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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | A 2801 | Establishes Certain Credit Hour Requirements for Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Programs | Bill Passed - House (48 - 26) |
Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | A 2805 | Establishes a Higher Education Common Core Course Numbering System | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | A 2807 | Prohibits Increase in Undergraduate Tuition | Bill Passed - House (48 - 21) |
Nov. 13, 2014 | NJ | A 2811 | Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Requiring Meal Plans for Students | Bill Passed - House (54 - 16) |
Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | A 2814 | Requires Certain Graduation Rates from For-Profit Colleges | Bill Passed - House (47 - 14) |
April 30, 2014 | NY | A 9206 | Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 11) |
April 28, 2014 | NY | A 9206 | Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island | Bill Passed - House (104 - 25) |
May 15, 2014 | CA | AB 2127 | Limits Full-Contact Practices for Certain Sports | Bill Passed - House (50 - 22) |
Aug. 21, 2014 | CA | AB 420 | Prohibits Student Suspensions for Certain Actions and Misconduct | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 16) |
Aug. 19, 2014 | CA | AB 420 | Prohibits Student Suspensions for Certain Actions and Misconduct | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
April 30, 2014 | SC | H 3435 | Amends Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (51 - 49) |
July 16, 2014 | MA | H 4108 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 30) |
May 21, 2014 | MA | H 4108 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
July 31, 2014 | MA | H 4278 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3) |
July 31, 2014 | MA | H 4278 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (122 - 30) |
July 9, 2014 | MA | H 4278 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (112 - 38) |
May 27, 2014 | RI | H 7096A | Reduces the Frequency of Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (69 - 3) |
July 2, 2014 | AR | HB 1003 | Limits Eligibility for School Employee Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
July 2, 2014 | AR | HB 1004 | Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
Jan. 16, 2014 | IN | HB 1004 | Establishes Preschool Scholarship System for Certain Individuals | Bill Passed - House (87 - 9) |
June 29, 2014 | PA | HB 1013 | Amends Laws for Home-Schooled Individuals | Bill Passed - House (133 - 65) |
March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1036 | Expands Voucher Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 6) |
March 12, 2014 | IN | HB 1036 | Expands Voucher Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 21) |
March 4, 2014 | IN | HB 1036 | Expands Voucher Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
Jan. 28, 2014 | IN | HB 1036 | Expands Voucher Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - House (71 - 24) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 105 | Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 41) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 105 | Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
Feb. 6, 2014 | VA | HB 11 | Requires New Textbooks to Refer to The East Sea | Bill Passed - House (81 - 15) |
July 30, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
July 25, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
Sept. 23, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
Sept. 22, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (114 - 84) |
July 8, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
July 2, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (119 - 80) |
July 1, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
April 23, 2014 | CO | HB 1288 | Amends Student Immunization Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
March 24, 2014 | CO | HB 1288 | Amends Student Immunization Laws | Bill Passed - House (42 - 19) |
March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 18) |
March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 32) |
Jan. 30, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Bill Passed - House (54 - 37) |
Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1411 | Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public | Bill Passed - House (119 - 81) |
May 15, 2014 | MO | HB 1490 | Establishes Work Groups to Develop Academic Standards | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 6) |
May 15, 2014 | MO | HB 1490 | Establishes Work Groups to Develop Academic Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (135 - 10) |
March 26, 2014 | NH | HB 1508 | Prohibits Implementation of Common Core Educational Standards | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (201 - 138) |
Jan. 29, 2014 | KY | HB 154 | Requires Periodic Public School Financial Reports | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
June 3, 2014 | OH | HB 171 | Authorizes Off-Campus Religious Courses for High School Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1741 | Requires a School Board to Provide Public Notice Prior to Certain Votes | Bill Passed - House (102 - 98) |
April 17, 2014 | AZ | HB 2291 | Expands Eligibility to Empowerment Scholarship Account Program | Bill Failed - House (27 - 31) |
April 21, 2014 | AZ | HB 2316 | Prohibits Adoption of Federal Education Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 20) |
April 21, 2014 | AZ | HB 2316 | Prohibits Adoption of Federal Education Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 7) |
March 10, 2014 | OK | HB 2329 | Authorizes Storage of a Handgun in a Secure Motor Vehicle on School Property | Bill Passed - House (76 - 17) |
April 6, 2014 | KS | HB 2506 | Appropriates Funds to Certain School Districts | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 57) |
April 6, 2014 | KS | HB 2506 | Appropriates Funds to Certain School Districts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
May 21, 2014 | OK | HB 2625 | Authorizes Grade Level Promotion of Reading-Deficient Students | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 17) |
April 25, 2014 | AK | HB 278 | Increases Base Student Allocation | Conference Report Adopted - House (28 - 10) |
April 25, 2014 | AK | HB 278 | Increases Base Student Allocation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 3) |
April 21, 2014 | AK | HB 278 | Increases Local Contributions for Public School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
April 7, 2014 | AK | HB 278 | Increases Local Contributions for Public School Funding | Bill Passed - House (29 - 11) |
March 19, 2014 | OH | HB 334 | Amends the Circumstances a Student May be Expelled | Bill Passed - House (70 - 27) |
May 23, 2014 | OK | HB 3399 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 10) |
May 23, 2014 | OK | HB 3399 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 18) |
April 1, 2014 | OK | HB 3399 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
March 12, 2014 | OK | HB 3399 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (78 - 12) |
Feb. 20, 2014 | AL | HB 45 | Authorizes Display of the Ten Commandments on State Property | Amendment Adopted - House (77 - 19) |
Feb. 5, 2014 | MS | HB 504 | Increases Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - House (86 - 26) |
May 29, 2014 | IL | HB 5707 | Amends Bullying Prevention Measures in the School Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 40) |
May 23, 2014 | IL | HB 5707 | Amends Bullying Prevention Measures in the School Code | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 18) |
May 15, 2014 | IL | HB 6021 | 2014-2015 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (61 - 55) |
Dec. 16, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Dec. 9, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - House (59 - 50) |
Jan. 30, 2014 | VA | HB 63 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
April 24, 2014 | FL | HB 7029 | Prohibits Administrators From Punishing Simulation Of Weapon Play | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
March 20, 2014 | FL | HB 7029 | Prohibits Administrators From Punishing Simulation Of Weapon Play | Bill Passed - House (98 - 17) |
April 11, 2014 | FL | HB 7167 | Expands the School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (73 - 43) |
April 2, 2014 | MD | HB 727 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Certain School Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
March 17, 2014 | MD | HB 727 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Certain School Projects | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
April 28, 2014 | FL | HB 753 | Authorizes Certain Individuals to Carry Concealed Firearms on School Property | Bill Passed - House (71 - 44) |
Jan. 22, 2014 | OH | HB 8 | Authorizes Certain Employees to Carry Concealed Firearms on School Property | Bill Passed - House (63 - 29) |
May 2, 2014 | FL | HB 851 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 32) |
May 1, 2014 | FL | HB 851 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
March 20, 2014 | FL | HB 851 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - House (81 - 33) |
Feb. 18, 2014 | GA | HB 875 | Authorizes Individuals to Carry Weapons in Previously Prohibited Locations | Bill Passed - House (119 - 56) |
June 1, 2014 | LA | HB 953 | Extends Timeline for Implementation of Common Core Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 17) |
May 28, 2014 | LA | HB 953 | Extends Timeline for Implementation of Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
March 13, 2014 | UT | HB 96 | Establishes a School Readiness Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17) |
March 12, 2014 | UT | HB 96 | Establishes a School Readiness Board | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10) |
Feb. 11, 2014 | UT | HB 96 | Establishes a School Readiness Board | Bill Passed - House (49 - 24) |
Jan. 29, 2014 | SD | HCR 1008 | Prohibits Expansion of Common Core State Standards | Joint Resolution Failed - House (31 - 35) |
April 8, 2014 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 63) |
April 3, 2014 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 31) |
May 23, 2014 | OK | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts To Issue Bonds For Improvements in Building Safety | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 25) |
May 22, 2014 | OK | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts to Issue Bonds for Improvements in Building Safety | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 39) |
May 22, 2014 | OK | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts to Issue Bonds for Improvements in Building Safety | Conference Report Rejected - House (34 - 61) |
March 13, 2014 | OK | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts to Issue Bonds for Improvements in Building Safety | Amendment Adopted - House (65 - 28) |
April 7, 2014 | IL | HR 895 | Encourages Investigative Hearings about the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) | Resolution Passed - House (55 - 51) |
April 3, 2014 | KS | Knox Amdt | Prohibits Implementation of Common Core Standards Using Certain State Funds | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
Jan. 28, 2014 | ME | LD 1254 | Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine | Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13) |
Jan. 28, 2014 | ME | LD 1254 | Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine | Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13) |
Jan. 14, 2014 | ME | LD 1254 | Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine | Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 46) |
Jan. 14, 2014 | ME | LD 1254 | Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine | Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 46) |