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. 25, 2019 | NJ | S 2055 | Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Incarcerated Persons | Bill Passed - House (41 - 27) |
Nov. 19, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 37) |
Nov. 13, 2019 | OH | HB 164 | Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (61 - 31) |
Oct. 31, 2019 | NC | SB 354 | Increases Pay for Public School Teachers and Personnel | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 46) |
Oct. 30, 2019 | NC | HB 377 | Increases State Teacher Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 49) |
Oct. 30, 2019 | NC | HB 231 | Authorizes Pay Raises for UNC Systems and Community College Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 49) |
Oct. 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3904 | Authorizes Student Athletes to Receive Compensation for Use of Their Name, Image, or Likeness | Bill Passed - House (86 - 25) |
Oct. 29, 2019 | NC | SB 522 | Amends the Innovative School District (ISD) Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 48) |
Oct. 29, 2019 | IL | SB 1970 | Authorizes Student Absences for Voting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 40) |
Oct. 29, 2019 | IL | SB 1970 | Authorizes Student Absences for Voting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 40) |
Oct. 2, 2019 | OH | HB 123 | Requires Annual Suicide Prevention Classes for Public Middle and High Schools | Bill Passed - House (85 - 7) |
Sept. 24, 2019 | MI | HB 4236 | Establishes a Higher Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 51) |
Sept. 14, 2019 | CA | SB 328 | Requires Later Start Times for Middle and High Schools | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
Aug. 26, 2019 | CA | SB 223 | Authorizes Medical Cannabis on K-12 Campuses | Bill Passed - House (43 - 22) |
July 22, 2019 | KY | HB 1 | Establishes a State of Emergency for the Kentucky Employees Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
June 28, 2019 | PA | HB 1615 | Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (160 - 39) |
June 27, 2019 | NJ | S 692 | Prohibits the Department of Education from Establishing Maximum Salaries for Superintendents | Bill Passed - House (48 - 21) |
June 27, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - House (116 - 83) |
June 27, 2019 | NJ | S 692 | Prohibits the Department of Education from Establishing Maximum Salaries for Superintendents | Bill Passed - House (48 - 21) |
June 20, 2019 | NY | A 6787 | Prohibits Use of Biometric Identifying Technology in Schools | Bill Passed - House (128 - 19) |
June 20, 2019 | DE | HB 79 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - House (28 - 11) |
June 19, 2019 | WV | HB 206 | Authorizes the Creation of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (51 - 47) |
June 18, 2019 | WI | AB 110 | Requires State Published Dyslexia Guidebooks in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
June 13, 2019 | ME | LD 799 | Establishes the Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program | Bill Passed - House (95 - 46) |
June 13, 2019 | ME | LD 1820 | Amends School Investigation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (91 - 50) |
June 13, 2019 | ME | LD 1820 | Amends School Investigation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (91 - 50) |
June 5, 2019 | NH | SB 263 | Prohibits Discrimination in Public Schools | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (211 - 141) |
June 5, 2019 | NH | SB 263 | Prohibits Discrimination in Public Schools | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (211 - 141) |
June 4, 2019 | OR | SB 731 | Authorizes College and University Student Governments to Take Positions on Initiatives and Ballot Measures | Bill Passed - House (42 - 13) |
June 3, 2019 | ME | LD 665 | Prohibits Restrictions of Free Speech on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (87 - 51) |
May 31, 2019 | AL | SB 397 | Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create Governor-Appointed Board of Education | Bill Passed - House (78 - 21) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3606 | Authorizes Parental Privacy Rights for Student Data Collection | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 22) |
May 30, 2019 | ME | LD 1050 | Requires Education About African American History and the History of Genocide | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (87 - 54) |
May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 254 | Reduces Class Sizes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 32) |
May 28, 2019 | OR | SB 3 | Authorizes Community Colleges to Offer Applied Baccalaureate Degree Programs | Bill Passed - House (45 - 10) |
May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 493 | Specifies Biennial LGBTQ Teacher Training be Encouraged | Bill Passed - House (61 - 0) |
May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 376 | Establishes a Student Loan Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 15) |
May 28, 2019 | ME | LD 307 | Limits the Number of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
May 25, 2019 | AZ | HB 2749 | Appropriates Funds for K-12 Education for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
May 20, 2019 | MN | SF 2415 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 49) |
May 17, 2019 | MO | HB 604 | Authorizes Funding to Under-performing Schools | Bill Passed - House (116 - 25) |
May 15, 2019 | WI | AB 76 | Reduces Number of Hours Required for Nurse Aide Certification | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
May 14, 2019 | ME | LD 513 | Limits Enrollment at Virtual Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (87 - 53) |
May 8, 2019 | NH | SB 12 | Establishes Student Debt Relief Program | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (201 - 134) |
May 8, 2019 | TX | HB 1387 | Authorizes Law Enforcement Officers to Carry on School Property | Bill Passed - House (97 - 46) |
May 8, 2019 | TX | HB 1387 | Authorizes Law Enforcement Officers to Carry on School Property | Bill Passed - House (97 - 46) |
May 7, 2019 | ME | LD 502 | Establishes the "Summer Success" Pilot Program Fund | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (87 - 53) |
May 7, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - House (111 - 85) |
May 7, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - House (111 - 85) |
May 6, 2019 | OR | HB 3063 | Prohibits All Religious and Philosophical Vaccination Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (35 - 25) |
May 1, 2019 | TN | HB 939 | Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46) |
May 1, 2019 | MI | HB 4206 | Authorizes Four Built-In Snow Days for Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 53) |
May 1, 2019 | FL | SB 7030 | Authorizes Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - House (65 - 47) |
May 1, 2019 | OH | HB 154 | Repeals Use of Academic Distress Commissions | Bill Passed - House (83 - 12) |
May 1, 2019 | OR | HB 3427 | Increases Business Taxes to Enhance School Funding | Bill Passed - House (37 - 21) |
April 28, 2019 | WA | HB 2158 | Establishes a Business Tax to Finance a Higher Education Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 46) |
April 27, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1312 | Requires Waivers from Parents Wanting to Exempt their Children from Vaccinations | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
April 23, 2019 | TN | HB 939 | Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
April 23, 2019 | ME | LD 798 | Prohibits Non-Medical Exemptions for Vaccinations | Bill Passed - House (78 - 59) |
April 23, 2019 | ME | LD 944 | Prohibits Native American Mascots | Bill Passed - House (88 - 49) |
April 23, 2019 | MN | HF 2400 | Appropriates Funds for Education Finance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
April 16, 2019 | IA | SF 188 | Authorizes Stun Guns on Campuses | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
April 16, 2019 | TX | HB 455 | Establishes Standards for Public School Recess | Bill Passed - House (95 - 48) |
April 16, 2019 | NC | HB 389 | Authorizes Alcohol Sales at Public College Sporting Events | Bill Passed - House (87 - 25) |
April 12, 2019 | IL | HB 2263 | Requires "Work Ethic" Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (69 - 39) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 1873 | Increases Fines for Drivers Who Pass School Buses | Bill Passed - House (74 - 16) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 2691 | Authorizes Tuition Assistance to Transgender and Undocumented Immigrant Students | Bill Passed - House (66 - 47) |
April 10, 2019 | AZ | SB 1346 | Authorizes HIV Prevention Education | Bill Passed - House (55 - 5) |
April 9, 2019 | IL | HB 2078 | Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 | Bill Passed - House (79 - 31) |
April 9, 2019 | IL | HB 2078 | Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 | Bill Passed - House (79 - 31) |
April 5, 2019 | AR | HB 1684 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for DACA Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 19) |
April 4, 2019 | KS | SB 16 | Appropriates Additional $90 Million for Public Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 47) |
April 4, 2019 | KS | SB 16 | Appropriates Additional $90 Million for Public Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 47) |
April 2, 2019 | ND | HB 1332 | Authorizes Schools to Develop a Plan for an Armed First Responder | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 15) |
April 2, 2019 | GA | SB 15 | Requires Schools to Perform Certain Threat Assessments | Bill Passed - House (110 - 56) |
April 2, 2019 | IN | SB 373 | Authorizes Academic Credit for Religious Education Courses | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
March 29, 2019 | MD | SB 128 | Authorizes Regulation of School Calendars | Veto Override Passed - House (93 - 43) |
March 28, 2019 | MD | SB 793 | Establishes a University Police Department at Johns Hopkins University | Bill Passed - House (94 - 42) |
March 28, 2019 | IL | HB 2265 | Requires Civics Education | Bill Passed - House (73 - 31) |
March 28, 2019 | IL | HB 2275 | Repeals Section 4.5 of Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act | Bill Passed - House (73 - 35) |
March 28, 2019 | IL | HB 253 | Classifies University Graduate and Research Assistants as "Employees" | Bill Passed - House (72 - 37) |
March 27, 2019 | MD | SB 1030 | Appropriates Funds for Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (114 - 20) |
March 26, 2019 | GA | SB 83 | Authorizes Biblical Classes be Taught in High Schools | Bill Passed - House (122 - 44) |
March 25, 2019 | MO | HB 267 | Authorizes Public Schools to Offer Bible Courses | Bill Passed - House (95 - 52) |
March 25, 2019 | MO | HB 267 | Authorizes Public Schools to Offer Bible Courses | Bill Passed - House (95 - 52) |
March 14, 2019 | KY | SB 162 | Establishes a State Police School Resource Officer Program | Bill Passed - House (77 - 14) |
March 14, 2019 | IA | SF 274 | Amends Free Speech Regulations on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
March 13, 2019 | OK | HB 2336 | Authorizes Handguns on the Premises of Schools | Bill Passed - House (72 - 25) |
March 12, 2019 | SD | HB 1087 | Requires Protections for All Forms of Free Speech at Public Universities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 12) |
March 12, 2019 | KY | HB 254 | Requires Public Universities to Adopt Policies that Protect Freedom of Speech and Expression | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
March 11, 2019 | MS | SB 2770 | Increases Public School Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - House (112 - 2) |
March 7, 2019 | UT | SB 149 | Establishes the Teacher and Student Success Program | Bill Passed - House (61 - 11) |
March 7, 2019 | GA | HB 444 | Limits State Funding for Dual Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (99 - 72) |
March 7, 2019 | GA | HB 444 | Limits State Funding for Dual Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (99 - 72) |
March 6, 2019 | WV | SB 1 | Increases Access to Career Education and Workforce Training | Bill Passed - House (85 - 13) |
March 6, 2019 | SC | H 3759 | Increases Teacher Pay | Bill Passed - House (113 - 4) |
March 6, 2019 | ID | H 209 | Authorizes Warrant-less Arrests for Individuals Responsible for School Threats | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
March 6, 2019 | MO | HB 161 | Prohibits Schools from Enacting Early Start Dates in the Fall | Bill Passed - House (86 - 64) |
March 6, 2019 | SC | H 3759 | Increases Teacher Pay | Bill Passed - House (113 - 4) |
Feb. 28, 2019 | AR | HB 1419 | Requires Public Schools To Allow Enrollment In Individual Classes For Homeschooled Students | Bill Passed - House (55 - 27) |