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. 21, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
Oct. 31, 2019 | NC | SB 354 | Increases Pay for Public School Teachers and Personnel | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21) |
Oct. 29, 2019 | NC | SB 522 | Amends the Innovative School District (ISD) Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 16) |
Oct. 24, 2019 | NC | HB 231 | Authorizes Pay Raises for UNC Systems and Community College Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
Oct. 24, 2019 | NC | HB 377 | Increases State Teacher Pay | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
Oct. 23, 2019 | OH | SB 26 | Repeals the Tax on Feminine Hygiene Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
Oct. 23, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
Sept. 19, 2019 | MI | HB 4242 | Establishes K-12 Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 963 | Establishes a Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Program at Public Post-Secondary Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1505 | Establishes Public Oversight for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 197 | Requires Schools To Offer A Full-day Kindergarten Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 500 | Requires Paid Maternity Leave for California Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
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) |
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) |
Aug. 30, 2019 | CA | SB 223 | Authorizes Medical Cannabis on K-12 Campuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 711 | Authorizes High School Document Name Changes Regarding Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0) |
July 24, 2019 | KY | HB 1 | Establishes a State of Emergency for the Kentucky Employees Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
June 27, 2019 | PA | HB 1615 | Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
June 27, 2019 | DE | HB 79 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
June 24, 2019 | WV | HB 206 | Authorizes the Creation of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
June 17, 2019 | NC | HB 389 | Authorizes Alcohol Sales at Public College Sporting Events | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
June 13, 2019 | NY | A 2371 | Prohibits Exemption from Vaccinations Based on Religious Beliefs | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
June 12, 2019 | ME | LD 799 | Establishes the Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
June 11, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
June 11, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
June 11, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
June 4, 2019 | ME | LD 665 | Prohibits Restrictions of Free Speech on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
May 31, 2019 | AL | HB 77 | Expands Retirement Benefits for Public School Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 2078 | Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 13) |
May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 2078 | Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 13) |
May 29, 2019 | ME | LD 307 | Limits the Number of Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
May 27, 2019 | AZ | HB 2749 | Appropriates Funds for K-12 Education for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
May 23, 2019 | IL | HB 3606 | Authorizes Parental Privacy Rights for Student Data Collection | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
May 23, 2019 | ME | LD 798 | Prohibits Non-Medical Exemptions for Vaccinations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
May 23, 2019 | IL | HB 2265 | Requires Civics Education | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14) |
May 23, 2019 | OR | HB 2023 | Requires Inclusive Education on Certain Classifications of Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 5) |
May 22, 2019 | OR | HB 2191 | Expands Reasons for School Absences to Include Mental and Behavioral Health | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
May 22, 2019 | CA | SB 206 | Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 253 | Classifies University Graduate and Research Assistants as "Employees" | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 19) |
May 21, 2019 | ME | LD 513 | Limits Enrollment at Virtual Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
May 13, 2019 | OR | HB 3427 | Increases Business Taxes to Enhance School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
May 8, 2019 | IL | HB 2691 | Authorizes Tuition Assistance to Transgender and Undocumented Immigrant Students | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1032 | Amends Sex Education Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
May 1, 2019 | TN | HB 939 | Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 14) |
May 1, 2019 | MN | HF 2400 | Appropriates Funds for Education Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30) |
April 30, 2019 | ME | LD 944 | Prohibits Native American Mascots | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
April 29, 2019 | CO | SB 19-007 | Establishes Standards for Sexual Misconduct Policies at Higher Education Institutions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
April 28, 2019 | WA | HB 2158 | Establishes a Business Tax to Finance a Higher Education Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
April 24, 2019 | MN | SF 2415 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 29) |
April 23, 2019 | IN | HB 1003 | Establishes the Fiscal Year 2019 Public Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
April 23, 2019 | FL | SB 7030 | Authorizes Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
April 22, 2019 | IA | SF 188 | Authorizes Stun Guns on Campuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
April 17, 2019 | OR | SB 859 | Exempts Graduate Students Who Qualify for Tuition Equity From Paying Nonresident Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
April 16, 2019 | IN | HB 1253 | Authorizes Firearm Training for Teachers and School Staff | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
April 16, 2019 | AL | SB 140 | Amends Sex Education Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
April 11, 2019 | AZ | SB 1346 | Authorizes HIV Prevention Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | SB 10 | Increases Teacher Salaries to $40,000 | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | SB 2075 | Requires 5-Year-Olds to Attend Kindergarten | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
April 10, 2019 | IL | SB 1970 | Authorizes Student Absences for Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
April 10, 2019 | IL | SB 1970 | Authorizes Student Absences for Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
April 3, 2019 | AR | HB 1684 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for DACA Students | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
March 31, 2019 | NY | A 2006 | Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
March 29, 2019 | ND | HB 1346 | Amends State K-12 School Year Calendar | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
March 29, 2019 | ND | HB 1332 | Authorizes Schools to Develop a Plan for an Armed First Responder | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
March 28, 2019 | MD | SB 128 | Authorizes Regulation of School Calendars | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
March 28, 2019 | KY | HB 11 | Prohibits Tobacco Products from Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
March 26, 2019 | GA | HB 83 | Requires Recess for Students in Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
March 21, 2019 | AL | SB 119 | Repeals Common Core | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
March 21, 2019 | AL | SB 119 | Repeals Common Core | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
March 12, 2019 | OR | SB 664 | Requires School Districts to Teach About the Holocaust and Genocide | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
March 12, 2019 | OR | SB 664 | Requires School Districts to Teach About the Holocaust and Genocide | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
March 11, 2019 | IA | SF 274 | Amends Free Speech Regulations on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
Feb. 27, 2019 | WA | SB 5395 | Establishes K-12 Sexual Health Education Programs in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
Feb. 27, 2019 | WA | SB 5395 | Establishes K-12 Sexual Health Education Programs in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
Feb. 26, 2019 | NJ | S 692 | Prohibits the Department of Education from Establishing Maximum Salaries for Superintendents | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
Feb. 26, 2019 | NJ | S 692 | Prohibits the Department of Education from Establishing Maximum Salaries for Superintendents | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 3381 | Authorizes Graduation Proficiency Tests to High School | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 3381 | Authorizes Graduation Proficiency Tests to High School | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 3039 | Prohibits Financial Aid For Students Convicted Of Hazing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
Feb. 20, 2019 | AZ | SB 1217 | Amends Eligibility For School Tuition Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
Feb. 12, 2019 | MD | SB 128 | Authorizes Regulation of School Calendars | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
Feb. 4, 2019 | WV | SB 451 | Amends Certain Education Laws and Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
Feb. 4, 2019 | VA | SB 1502 | Requires School Boards to Offer Classes on the Bible | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 101 | Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
Jan. 24, 2019 | IN | SB 132 | Requires Citizenship Test Prior to High School Graduation | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
Jan. 14, 2019 | NY | S 1250 | Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20) |