Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added
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.
results per page:
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 21, 2014 | AK | HB 278 | Increases Local Contributions for Public School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| March 4, 2021 | SC | H 3609 | Increases Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
| May 4, 2015 | CO | SB 14 | Authorizes Caregivers to Administer Medical Marijuana Treatments to Certain Students on School Property | Bill Passed - House (51 - 13) |
| March 18, 2013 | CO | HB 1081 | Expands Sexual Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 874 | Increases Penalties for Failing to Report Child Abuse or Neglect | Bill Passed - House (107 - 2) |
| April 18, 2022 | AZ | HB 2439 | Expands Parental Oversight Over Public School Library Books and Materials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| May 27, 2021 | IL | SB 817 | Prohibits School Discrimination Against Certain Hairstyles | Bill Passed - House (89 - 22) |
| April 10, 2024 | IA | HF 2586 | Authorizes School Employees to be Issued Permits to Carry Weapons | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 14) |
| Aug. 19, 2014 | CA | AB 420 | Prohibits Student Suspensions for Certain Actions and Misconduct | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| Sept. 8, 2021 | NC | HB 91 | Amends High School Athlete Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 14) |
| May 13, 2015 | MI | SB 139 | Limits Fund-Raising Activities | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
| July 30, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| April 23, 2013 | OK | HB 1358 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| April 21, 2014 | AZ | HB 2316 | Prohibits Adoption of Federal Education Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 7) |
| May 22, 2023 | OR | SB 279 | Authorizes Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact | Bill Passed - House (55 - 2) |
| May 19, 2021 | MI | HB 4407 | Appropriates Funding for K-12 School Aid and Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| Feb. 11, 2021 | IA | SF 269 | Appropriates Funds for Schools | Bill Passed - House (56 - 36) |
| March 1, 2016 | VA | HB 516 | Requires Parental Review of Explicit School Books | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| May 1, 2013 | FL | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| April 23, 2013 | OK | HB 1658 | Amends Public School Grading System | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| May 6, 2021 | AL | HB 246 | Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Yoga | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| May 23, 2018 | IL | SB 2428 | Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students | Bill Passed - House (66 - 44) |
| May 28, 2015 | AL | SB 71 | Increases Cumulative Cap on Tax Credits Available for Scholarship Donations | Bill Passed - House (68 - 26) |
| Feb. 12, 2020 | OK | HB 2336 | Authorizes Handguns on the Premises of Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7) |
| May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1032 | Amends Sex Education Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| April 17, 2016 | AK | HB 156 | Amends Certain Public Education Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| April 15, 2013 | WA | SB 5329 | Requires Superintendent to Take Action in Certain Schools | Bill Passed - House (68 - 29) |
| April 25, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 28) |
| April 16, 2019 | IN | HB 1253 | Authorizes Firearm Training for Teachers and School Staff | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| Jan. 25, 2013 | WY | SF 104 | Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| April 3, 2014 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 31) |
| April 15, 2015 | ND | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Bill Passed - House (50 - 41) |
| Feb. 11, 2021 | NC | SB 37 | Requires in Person Learning for K-12 Schools | Bill Passed - House (74 - 44) |
| April 20, 2015 | MT | SB 410 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Donations to Certain Educational Programs and Student Scholarship Organizations | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| April 28, 2014 | FL | SB 864 | Authorizes Local School Boards to Choose School Textbooks | Bill Passed - House (84 - 33) |
| April 6, 2021 | ND | SB 2304 | Requires Schools Teach Indigenous History | Bill Passed - House (72 - 21) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | WY | HB 144 | Establishes a School Safety Tip Line | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 18, 2020 | AK | SB 74 | Increases Minimum Internet Speed for K-12 Schools | Bill Passed - House (32 - 3) |
| Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 101 | Requires High School Students to Complete Ethnic Studies Courses to Graduate | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| April 21, 2021 | TN | HB 1233 | Authorizes Refusal to Share Bathrooms and Locker Rooms with Transgender Persons | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| June 17, 2015 | DE | HB 50 | Authorizes Parents to Opt Children Out of Standardized Tests | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| March 9, 2020 | WY | HB 174 | Amends Kindergarten Minimum Age Start Date | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 14, 2015 | WV | HB 2934 | Requires a Review of State Education Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Sept. 1, 2015 | CA | SB 707 | Prohibits Concealed Firearms on School Grounds | Bill Passed - House (54 - 24) |
| Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 624 | Requires Listing a Sexual Assault Hotline and Reproductive Health Care Telephone Numbers on Student Identification Cards | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Feb. 17, 2015 | VA | HB 1626 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| May 22, 2021 | TX | HB 547 | Authorizes Homeschooled Students to Participate in University Interscholastic League Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| May 14, 2013 | MO | SB 125 | Amends State Intervention Process For Unaccredited Schools | Bill Passed - House (107 - 49) |
| March 15, 2017 | KY | SB 1 | Amends State Educational Standards | Bill Passed - House (94 - 0) |
| June 18, 2013 | ME | LD 1540 | Amends Public School Assessment System | Bill Passed - House (80 - 55) |
| Aug. 15, 2020 | MI | HB 5913 | Requires School Districts to Administer Math and Reading Exams During E-Learning | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 14, 2015 | WV | SB 286 | Amends Exemption Procedure for Compulsory Immunizations | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| March 15, 2017 | KY | HB 520 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| April 23, 2014 | CO | HB 1288 | Amends Student Immunization Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| March 1, 2017 | WY | HB 236 | Reduces the Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| March 13, 2015 | KS | SB 7 | Appropriates Funds to the Department of Education | Bill Passed - House (64 - 57) |
| April 29, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| Dec. 18, 2020 | MI | HB 4223 | Requires Dental Screenings for Children Attending Public School | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| April 13, 2011 | IN | SB 575 | Collective Bargaining for School Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 40) |
| April 25, 2014 | IA | SF 2318 | Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| March 1, 2021 | WV | HB 2012 | Increases the Number of Public Charter Schools in the State from 3 to 10 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 2078 | Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 13) |
| Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 711 | Authorizes High School Document Name Changes Regarding Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0) |
| May 23, 2019 | IL | HB 3606 | Authorizes Parental Privacy Rights for Student Data Collection | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
| Feb. 22, 2024 | AK | SB 140 | Increases Funding for Rural School Internet Access | Bill Passed - House (38 - 2) |
| June 28, 2013 | OR | SB 215 | Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots by Agreement | Bill Passed - House (41 - 19) |
| April 22, 2024 | OK | HB 3278 | Amends Requirements for High School Graduation | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| Jan. 16, 2020 | MA | H 4218 | Requires School Districts Offer Breakfast After Instruction Begins | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
| Feb. 27, 2024 | IN | SB 1 | Requires Third Graders Who Fail Certain Reading Standards be Held Back | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| March 25, 2020 | OH | HB 197 | Establishes Relief Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0) |
| March 29, 2019 | ND | HB 1346 | Amends State K-12 School Year Calendar | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
| June 27, 2019 | PA | HB 1615 | Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| May 21, 2021 | NV | AB 261 | Expands School Curriculum to Tell a Broader Range of Children Stories | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| July 2, 2015 | OR | SB 895 | Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| Feb. 7, 2024 | OH | SB 17 | Amends Public Education Curriculum to Require Teaching of of Free Market Capitalism | Bill Passed - House (66 - 26) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | VA | SB 236 | Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
| July 8, 2015 | WI | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| March 19, 2012 | GA | HR 1162 | Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (40 - 16) |
| Jan. 15, 2015 | AZ | HB 2064 | Requires Additional Testing for High School Students | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| May 1, 2015 | CO | SB 213 | Limits Immunity for Public Schools in Incidents of School Violence | Bill Passed - House (43 - 21) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | SD | HB 1008 | Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 17, 2021 | AL | SB 94 | Extends the Deadline for 3rd Graders to Reach Their Required Reading Level | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | WA | SB 6195 | Amends Education Funding System | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| April 24, 2013 | MT | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| Aug. 18, 2022 | CA | SB 70 | Requires Mandatory Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (59 - 12) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | AK | SB 89 | Prohibits Schools from Contracting with Abortion Services Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7) |
| March 8, 2013 | WA | HB 1283 | Amends School Age Requirements | Bill Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| May 10, 2023 | SC | H 3728 | Prohibits Certain Topics From Being Discussed in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| March 21, 2016 | ID | S 1342 | Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References | Bill Passed - House (54 - 15) |
| March 7, 2024 | AL | HB 129 | Authorizes State Funds for Eligible Families for Private School Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| April 29, 2021 | TN | HB 1182 | Prohibits Transgender Students from Using Bathroom Facilities that do Not Match their Birth Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | HB 518 | Authorizes Students to Transfer from Certain Schools | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| May 20, 2021 | DE | HB 198 | Requires Schools to Provide Curricula on Black History | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5) |
| April 28, 2021 | IA | HF 813 | Establishes Plan to Create Charter Schools in the State | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| April 26, 2021 | ID | H 377 | Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| May 8, 2023 | AL | HB 261 | Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| April 30, 2014 | NY | A 9206 | Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 11) |
| April 24, 2014 | FL | HB 7029 | Prohibits Administrators From Punishing Simulation Of Weapon Play | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
| March 29, 2017 | KY | HB 128 | Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |