. 15, 2010 | WA | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
Feb. 11, 2010 | SD | Jerstad Amdt | Per Student Funding Increase | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 18) |
Feb. 2, 2010 | IN | SB 150 | School Year Beginning and Ending Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
Jan. 28, 2010 | WI | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
Jan. 19, 2010 | IA | HF 2030 | School District Budget Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
Jan. 14, 2010 | MA | S 2247 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12) |
Jan. 13, 2010 | IL | SB 315 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
Jan. 13, 2010 | IA | SF 2033 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
Jan. 6, 2010 | CA | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
Jan. 6, 2010 | CA | SBx5 4 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
11/17 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
10/14 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
9/15 | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5) |
9/08 | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
8/31 | SB 1381 | Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
8/31 | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
8/27 | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
8/25 | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
8/05 | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39) |
6/28 | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
6/21 | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
6/18 | HB 1171 | Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
6/14 | HB 303 | Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
6/10 | H 8094 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
6/02 | SB 969 | College Tuition Prices for Students | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
5/28 | A 11310 | Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 14) |
5/27 | SB 704 | School Change Models | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
5/27 | SB 1255 | Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
5/26 | HB 1033 | Evaluation and Assessment Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
5/26 | Amdt 4002 | Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation | Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
5/18 | SB 210 | Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
5/12 | SB 191 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
5/06 | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11) |
5/05 | SB 438 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
5/03 | S 7678 | Amending Charter School Cap | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 15) |
4/30 | SB 191 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
4/28 | HB 2002 | 2010-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6) |
4/28 | HB 2377 | Board of Education Selection Advisory Council | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 2) |
4/28 | SF 2716 | Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15) |
4/28 | HB 2281 | Ethnic Studies Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
4/21 | SB 162 | PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 3) |
4/20 | SB 943 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
4/15 | SB 437 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
4/14 | HB 105 | Required Physical Education | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
4/12 | SB 590 | Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
4/01 | HB 109 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
3/29 | SB 121 | Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
3/27 | SB 2293 | Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
3/25 | SJR 2 | Classroom Size Limitation Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
3/25 | SB 2494 | Funding for School Vouchers | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20) |
3/24 | SB 778 | Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
3/24 | SB 1163 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
3/24 | S 1419 | 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
3/24 | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
3/23 | HB 239 | School Principal Selection Process Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
3/22 | S 1418 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
3/16 | SF 2376 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
3/12 | HB 4652 | School Calendar Committees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
3/09 | SB 737 | Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
3/08 | HB 1240 | Need-Based Education Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
2/24 | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
2/23 | HB 1367 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
2/17 | HB 150 | Hispanic Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
2/16 | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
2/15 | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
2/11 | Jerstad Amdt | Per Student Funding Increase | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 18) |
2/02 | SB 150 | School Year Beginning and Ending Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
1/28 | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
1/19 | HF 2030 | School District Budget Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
1/14 | S 2247 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12) |
1/13 | SB 315 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
1/13 | SF 2033 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
1/06 | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
1/06 | SBx5 4 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |