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. 13, 2012 | MI | SB 865 | Authorizes Local Officials to Solve Fiscal Crisis | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Oct. 16, 2012 | PA | SB 1115 | Amends Charter School Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
Aug. 15, 2012 | MI | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
July 18, 2012 | MI | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (16 - 22) |
June 21, 2012 | NY | S 7722A | Authorizes Special Education Tuition Reimbursement | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 13) |
June 19, 2012 | PA | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
June 19, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2156 | Increases Funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 66) |
June 6, 2012 | MI | SB 620 | Authorizes the Conversion of Certain Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
June 5, 2012 | MI | HB 5372 | School Aid Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
June 4, 2012 | NC | SB 795 | Amends Teacher Tenure System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
June 3, 2012 | LA | SCR 99 | Funding for Public and Private Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
May 29, 2012 | IL | HB 5290 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Failed - Senate (29 - 21) |
May 22, 2012 | LA | HB 292 | School Board Member Term Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
May 17, 2012 | MI | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
May 16, 2012 | AL | HB 658 | Amends Immigration Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
May 10, 2012 | AL | HB 360 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
May 8, 2012 | IA | SF 2284 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 15) |
May 3, 2012 | KS | King Amendment | Amends the State Retirement System for New Public Employees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20) |
May 2, 2012 | MI | SB 619 | Cyber Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
May 2, 2012 | AL | SB 513 | Authorizes Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 1, 2012 | AL | HB 360 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
April 26, 2012 | TN | HB 2566 | Increases Kindergarten Age Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
April 12, 2012 | TN | SB 3345 | Limits the Number of Foreign Nationals that May Work in a Charter School | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
April 11, 2012 | WA | SB 5940 | Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
April 10, 2012 | MS | HB 707 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
April 10, 2012 | CO | SB 68 | Prohibits Food with Trans Fat in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
April 9, 2012 | IA | SF 2284 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
April 4, 2012 | LA | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
April 4, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
April 2, 2012 | MN | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 28) |
March 29, 2012 | GA | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
March 28, 2012 | AK | SB 9 | Extends Cumpulsory School Attendance | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
March 26, 2012 | GA | HB 797 | Establishes a State Charter School Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
March 19, 2012 | GA | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (40 - 16) |
March 19, 2012 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
March 19, 2012 | ID | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
March 15, 2012 | ID | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 859 | School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | SB 1718 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
March 8, 2012 | AZ | SB 1462 | Expands Penalties for Bullying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
March 7, 2012 | MI | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
March 6, 2012 | UT | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
March 5, 2012 | GA | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
March 1, 2012 | VT | S 199 | Repeals Philosophical Exemption to Immunization | Motion Agreed - Senate (25 - 4) |
March 1, 2012 | OR | SB 1594 | Prohibits weapons on school grounds | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1205 | Requires Public School Teachers to Adhere to FCC Regulations | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1202 | Prohibits Partisan Instruction in Classrooms | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | MN | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | WY | SF 57 | Amending Wyoming Accountability in Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | AZ | SB 1204 | Authorizes Parents to Vote to Close Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
Feb. 23, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | MS | SB 2401 | Establishes Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
Feb. 21, 2012 | WI | SB 386 | Removes Voter Registration at High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | SB 438 | Amends Teacher Contracts | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
Feb. 9, 2012 | AZ | SB 1061 | Authorizes Schools to Opt-Out of the National School Lunch Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
Feb. 8, 2012 | UT | SB 31 | Reduces Classroom Sizes | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
Feb. 6, 2012 | NY | S 6087-A | Authorizes the Use of School Property for Religious Meetings and Worship | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 7) |
Feb. 2, 2012 | CA | SB 81 | Funding For School Transportation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
Feb. 1, 2012 | FL | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
Jan. 31, 2012 | IN | SB 89 | Authorizes the Instruction of Origin of Life Theories from Multiple Religions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
Jan. 30, 2012 | SD | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
Jan. 9, 2012 | GA | SB 184 | Guidelines for Teacher Dismissal | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3173 | Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/13 | SB 865 | Authorizes Local Officials to Solve Fiscal Crisis | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
10/16 | SB 1115 | Amends Charter School Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
8/15 | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
7/18 | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (16 - 22) |
6/21 | S 7722A | Authorizes Special Education Tuition Reimbursement | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 13) |
6/19 | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
6/19 | S Amdt 2156 | Increases Funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 66) |
6/06 | SB 620 | Authorizes the Conversion of Certain Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
6/05 | HB 5372 | School Aid Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
6/04 | SB 795 | Amends Teacher Tenure System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
6/03 | SCR 99 | Funding for Public and Private Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
5/29 | HB 5290 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Failed - Senate (29 - 21) |
5/22 | HB 292 | School Board Member Term Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
5/17 | SB 1040 | Amends Teacher Pension Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
5/16 | HB 658 | Amends Immigration Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
5/10 | HB 360 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
5/08 | SF 2284 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 15) |
5/03 | King Amendment | Amends the State Retirement System for New Public Employees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20) |
5/02 | SB 619 | Cyber Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
5/02 | SB 513 | Authorizes Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
5/01 | HB 360 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
4/26 | HB 2566 | Increases Kindergarten Age Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
4/12 | SB 3345 | Limits the Number of Foreign Nationals that May Work in a Charter School | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
4/11 | SB 5940 | Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
4/10 | HB 707 | Requires Schools to Have a Longer Summer Vacation | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
4/10 | SB 68 | Prohibits Food with Trans Fat in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
4/09 | SF 2284 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
4/04 | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
4/04 | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
4/02 | HF 2083 | Requires State Reserve Funds to be Used to Reduce School Debt | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 28) |
3/29 | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
3/28 | SB 9 | Extends Cumpulsory School Attendance | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
3/26 | HB 797 | Establishes a State Charter School Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
3/19 | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (40 - 16) |
3/19 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
3/19 | H 426 | Establishes a Program for High School Students to Obtain an Associate's Degree | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
3/15 | H 481 | Repeals Limit on Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
3/09 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
3/09 | HB 859 | School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
3/09 | SB 1718 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
3/08 | SB 1462 | Expands Penalties for Bullying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
3/07 | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
3/06 | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
3/05 | SB 410 | Requires Numerical School Ratings Based on Student Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
3/01 | S 199 | Repeals Philosophical Exemption to Immunization | Motion Agreed - Senate (25 - 4) |
3/01 | SB 1594 | Prohibits weapons on school grounds | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
2/28 | SB 1205 | Requires Public School Teachers to Adhere to FCC Regulations | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
2/28 | SB 1202 | Prohibits Partisan Instruction in Classrooms | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
2/27 | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
2/27 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
2/27 | SF 57 | Amending Wyoming Accountability in Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
2/27 | SB 1204 | Authorizes Parents to Vote to Close Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
2/23 | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
2/22 | SB 2401 | Establishes Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
2/21 | SB 386 | Removes Voter Registration at High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
2/14 | SB 438 | Amends Teacher Contracts | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
2/09 | SB 1061 | Authorizes Schools to Opt-Out of the National School Lunch Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
2/08 | SB 31 | Reduces Classroom Sizes | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
2/06 | S 6087-A | Authorizes the Use of School Property for Religious Meetings and Worship | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 7) |
2/02 | SB 81 | Funding For School Transportation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
2/01 | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
1/31 | SB 89 | Authorizes the Instruction of Origin of Life Theories from Multiple Religions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
1/30 | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
1/09 | SB 184 | Guidelines for Teacher Dismissal | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
1/09 | S 3173 | Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |