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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 19, 2021 ME LD 52 Authorizes Additional Educational Policies to be Subjects of Collective Bargaining Negotiations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
May 19, 2021 MI HB 4407 Appropriates Funding for K-12 School Aid and Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 19, 2021 MI HB 4407 Appropriates Funding for K-12 School Aid and Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 19, 2021 NE LB 2 Reduces the Valuation of Agricultural Land to Decrease Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 6)
May 18, 2021 RI S 89 Prohibits the Use of a School District's Listserv to Distribute Any Political Advertisements Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
May 13, 2021 NH HB 388 Authorizes School Transfers Due to Educational Hardship "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
May 13, 2021 DE SB 78 Requires Any School Board Member Charged with a Violent Felony to be Suspended Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1)
May 12, 2021 MO HB 297 Repeals the Cap on Tuition Increases for Universities and Colleges Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
May 11, 2021 MO HB 557 Increases Oversight Over Unlicensed Religious Boarding Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
May 6, 2021 AL HB 246 Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Yoga Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
May 5, 2021 TN SB 623 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in K-12 Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 7)
May 4, 2021 NC SB 671 Authorizes the Use of Virtual Schooling in Case of Emergencies (29 - 20)
May 4, 2021 OR SB 236 Prohibits Suspensions and Expulsions at Private Daycares and Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
April 30, 2021 VT S 100 Establishes Universal School Lunch Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
April 29, 2021 ND HB 1013 Appropriates Funds for K-12 Education Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
April 29, 2021 TN HB 1182 Prohibits Transgender Students from Using Bathroom Facilities that do Not Match their Birth Sex Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 28, 2021 IA HF 802 Limits the Types of Diversity Training Schools and Governments May Offer Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
April 28, 2021 MO HB 271 Limits the Authority of Local Health Officials to Close Organizations During a Public Health Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 28, 2021 IA HF 813 Establishes Plan to Create Charter Schools in the State Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
April 27, 2021 MO SB 323 Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
April 27, 2021 DE SB 12 Expands the Student Excellence Equals Degree Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
April 26, 2021 ND SB 2030 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education on Condition Schools Do Not Sponsor, Promote, or Partner with Pro-Choice Organizations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 11)
April 26, 2021 ID H 377 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
April 26, 2021 ID H 377 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
April 22, 2021 ND HB 1298 Requires Transgender Athletes to Play Sports on Teams Made for Their Biological Sex Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 19)
April 22, 2021 IN SB 414 Requires Universities to Survey Students About the Climate for Free Speech on Campus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 7)
April 22, 2021 WA HB 1365 Requires Development and Administration of a Technology Grant Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
April 22, 2021 TX SB 1385 Authorized College Athletes to be Paid for the Use of their Likeness Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
April 22, 2021 AR SB 627 Prohibits Certain Teachings Regarding Race and Sex Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 21, 2021 TN HB 1233 Authorizes Refusal to Share Bathrooms and Locker Rooms with Transgender Persons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
April 19, 2021 NC HB 243 Authorizes the University of North Carolina System to Cut Salaries and Layoff Employees Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
April 19, 2021 AR HB 1592 Prohibits Charter Schools from Engaging in Transactions with Entities that Provide Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
April 15, 2021 AL HB 391 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Playing on Sports Teams that do not Match their Birth Sex Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
April 15, 2021 TX SB 29 Prohibits Transgender Student's from Playing on Sports Teams That do Not Match their Birth Sex Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
April 14, 2021 WI AB 241 Requires Governor to Allocate Federal Money to State Public Debt and Transportation Revenue Bonds Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
April 13, 2021 AL SB 94 Extends the Deadline for 3rd Graders to Reach Their Required Reading Level Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
April 12, 2021 ID S 1193 Appropriates $6 Million for Early Childhood Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 9, 2021 KS SB 55 Prohibits Transgender Student Athletes from Participating on Sports Teams that do Not Match their Birth Sex Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 11)
April 8, 2021 KS HB 2089 Restructures Firearm Safety Education Training Programs for School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
April 8, 2021 FL SB 86 Establishes a Higher Education Scholarship for Students Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
April 8, 2021 SC S 685 Authorizes College Athletes to be Paid for the Use of their Likeness Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 21)
April 7, 2021 FL HB 233 Requires Florida's Public Universities to Conduct Assessments on Intellectual Freedom Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
April 5, 2021 TN SB 1229 Requires Schools to Notify Parents When Teaching About Sexual or Gender Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
April 3, 2021 WA HB 1214 Establishes the Category of Safety and Security Staff for K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
March 25, 2021 IN HB 1040 Requires Schools to Provide Parents with Information on EKGs, or Electrocardiograms Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
March 25, 2021 OR SB 554 Authorizes Local Governments and School Districts to Prohibit Guns on Capital and State Property Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 7)
March 17, 2021 ID S 1179 Appropriates Funds for the Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 16, 2021 KY HB 258 Requires Teachers to Pay More Toward Their Retirement and Work Longer Before They Can Earn Full Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
March 16, 2021 KY HB 563 Establishes a 25 Million Dollar Scholarship through Tax Credits for Private Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
March 16, 2021 WI SB 39 Requires School Boards to Allow Students in Charter Schools to Participate in Extracurricular Activities Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/19 LD 52 Authorizes Additional Educational Policies to be Subjects of Collective Bargaining Negotiations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
5/19 HB 4407 Appropriates Funding for K-12 School Aid and Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/19 HB 4407 Appropriates Funding for K-12 School Aid and Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/19 LB 2 Reduces the Valuation of Agricultural Land to Decrease Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 6)
5/18 S 89 Prohibits the Use of a School District's Listserv to Distribute Any Political Advertisements Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
5/13 HB 388 Authorizes School Transfers Due to Educational Hardship "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
5/13 SB 78 Requires Any School Board Member Charged with a Violent Felony to be Suspended Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1)
5/12 HB 297 Repeals the Cap on Tuition Increases for Universities and Colleges Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
5/11 HB 557 Increases Oversight Over Unlicensed Religious Boarding Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
5/06 HB 246 Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Yoga Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
5/05 SB 623 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in K-12 Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 7)
5/04 SB 671 Authorizes the Use of Virtual Schooling in Case of Emergencies (29 - 20)
5/04 SB 236 Prohibits Suspensions and Expulsions at Private Daycares and Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
4/30 S 100 Establishes Universal School Lunch Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
4/29 HB 1013 Appropriates Funds for K-12 Education Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
4/29 HB 1182 Prohibits Transgender Students from Using Bathroom Facilities that do Not Match their Birth Sex Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/28 HF 802 Limits the Types of Diversity Training Schools and Governments May Offer Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
4/28 HB 271 Limits the Authority of Local Health Officials to Close Organizations During a Public Health Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/28 HF 813 Establishes Plan to Create Charter Schools in the State Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
4/27 SB 323 Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
4/27 SB 12 Expands the Student Excellence Equals Degree Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
4/26 SB 2030 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education on Condition Schools Do Not Sponsor, Promote, or Partner with Pro-Choice Organizations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 11)
4/26 H 377 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
4/26 H 377 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
4/22 HB 1298 Requires Transgender Athletes to Play Sports on Teams Made for Their Biological Sex Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 19)
4/22 SB 414 Requires Universities to Survey Students About the Climate for Free Speech on Campus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 7)
4/22 HB 1365 Requires Development and Administration of a Technology Grant Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
4/22 SB 1385 Authorized College Athletes to be Paid for the Use of their Likeness Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
4/22 SB 627 Prohibits Certain Teachings Regarding Race and Sex Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/21 HB 1233 Authorizes Refusal to Share Bathrooms and Locker Rooms with Transgender Persons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/19 HB 243 Authorizes the University of North Carolina System to Cut Salaries and Layoff Employees Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
4/19 HB 1592 Prohibits Charter Schools from Engaging in Transactions with Entities that Provide Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
4/15 HB 391 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Playing on Sports Teams that do not Match their Birth Sex Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
4/15 SB 29 Prohibits Transgender Student's from Playing on Sports Teams That do Not Match their Birth Sex Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
4/14 AB 241 Requires Governor to Allocate Federal Money to State Public Debt and Transportation Revenue Bonds Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
4/13 SB 94 Extends the Deadline for 3rd Graders to Reach Their Required Reading Level Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
4/12 S 1193 Appropriates $6 Million for Early Childhood Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/09 SB 55 Prohibits Transgender Student Athletes from Participating on Sports Teams that do Not Match their Birth Sex Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 11)
4/08 HB 2089 Restructures Firearm Safety Education Training Programs for School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
4/08 SB 86 Establishes a Higher Education Scholarship for Students Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
4/08 S 685 Authorizes College Athletes to be Paid for the Use of their Likeness Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 21)
4/07 HB 233 Requires Florida's Public Universities to Conduct Assessments on Intellectual Freedom Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
4/05 SB 1229 Requires Schools to Notify Parents When Teaching About Sexual or Gender Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
4/03 HB 1214 Establishes the Category of Safety and Security Staff for K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
3/25 HB 1040 Requires Schools to Provide Parents with Information on EKGs, or Electrocardiograms Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
3/25 SB 554 Authorizes Local Governments and School Districts to Prohibit Guns on Capital and State Property Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 7)
3/17 S 1179 Appropriates Funds for the Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/16 HB 258 Requires Teachers to Pay More Toward Their Retirement and Work Longer Before They Can Earn Full Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
3/16 HB 563 Establishes a 25 Million Dollar Scholarship through Tax Credits for Private Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
3/16 SB 39 Requires School Boards to Allow Students in Charter Schools to Participate in Extracurricular Activities Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)

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