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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 16, 2016 | WI | AB 873 | Requires Open Meetings and Public Records for Interscholastic Athletics Associations | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
Jan. 27, 2016 | RI | H 7051 | Requires City Council Approval to Establish or Expand a Charter School | Bill Passed - House (60 - 11) |
March 12, 2016 | MD | HB 1002 | Prohibits Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (81 - 54) |
Feb. 3, 2016 | IN | HB 1004 | Authorizes Higher Wages for Hard-to-Fill Teaching Positions | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
March 10, 2016 | IN | HB 1005 | Establishes Regulations Regarding Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17) |
March 9, 2016 | IN | HB 1005 | Establishes Regulations Regarding Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 43) |
March 3, 2016 | SD | HB 1008 | Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex | Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 29) |
Feb. 16, 2016 | SD | HB 1008 | Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
Jan. 27, 2016 | SD | HB 1008 | Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex | Bill Passed - House (58 - 10) |
Feb. 9, 2016 | SD | HB 1112 | Repeals Transgender Policies Adopted by High School Sports Associations | Bill Passed - House (45 - 23) |
Feb. 15, 2016 | VA | HB 1234 | Authorizes School Security Officers to Carry Firearms | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
Feb. 23, 2016 | IN | HB 1395 | Repeals ISTEP Test | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
May 5, 2016 | AK | HB 156 | Amends Certain Public Education Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (21 - 18) |
May 4, 2016 | AK | HB 156 | Amends Certain Public Education Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 4) |
April 17, 2016 | AK | HB 156 | Amends Certain Public Education Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
April 7, 2016 | MD | HB 172 | Amends School Board Nominating Commission | Veto Override Passed - House (90 - 50) |
April 7, 2016 | MO | HB 2003 | Appropriates Funds to the Department of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
March 10, 2016 | MO | HB 2003 | Appropriates Funds to the Department of Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (108 - 46) |
March 1, 2016 | AZ | HB 2151 | Authorizes Teachers to Receive Tax Credits for Purchased School Supplies | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
April 21, 2016 | TN | HB 2248 | Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
April 21, 2016 | TN | HB 2248 | Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 21) |
April 18, 2016 | TN | HB 2248 | Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office | Bill Passed - House (66 - 22) |
Feb. 29, 2016 | AZ | HB 2338 | Authorizes Concealed Carry near Schools | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
Feb. 29, 2016 | AZ | HB 2338 | Authorizes Concealed Carry near Schools | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
Jan. 25, 2016 | WA | HB 2366 | Amends Education Funding System | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
March 1, 2016 | OK | HB 2797 | Requires Public High Schools to Teach Students about Fetal Development During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - House (64 - 12) |
March 7, 2016 | VA | HB 389 | Establishes School Choice Program for Children with Disabilities | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | HB 389 | Establishes School Choice Program for Children with Disabilities | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
Feb. 26, 2016 | WV | HB 4014 | Prohibits State Board of Education From Implementing Common Core | Bill Passed - House (73 - 20) |
May 19, 2016 | IL | HB 4167 | Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15) |
May 17, 2016 | IL | HB 4167 | Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants | Bill Passed - House (68 - 45) |
April 13, 2016 | OH | HB 425 | Authorizes Religious Expression in Schools | Bill Passed - House (73 - 22) |
March 1, 2016 | VA | HB 516 | Requires Parental Review of Explicit School Books | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | HB 518 | Authorizes Students to Transfer from Certain Schools | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
June 9, 2016 | MI | HB 5384 | Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 54) |
June 8, 2016 | MI | HB 5384 | Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
March 9, 2016 | FL | HB 7029 | Amends Charter School Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12) |
Feb. 18, 2016 | FL | HB 7029 | Amends Charter School Regulations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 35) |
Feb. 18, 2016 | FL | HB 7043 | Establishes Funding Programs Related to Education | Bill Passed - House (81 - 31) |
March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 8 | Establishes Virtual Public School | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 36) |
March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 8 | Establishes Virtual Public School | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 17) |
March 11, 2016 | GA | HB 859 | Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms at Institutions of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
Feb. 22, 2016 | GA | HB 859 | Authorizes Concealed Carry at Postsecondary Education Institutions | Bill Passed - House (113 - 59) |
April 25, 2016 | LA | HB 863 | Prohibits Schools from Holding Membership in Certain Associations or Organizations | Bill Failed - House (33 - 51) |
March 3, 2016 | MS | HB 989 | Establishes the Mississippi Achievement School District | Bill Passed - House (82 - 38) |
April 25, 2016 | MN | HF 2749 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - House (84 - 46) |
April 25, 2016 | MN | HF 2749 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - House (84 - 46) |
Jan. 20, 2016 | NE | LB 18 | Requires a Meningitis Immunization Before Entering Seventh Grade | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (29 - 14) |
Feb. 22, 2016 | ID | S 1248 | Repeals the Requirement that Charter Schools Use State Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
March 21, 2016 | ID | S 1342 | Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References | Bill Passed - House (54 - 15) |
April 7, 2016 | MA | S 2220 | Increases Spending Cap on Charter School Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Feb. 17, 2016 | KY | SB 1 | Amends Public Education Standard Review Processes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
March 31, 2016 | MD | SB 1052 | Establishes Consolidated University of Maryland | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
March 30, 2016 | MD | SB 1052 | Establishes Consolidated University of Maryland | Bill Passed - House (92 - 44) |
May 26, 2016 | CA | SB 1146 | Amends Religious Exemption Requirements for Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Feb. 22, 2016 | AZ | SB 1402 | Amends Tax Rate for Property Belonging to Institutions of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
April 20, 2016 | CT | SB 147 | Authorizes Students Qualifying for In-State Tuition to Receive Financial Assistance | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
March 8, 2016 | SD | SB 159 | Authorizes Education Tax Credit for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - House (45 - 23) |
Feb. 24, 2016 | SD | SB 159 | Authorizes Education Tax Credit for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
April 7, 2016 | AK | SB 174 | Prohibits the University of Alaska from Regulating Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5) |
March 16, 2016 | KS | SB 175 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Associations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 41) |
March 2, 2016 | IL | SB 2043 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Veto Override Failed - House (69 - 48) |
March 2, 2016 | IL | SB 2043 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
Jan. 28, 2016 | IL | SB 2043 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (67 - 42) |
March 22, 2016 | AL | SB 205 | Prohibits Abortion Clinics from being Located Near Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
May 10, 2016 | IL | SB 231 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21) |
April 20, 2016 | TN | SB 2376 | Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
April 19, 2016 | TN | SB 2376 | Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
March 16, 2016 | KY | SB 253 | Establishes Public Charter School Pilot Project | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
March 3, 2016 | IN | SB 334 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
March 23, 2016 | KS | SB 469 | Amends Labor Union Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
March 23, 2016 | KS | SB 469 | Amends Labor Union Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
March 10, 2016 | WA | SB 6194 | Authorizes Public Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
March 9, 2016 | WA | SB 6194 | Authorizes Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
Jan. 20, 2016 | WA | SB 6194 | Authorizes Commission Oversight for Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
Feb. 18, 2016 | WA | SB 6195 | Amends Education Funding System | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
Feb. 16, 2016 | WA | SB 6195 | Amends Education Funding System | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
Feb. 10, 2016 | WA | SB 6443 | Repeals Rule Authorizing Use of Bathrooms Consistent with Gender Identity | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
March 16, 2016 | MD | SB 706 | Establishes Education Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19) |
March 22, 2016 | MI | SB 710 | Amends the Detroit Public School System | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
Feb. 29, 2016 | AK | SB 89 | Prohibits Schools from Contracting with Abortion Services Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7) |
March 23, 2016 | IA | SF 174 | Increases K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 41) |
March 23, 2016 | IA | SF 175 | Increases K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 41) |
April 19, 2016 | IA | SF 2323 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
Feb. 15, 2016 | VA | SJ 6 | Authorizes the Board of Education to Establish Charter Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 21) |