Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


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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)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/21 HB 49 Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
10/31 SB 354 Increases Pay for Public School Teachers and Personnel Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
10/29 SB 522 Amends the Innovative School District (ISD) Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 16)
10/24 HB 231 Authorizes Pay Raises for UNC Systems and Community College Employees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
10/24 HB 377 Increases State Teacher Pay Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
10/23 SB 26 Repeals the Tax on Feminine Hygiene Products Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
10/23 HB 49 Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
9/19 HB 4242 Establishes K-12 Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
9/10 AB 963 Establishes a Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Program at Public Post-Secondary Schools Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
9/09 AB 1505 Establishes Public Oversight for Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
9/05 AB 197 Requires Schools To Offer A Full-day Kindergarten Program Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
9/04 AB 500 Requires Paid Maternity Leave for California Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
9/03 AB 624 Requires Listing a Sexual Assault Hotline and Reproductive Health Care Telephone Numbers on Student Identification Cards Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
9/03 AB 624 Requires Listing a Sexual Assault Hotline and Reproductive Health Care Telephone Numbers on Student Identification Cards Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
8/30 SB 223 Authorizes Medical Cannabis on K-12 Campuses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
8/12 AB 711 Authorizes High School Document Name Changes Regarding Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
7/24 HB 1 Establishes a State of Emergency for the Kentucky Employees Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
6/27 HB 1615 Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
6/27 HB 79 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/24 HB 206 Authorizes the Creation of Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
6/17 HB 389 Authorizes Alcohol Sales at Public College Sporting Events Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
6/13 A 2371 Prohibits Exemption from Vaccinations Based on Religious Beliefs Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26)
6/12 LD 799 Establishes the Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
6/11 HB 800 Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
6/11 HB 800 Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
6/11 SB 621 Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
6/04 LD 665 Prohibits Restrictions of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
5/31 HB 77 Expands Retirement Benefits for Public School Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/29 HB 2078 Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 13)
5/29 HB 2078 Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 13)
5/29 LD 307 Limits the Number of Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/27 HB 2749 Appropriates Funds for K-12 Education for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
5/23 HB 3606 Authorizes Parental Privacy Rights for Student Data Collection Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
5/23 LD 798 Prohibits Non-Medical Exemptions for Vaccinations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/23 HB 2265 Requires Civics Education Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14)
5/23 HB 2023 Requires Inclusive Education on Certain Classifications of Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 5)
5/22 HB 2191 Expands Reasons for School Absences to Include Mental and Behavioral Health Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
5/22 SB 206 Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
5/21 HB 253 Classifies University Graduate and Research Assistants as "Employees" Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 19)
5/21 LD 513 Limits Enrollment at Virtual Public Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
5/13 HB 3427 Increases Business Taxes to Enhance School Funding Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
5/08 HB 2691 Authorizes Tuition Assistance to Transgender and Undocumented Immigrant Students Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
5/03 HB 19-1032 Amends Sex Education Standards Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/01 HB 939 Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 14)
5/01 HF 2400 Appropriates Funds for Education Finance Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
4/30 LD 944 Prohibits Native American Mascots Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
4/29 SB 19-007 Establishes Standards for Sexual Misconduct Policies at Higher Education Institutions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
4/28 HB 2158 Establishes a Business Tax to Finance a Higher Education Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
4/24 SF 2415 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
4/23 HB 1003 Establishes the Fiscal Year 2019 Public Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)

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