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. 12, 2012 | MI | SB 865 | Authorizes Local Officials to Solve Fiscal Crisis | Bill Passed - House (64 - 45) |
Aug. 15, 2012 | MI | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 48) |
June 30, 2012 | PA | SB 1115 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (120 - 77) |
June 28, 2012 | PA | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 95) |
June 26, 2012 | SC | H 4497 | Authorizes Information On and Access to the HPV Vaccine | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 47) |
June 21, 2012 | NY | S 7722A | Authorizes Special Education Tuition Reimbursement | Bill Passed - House (93 - 50) |
June 14, 2012 | MI | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (57 - 47) |
June 13, 2012 | OH | SB 316 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (56 - 35) |
June 4, 2012 | LA | SCR 99 | Funding for Public and Private Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 49) |
June 1, 2012 | MI | HB 5372 | School Aid Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 51) |
May 31, 2012 | MI | HB 4513 | Increases Minimum Age for Beginning Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (64 - 45) |
May 16, 2012 | AL | HB 658 | Amends Immigration Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 37) |
May 15, 2012 | MO | SB 576 | Authorizes the Expansion of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (99 - 54) |
May 8, 2012 | AL | HB 360 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 21) |
May 8, 2012 | IA | SF 2284 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 9) |
May 3, 2012 | MO | HB 1526 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Policies | Bill Passed - House (83 - 76) |
May 1, 2012 | AL | HB 360 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 36) |
May 1, 2012 | MI | SB 619 | Cyber Schools | Bill Passed - House (57 - 52) |
April 27, 2012 | TN | SB 3310 | Requires Abstinence-Centered Sex Education in Schools | Bill Passed - House (68 - 23) |
April 25, 2012 | TN | HB 2566 | Increases Kindergarten Age Requirements | Bill Passed - House (68 - 30) |
April 19, 2012 | AL | HB 658 | Amends Immigration Regulations | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
April 16, 2012 | TN | SB 3345 | Limits the Number of Foreign Nationals that May Work in a Charter School | Bill Passed - House (63 - 29) |
April 11, 2012 | WA | SB 5940 | Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (53 - 45) |
April 10, 2012 | HI | SB 2115 | Amends Charter School System | Bill Passed - House (40 - 11) |
April 5, 2012 | LA | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
April 5, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
April 5, 2012 | MD | HB 373 | Raises the Dropout Age for Public School Students | Bill Passed - House (88 - 49) |
April 2, 2012 | MN | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 56) |
March 29, 2012 | GA | HB 797 | Establishes a State Charter School Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 55) |
March 29, 2012 | GA | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Bill Passed - House (94 - 67) |
March 29, 2012 | SC | H 4894 | Authorizes Income Tax Credit for Tuition Payments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 38) |
March 28, 2012 | IL | HB 5290 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (61 - 49) |
March 27, 2012 | LA | HB 969 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donating to Scholarship Programs | Bill Passed - House (66 - 37) |
March 26, 2012 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 23) |
March 23, 2012 | ID | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 6) |
March 23, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - House (64 - 40) |
March 22, 2012 | LA | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (62 - 43) |
March 15, 2012 | OK | HB 1551 | Authorizes the Instruction of Various Scientific Theories | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
March 15, 2012 | MN | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Bill Passed - House (74 - 59) |
March 14, 2012 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Prayer in Schools | Bill Passed - House (93 - 24) |
March 13, 2012 | WI | SB 237 | Amending Sexual Education Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (60 - 34) |
March 13, 2012 | IA | HF 2385 | Authorizes Professionals to Teach Certain High School Courses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
March 13, 2012 | IA | HF 2380 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37) |
March 7, 2012 | MI | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 54) |
March 7, 2012 | NH | HB 1146 | Requires Students to Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance | Bill Failed - House (155 - 170) |
March 7, 2012 | FL | HB 859 | School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (92 - 24) |
March 6, 2012 | UT | SB 223 | Requires Public School Students to Recite Pledge of Allegiance | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
March 1, 2012 | FL | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - House (88 - 27) |
Feb. 29, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33) |
Feb. 29, 2012 | WA | SB 5895 | Authorizes the Use of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (82 - 16) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | ID | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | GA | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 48) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | UT | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
Feb. 21, 2012 | AZ | HB 2563 | Authorizing High School Elective Courses about the Bible | Bill Passed - House (42 - 15) |
Feb. 16, 2012 | MN | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - House (68 - 61) |
Feb. 13, 2012 | VA | HB 576 | Amends Teacher Contract and Evaluation Policies | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
Feb. 13, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
Feb. 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (79 - 38) |
Feb. 8, 2012 | VA | HB 947 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
Feb. 8, 2012 | GA | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Rejected - House (110 - 62) |
Jan. 27, 2012 | VA | HB 1112 | Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
Jan. 25, 2012 | SD | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - House (55 - 13) |
Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3173 | Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/12 | SB 865 | Authorizes Local Officials to Solve Fiscal Crisis | Bill Passed - House (64 - 45) |
8/15 | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 48) |
6/30 | SB 1115 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (120 - 77) |
6/28 | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 95) |
6/26 | H 4497 | Authorizes Information On and Access to the HPV Vaccine | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 47) |
6/21 | S 7722A | Authorizes Special Education Tuition Reimbursement | Bill Passed - House (93 - 50) |
6/14 | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (57 - 47) |
6/13 | SB 316 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (56 - 35) |
6/04 | SCR 99 | Funding for Public and Private Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 49) |
6/01 | HB 5372 | School Aid Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 51) |
5/31 | HB 4513 | Increases Minimum Age for Beginning Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (64 - 45) |
5/16 | HB 658 | Amends Immigration Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 37) |
5/15 | SB 576 | Authorizes the Expansion of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (99 - 54) |
5/08 | HB 360 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 21) |
5/08 | SF 2284 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 9) |
5/03 | HB 1526 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Policies | Bill Passed - House (83 - 76) |
5/01 | HB 360 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 36) |
5/01 | SB 619 | Cyber Schools | Bill Passed - House (57 - 52) |
4/27 | SB 3310 | Requires Abstinence-Centered Sex Education in Schools | Bill Passed - House (68 - 23) |
4/25 | HB 2566 | Increases Kindergarten Age Requirements | Bill Passed - House (68 - 30) |
4/19 | HB 658 | Amends Immigration Regulations | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
4/16 | SB 3345 | Limits the Number of Foreign Nationals that May Work in a Charter School | Bill Passed - House (63 - 29) |
4/11 | SB 5940 | Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (53 - 45) |
4/10 | SB 2115 | Amends Charter School System | Bill Passed - House (40 - 11) |
4/05 | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
4/05 | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
4/05 | HB 373 | Raises the Dropout Age for Public School Students | Bill Passed - House (88 - 49) |
4/02 | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 56) |
3/29 | HB 797 | Establishes a State Charter School Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 55) |
3/29 | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Bill Passed - House (94 - 67) |
3/29 | H 4894 | Authorizes Income Tax Credit for Tuition Payments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 38) |
3/28 | HB 5290 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (61 - 49) |
3/27 | HB 969 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donating to Scholarship Programs | Bill Passed - House (66 - 37) |
3/26 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 23) |
3/23 | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 6) |
3/23 | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - House (64 - 40) |
3/22 | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (62 - 43) |
3/15 | HB 1551 | Authorizes the Instruction of Various Scientific Theories | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
3/15 | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Bill Passed - House (74 - 59) |
3/14 | HB 638 | Authorizes Prayer in Schools | Bill Passed - House (93 - 24) |
3/13 | SB 237 | Amending Sexual Education Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (60 - 34) |
3/13 | HF 2385 | Authorizes Professionals to Teach Certain High School Courses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
3/13 | HF 2380 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
3/09 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37) |
3/07 | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 54) |
3/07 | HB 1146 | Requires Students to Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance | Bill Failed - House (155 - 170) |
3/07 | HB 859 | School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (92 - 24) |
3/06 | SB 223 | Requires Public School Students to Recite Pledge of Allegiance | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
3/01 | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - House (88 - 27) |
2/29 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33) |
2/29 | SB 5895 | Authorizes the Use of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (82 - 16) |
2/27 | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
2/22 | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 48) |
2/22 | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
2/21 | HB 2563 | Authorizing High School Elective Courses about the Bible | Bill Passed - House (42 - 15) |
2/16 | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - House (68 - 61) |
2/13 | HB 576 | Amends Teacher Contract and Evaluation Policies | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
2/13 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
2/09 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (79 - 38) |
2/08 | HB 947 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
2/08 | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Rejected - House (110 - 62) |
1/27 | HB 1112 | Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
1/25 | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - House (55 - 13) |
1/09 | S 3173 | Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |