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
March 11, 2021 TN HB 16 Authorizes Teachers to Permanently Remove Students for Misbehavior Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 8, 2021 WA SB 5194 Requires Community and Technical Colleges Establish a Faculty Diversity Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
March 5, 2021 ID S 1046 Authorizes Teaching of an Alternative Curriculum for K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 4, 2021 SC H 3609 Increases Teacher Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0)
March 3, 2021 AZ SB 1456 Requires Schools to Receive Parental Consent When Teaching Sex Education Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
March 2, 2021 MT SB 283 Specifies Response to Guns in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
March 1, 2021 NC SB 37 Requires in Person Learning for K-12 Schools Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 1, 2021 National PN 78-5 Nomination of Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (64 - 33)
March 1, 2021 WV HB 2012 Increases the Number of Public Charter Schools in the State from 3 to 10 Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 1, 2021 NC SB 116 Establishes the North Carolina Back to Work Act Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
March 1, 2021 NC SB 43 Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HB 1909 Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 25, 2021 ID H 68 Establishes Public Safety Guidelines for Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Feb. 25, 2021 ID H 67 Prohibits Public Health Districts from Closing Schools or Programs Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Feb. 23, 2021 IN SB 69 Increases Penalties for School Bus Stop Arm Violations Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
Feb. 23, 2021 MT SB 99 Establishes Parameters for K-12 Sexual Education Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Feb. 22, 2021 CA SB 132 Requires the University of California to Place all Construction Funds Into an Account With the State Controller Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Feb. 22, 2021 CA SB 130 Appropriates Funds for Education Related Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Feb. 19, 2021 NJ S 3033 Establishes the School & Small Business Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
Feb. 18, 2021 MN SF 2 Rescinds the Governor's Ability to Close Schools During a Peacetime Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27)
Feb. 16, 2021 ID S 1045 Expands the Advanced Opportunities Program to Nonpublic School Students Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
Feb. 15, 2021 AZ SB 1452 Expands Empowerment Scholarship Accounts for Public and Private Schools Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 10, 2021 OK SB 239 Increases Regulatory Requirements for Groups Seeking to Launch Public Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
Feb. 9, 2021 IA SF 269 Appropriates Funds for Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 9, 2021 NC SB 37 Requires in Person Learning for K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
Feb. 3, 2021 ND SB 2308 Authorizes Public Schools to Display the 10 Commandments in Classrooms Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
Feb. 2, 2021 NY A 2574 Establishes the State University of New York as an Automatic Voter Registration Location Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 20)
Feb. 2, 2021 IN SB 2 Amends the Definition of What Constitutes "Virtual Instruction" Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
Feb. 1, 2021 VA SB 1387 Expands Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 28, 2021 IA SF 160 Requires Schools Provide a 100 Percent In-Person Learning Option Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 28, 2021 IA SF 159 Authorizes Publicly Funded School Voucher Credits for Students to Attend Private Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
Jan. 28, 2021 IA SF 159 Authorizes Publicly Funded School Voucher Credits for Students to Attend Private Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
Jan. 28, 2021 IA SF 160 Requires Schools Provide a 100 Percent In-Person Learning Option Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 27, 2021 WA SB 5044 Requires Anti-Racism and Equity Training in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Jan. 21, 2021 CA SB 86 Appropriates $6.5 Billion for In Person Learning Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 1)
Jan. 21, 2021 TN SB 7001 Rescinds Teacher Accountability Measures Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
Jan. 11, 2021 IL HB 2170 Amends Public School Curriculum to Emphasize Black and Minority Group Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 18)
Jan. 11, 2021 IL HB 2275 Repeals Section 4.5 of Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
Jan. 9, 2021 KY HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/11 HB 16 Authorizes Teachers to Permanently Remove Students for Misbehavior Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/08 SB 5194 Requires Community and Technical Colleges Establish a Faculty Diversity Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
3/05 S 1046 Authorizes Teaching of an Alternative Curriculum for K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/04 H 3609 Increases Teacher Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0)
3/03 SB 1456 Requires Schools to Receive Parental Consent When Teaching Sex Education Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
3/02 SB 283 Specifies Response to Guns in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
3/01 SB 37 Requires in Person Learning for K-12 Schools Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/01 PN 78-5 Nomination of Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (64 - 33)
3/01 HB 2012 Increases the Number of Public Charter Schools in the State from 3 to 10 Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/01 SB 116 Establishes the North Carolina Back to Work Act Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
3/01 SB 43 Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
2/27 HB 1909 Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
2/25 H 68 Establishes Public Safety Guidelines for Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
2/25 H 67 Prohibits Public Health Districts from Closing Schools or Programs Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
2/23 SB 69 Increases Penalties for School Bus Stop Arm Violations Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
2/23 SB 99 Establishes Parameters for K-12 Sexual Education Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
2/22 SB 132 Requires the University of California to Place all Construction Funds Into an Account With the State Controller Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
2/22 SB 130 Appropriates Funds for Education Related Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
2/19 S 3033 Establishes the School & Small Business Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
2/18 SF 2 Rescinds the Governor's Ability to Close Schools During a Peacetime Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27)
2/16 S 1045 Expands the Advanced Opportunities Program to Nonpublic School Students Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
2/15 SB 1452 Expands Empowerment Scholarship Accounts for Public and Private Schools Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/10 SB 239 Increases Regulatory Requirements for Groups Seeking to Launch Public Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
2/09 SF 269 Appropriates Funds for Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/09 SB 37 Requires in Person Learning for K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
2/03 SB 2308 Authorizes Public Schools to Display the 10 Commandments in Classrooms Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
2/02 A 2574 Establishes the State University of New York as an Automatic Voter Registration Location Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 20)
2/02 SB 2 Amends the Definition of What Constitutes "Virtual Instruction" Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
2/01 SB 1387 Expands Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/28 SF 160 Requires Schools Provide a 100 Percent In-Person Learning Option Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/28 SF 159 Authorizes Publicly Funded School Voucher Credits for Students to Attend Private Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
1/28 SF 159 Authorizes Publicly Funded School Voucher Credits for Students to Attend Private Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
1/28 SF 160 Requires Schools Provide a 100 Percent In-Person Learning Option Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/27 SB 5044 Requires Anti-Racism and Equity Training in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
1/21 SB 86 Appropriates $6.5 Billion for In Person Learning Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 1)
1/21 SB 7001 Rescinds Teacher Accountability Measures Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
1/11 HB 2170 Amends Public School Curriculum to Emphasize Black and Minority Group Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 18)
1/11 HB 2275 Repeals Section 4.5 of Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
1/09 HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)

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