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. 5, 2013 | WI | AB 297 | Amends Laws Concerning the Use of Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
Sept. 10, 2013 | CA | AB 484 | Amends State School Testing Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
July 23, 2013 | NC | SB 337 | Establishes the North Carolina Charter School Advisory Board | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 11) |
July 16, 2013 | NC | HB 250 | Amends Charter School Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
July 3, 2013 | CA | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
July 2, 2013 | NC | SB 132 | Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
July 2, 2013 | OR | HB 2456 | Appropriates Increased Tax Funds to Schools and Health Services | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
July 1, 2013 | OR | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
June 18, 2013 | ME | LD 1540 | Amends Public School Assessment System | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
May 29, 2013 | MI | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 12) |
May 22, 2013 | TX | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 22, 2013 | IL | HB 2675 | Expands Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21) |
May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
May 16, 2013 | CA | SB 552 | Authorizes a Violence Awareness Component of School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
May 9, 2013 | AL | HB 658 | Amends The School "Accountability Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
May 7, 2013 | NC | SB 337 | Establishes an Independent Charter School Board | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
May 1, 2013 | FL | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
May 1, 2013 | IL | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
April 30, 2013 | FL | HB 867 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
April 29, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
April 26, 2013 | IN | HB 1427 | Amends Public School Evaluation System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 15) |
April 25, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 28) |
April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 243 | Requires New Instructions in Public School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
April 23, 2013 | OK | HB 1358 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
April 23, 2013 | OK | HB 1658 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
April 10, 2013 | IN | HB 1357 | Amends Licensing Requirements for Superintendents | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 25) |
April 10, 2013 | IN | HB 1003 | Expands School Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
April 10, 2013 | OR | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
March 28, 2013 | ID | H 221 | Amends Public Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
March 26, 2013 | IA | SF 423 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
March 18, 2013 | CO | HB 1081 | Expands Sexual Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
March 6, 2013 | OK | SB 1001 | Authorizes Parents to Petition for Certain School Actions | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 12) |
March 6, 2013 | WA | SB 5328 | Establishes a Grading System for Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
March 5, 2013 | KY | SB 176 | Authorizes Low-Achieving Schools to Become Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Feb. 28, 2013 | AL | HB 84 | Authorizes Schools to Apply for Waivers from State Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11) |
Feb. 27, 2013 | SD | HB 1087 | Authorizes School Sentinel Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Feb. 26, 2013 | ID | S 1089 | Amends Early Teacher Retirement Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
Feb. 23, 2013 | MT | SB 175 | Increases Public Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | ND | SB 2267 | Appropriates Funding for School Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
Feb. 16, 2013 | MT | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
Feb. 14, 2013 | IA | SF 161 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
Feb. 5, 2013 | VA | SB 1324 | Establishes Education Institution and Board | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Jan. 25, 2013 | WY | SF 104 | Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
Jan. 16, 2013 | MS | SB 2189 | Expands Charter School Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
11/05 | AB 297 | Amends Laws Concerning the Use of Race-Based Nicknames, Logos, Mascots, and Team Names | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
9/12 | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
9/10 | AB 484 | Amends State School Testing Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
7/23 | SB 337 | Establishes the North Carolina Charter School Advisory Board | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 11) |
7/16 | HB 250 | Amends Charter School Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
7/03 | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
7/02 | SB 132 | Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
7/02 | HB 2456 | Appropriates Increased Tax Funds to Schools and Health Services | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
7/01 | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
6/18 | LD 1540 | Amends Public School Assessment System | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
5/29 | HB 4228 | 2013-2014 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 12) |
5/22 | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
5/22 | HB 2675 | Expands Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21) |
5/19 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
5/16 | SB 552 | Authorizes a Violence Awareness Component of School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
5/09 | HB 658 | Amends The School "Accountability Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
5/07 | SB 337 | Establishes an Independent Charter School Board | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
5/01 | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
5/01 | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
4/30 | HB 867 | Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
4/29 | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
4/26 | HB 1427 | Amends Public School Evaluation System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 15) |
4/25 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 28) |
4/25 | SB 243 | Requires New Instructions in Public School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
4/23 | HB 1358 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
4/23 | HB 1658 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
4/10 | HB 1357 | Amends Licensing Requirements for Superintendents | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 25) |
4/10 | HB 1003 | Expands School Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
4/10 | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
3/28 | H 221 | Amends Public Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
3/26 | SF 423 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
3/18 | HB 1081 | Expands Sexual Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
3/06 | SB 1001 | Authorizes Parents to Petition for Certain School Actions | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 12) |
3/06 | SB 5328 | Establishes a Grading System for Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
3/05 | SB 176 | Authorizes Low-Achieving Schools to Become Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
2/28 | HB 84 | Authorizes Schools to Apply for Waivers from State Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11) |
2/27 | HB 1087 | Authorizes School Sentinel Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
2/26 | S 1089 | Amends Early Teacher Retirement Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
2/23 | SB 175 | Increases Public Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
2/20 | SB 2267 | Appropriates Funding for School Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
2/16 | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
2/14 | SF 161 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
2/05 | SB 1324 | Establishes Education Institution and Board | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
1/25 | SF 104 | Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
1/16 | SB 2189 | Expands Charter School Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |