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, 2018 | MI | HB 5526 | Establishes A to F Letter Rating System For Schools | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
Dec. 13, 2018 | MI | HB 5526 | Establishes A to F Letter Rating System For Schools | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
Oct. 9, 2018 | PA | SB 1090 | Increases Anti Hazing Penalties and Regulations | Bill Passed - House (191 - 0) |
Aug. 27, 2018 | NJ | S 2293 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 0) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 87 | Establishes Policies on the Distribution of Funds Returned to the State from Community Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 23) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 318 | Requires New Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 20) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | SB 216 | Amends Regulations Relating to Public Education | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 428 | Requires Schools to Allow Student Religious Expression | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 540 | Amends Teacher Evaluation Process | Bill Passed - House (91 - 2) |
June 26, 2018 | ME | LD 1869 | Establishes Total Cost of Education and State and Local Contributions to Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 1) |
June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 1) |
June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 2 | Amends School Funding Formula | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |
June 20, 2018 | OH | HB 58 | Require Instruction in Cursive Handwriting | Bill Passed - House (89 - 4) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 47) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 47) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4069 | Reduces College Credits Required for Substitute Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 46) |
June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 21 | Amends Certain Charter School Enrollment Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 0) |
June 6, 2018 | NC | HB 514 | Authorizes Municipalities to Form Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 53) |
June 6, 2018 | PA | HB 564 | Requires Civics Test for High School Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (167 - 27) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2546 | Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions | Bill Passed - House (66 - 49) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2892 | Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - House (65 - 47) |
May 29, 2018 | CA | AB 2160 | Defines Playground Aides as Classified Employees | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 874 | Increases Penalties for Failing to Report Child Abuse or Neglect | Bill Passed - House (107 - 2) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | HB 6043 | Requires School Districts to Report Inappropriate Conduct within 60 Days | Bill Passed - House (88 - 21) |
May 23, 2018 | IL | SB 2428 | Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students | Bill Passed - House (66 - 44) |
May 17, 2018 | RI | H 7419 | Prohibits Advertising of Unhealthy Food and Beverages in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 10) |
May 9, 2018 | CO | SB 18-272 | Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training | Bill Passed - House (53 - 12) |
May 2, 2018 | SC | S 28 | Amends Rule Related to Time-Off Credits For Religious Exemption | Bill Passed - House (84 - 20) |
May 2, 2018 | NY | A 10475 | Prohibits State Test Scores from Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (133 - 1) |
May 2, 2018 | NY | A 10475 | Prohibits State Test Scores from Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (133 - 1) |
April 27, 2018 | OK | SB 1600 | Amends General Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (63 - 31) |
April 25, 2018 | CT | SB 4 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - House (91 - 59) |
April 23, 2018 | TN | HB 2114 | Requires Scholarship Students to Complete 30 Credits per Year | Bill Failed - House (41 - 46) |
April 18, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1391 | Establishes Requirements for Sexual Misconduct Policies | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
April 14, 2018 | AK | HB 339 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - House (22 - 18) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 699 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - House (49 - 24) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 764 | Requires Panic Alarms in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (66 - 6) |
April 11, 2018 | OH | HB 318 | Requires New Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers | Bill Passed - House (92 - 2) |
April 11, 2018 | OH | HB 360 | Requires Additional Anti-Bullying Policies in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (69 - 27) |
April 9, 2018 | MD | HB 16 | Establishes Communication Campaign for Near Completers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (90 - 48) |
April 5, 2018 | MD | SB 639 | Establishes Disciplinary Hearing Procedures for Public School Employees | Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 49) |
April 4, 2018 | TN | HB 2331 | Requires Schools to Report on Use of Corporal Punishment | Bill Passed - House (80 - 1) |
March 29, 2018 | TN | SB 2260 | Reorganizes University of Tennessee Board of Trustees | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
March 26, 2018 | OK | HB 1010 | Increases Taxes to Provide More Funding for Education | Bill Passed - House (79 - 19) |
March 21, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
March 21, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
March 20, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
March 20, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
March 19, 2018 | TN | SB 2661 | Requires Public Schools to Display National Motto | Bill Passed - House (81 - 8) |
March 16, 2018 | KY | HB 604 | Requires Mental Health Workers in Schools | Bill Passed - House (81 - 1) |
March 14, 2018 | IN | HB 1426 | Amends Education Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 25) |
March 14, 2018 | National | HR 4909 | STOP School Violence Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (407 - 10) |
March 14, 2018 | AR | HB 1008 | Expands Tuition Savings Plan | Bill Passed - House (62 - 16) |
March 9, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
March 8, 2018 | IN | HB 1399 | Requires Teacher Licenses for Math and Science Courses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 11) |
March 8, 2018 | MI | HB 5531 | Requires Expulsion of Students Convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct | Bill Passed - House (93 - 14) |
March 8, 2018 | KS | HB 2757 | Authorizes Public School Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (73 - 48) |
March 5, 2018 | IN | SB 387 | Authorizes Teachers without Licenses in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - House (35 - 12) |
March 3, 2018 | OR | SB 1563 | Authorizes Undocumented Students to Continue Receiving Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |
March 3, 2018 | OR | SB 1563 | Authorizes Undocumented Students to Continue Receiving Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |
Feb. 21, 2018 | FL | HB 839 | Requires Schools to Display State Motto | Bill Passed - House (97 - 10) |
Feb. 20, 2018 | WV | SB 267 | Increases State Public Worker Salaries | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37) |
Feb. 20, 2018 | WV | SB 267 | Increases State Public Worker Salaries | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37) |
Feb. 20, 2018 | OR | HB 4113 | Requires School Districts to Bargain About Class Size | Bill Passed - House (33 - 25) |
Feb. 15, 2018 | AZ | HB 2172 | Authorizes Non-Lethal Weapons on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (35 - 22) |
Feb. 13, 2018 | SD | HB 1199 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining at Public Universities | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
Feb. 9, 2018 | National | HR 1892 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 186) |
Jan. 18, 2018 | MI | SB 574 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Collect Revenues From Enhancement Millages | Bill Passed - House (55 - 52) |