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
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Jan. 22, 2008 SD SB 26 State Regulation of Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 30, 2008 KY SB 112 Restricting Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
Jan. 31, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
Jan. 22, 2008 IN Amnd. 72 School Construction Exemption Amendment Adopted - House (49 - 44)
Feb. 7, 2008 National HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions Bill Passed - House (354 - 58)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
Jan. 31, 2008 GA HB 881 Georgia Charter Schools Commission Bill Passed - House (119 - 48)
Feb. 4, 2008 SD HB 1261 Firearm Possession on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (63 - 3)
Jan. 31, 2008 MS HB 513 Funding for K-12 Education and Related Activities Bill Passed - House (95 - 26)
Feb. 5, 2008 UT SB 35 Salary Supplement for Math and Science Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7)
Feb. 5, 2008 UT HB 85 Teacher Home Loan Program Bill Passed - House (62 - 7)
Feb. 7, 2008 NM HB 241 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - House (52 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2008 NM HB 180 Healthy Food Initiatives Board Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Feb. 14, 2008 SD HB 1124 Teacher Compensation and Performance Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
Feb. 12, 2008 MI SB 415 HPV Information for Schools Bill Passed - House (94 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2008 MI HB 5322 HPV Information for Schools Bill Passed - House (90 - 17)
Feb. 7, 2008 MA H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Feb. 6, 2008 MA H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - House (135 - 19)
Feb. 12, 2008 UT HB 241 Restricting In-State Tuition Eligibility Bill Passed - House (40 - 35)
Feb. 18, 2008 UT HB 295 Policies for Electronic Devices at School Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
Feb. 21, 2008 NH CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
May 14, 2008 NH CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Failed - House (97 - 238)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
Feb. 20, 2008 KY HB 396 HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
March 11, 2008 CO SB 73 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - House (60 - 4)
Feb. 20, 2008 CO SB 73 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Jan. 30, 2008 CA SB 908 Global Warming Education in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
March 5, 2008 GA SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62)
Feb. 27, 2008 MO HB 1066 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
April 16, 2008 MO HB 1066 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - House (85 - 63)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 6)
Feb. 27, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Feb. 25, 2008 WV HB 4023 Linking Driving Privileges with Student Performance Bill Passed - House (80 - 15)
March 27, 2008 CO HB 1186 Amending Public School Performance Ratings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 18, 2008 CO HB 1186 Amending Public School Performance Ratings Bill Passed - House (53 - 11)
Feb. 26, 2008 ID H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
April 8, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
March 3, 2008 UT SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
Feb. 28, 2008 UT SB 162 State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs Bill Passed - House (38 - 33)
April 14, 2008 IA SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - House (97 - 3)
Feb. 26, 2008 IA SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
March 3, 2008 UT HB 473 Campus Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - House (60 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 870 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Feb. 29, 2008 GA SB 506 Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
Feb. 29, 2008 ID S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
April 1, 2008 CO SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
Feb. 28, 2008 CO SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
March 4, 2008 UT SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 5, 2008 UT HB 15 Sexually Transmitted Disease Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
Feb. 28, 2008 KS HB 2605 Changing School Finance Formula Bill Failed - House (62 - 63)
March 4, 2008 KY HB 186 Dental Health Certificate Requirement for School Enrollment Bill Passed - House (91 - 4)
Feb. 29, 2008 KS HB 2870 Employment Incentive for Teachers Bill Failed - House (59 - 63)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 67 Business Education Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
March 3, 2008 UT AM 1 Mandating the Concealment of Firearms on Campus Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 29)
March 11, 2008 WI AB 482 Prohibiting Teacher Residency Requirements Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN HB 1210 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
Feb. 27, 2008 IN HB 1210 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
March 6, 2008 MO SB 778 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
Feb. 27, 2008 KS McKinney Amnd. A to HB 2760 Per Student Public School Funding Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 70)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21)
Feb. 13, 2008 TN SB 3419 Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
March 13, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 27, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 21, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (93 - 5)
April 1, 2008 GA HB 1133 Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20)
March 11, 2008 GA HB 1133 Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations Bill Passed - House (92 - 73)
March 6, 2008 NH Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
March 19, 2008 AZ HB 2230 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - House (48 - 11)
March 4, 2008 IL HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
March 12, 2008 OK HB 2628 Parental Consent for Sex Education Bill Failed - House (50 - 51)
May 14, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46)
May 13, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
March 25, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
March 12, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
April 24, 2008 AZ HB 2711 State Control of Mismanaged Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 6)
April 23, 2008 AZ HB 2711 State Control of Mismanaged Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
March 12, 2008 AZ HB 2711 State Control of Mismanaged Schools Bill Passed - House (52 - 7)
May 7, 2008 NH SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (184 - 141)
March 20, 2008 NH SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
April 7, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
April 2, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Rejected - House (97 - 46)
March 20, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8)
April 4, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 47)
April 7, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
March 24, 2008 IA HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
March 19, 2008 IA HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
March 31, 2008 ME LD 2289 2008-2009 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55)
March 31, 2008 ME LD 2289 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 27, 2008 MO HB 2002 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget Bill Passed - House (90 - 66)
March 26, 2008 MD SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/07 A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
1/07 A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
1/22 SB 26 State Regulation of Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/30 SB 112 Restricting Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
1/31 H 4400 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
1/22 Amnd. 72 School Construction Exemption Amendment Adopted - House (49 - 44)
2/07 HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions Bill Passed - House (354 - 58)
2/04 SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
1/31 HB 881 Georgia Charter Schools Commission Bill Passed - House (119 - 48)
2/04 HB 1261 Firearm Possession on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (63 - 3)
1/31 HB 513 Funding for K-12 Education and Related Activities Bill Passed - House (95 - 26)
2/05 SB 35 Salary Supplement for Math and Science Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7)
2/05 HB 85 Teacher Home Loan Program Bill Passed - House (62 - 7)
2/07 HB 241 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - House (52 - 16)
2/11 HB 180 Healthy Food Initiatives Board Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
2/14 HB 1124 Teacher Compensation and Performance Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
2/12 SB 415 HPV Information for Schools Bill Passed - House (94 - 12)
2/12 HB 5322 HPV Information for Schools Bill Passed - House (90 - 17)
2/07 H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
2/06 H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - House (135 - 19)
2/12 HB 241 Restricting In-State Tuition Eligibility Bill Passed - House (40 - 35)
2/18 HB 295 Policies for Electronic Devices at School Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
2/21 CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
5/14 CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Failed - House (97 - 238)
2/18 SB 6305 Use of Federal Sex Education Grants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
2/19 SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
2/20 HB 396 HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
3/11 SB 73 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - House (60 - 4)
2/20 SB 73 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
1/30 SB 908 Global Warming Education in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
3/05 SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62)
2/27 HB 1066 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
4/16 HB 1066 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - House (85 - 63)
2/13 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 6)
2/27 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
2/25 HB 4023 Linking Driving Privileges with Student Performance Bill Passed - House (80 - 15)
3/27 HB 1186 Amending Public School Performance Ratings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/18 HB 1186 Amending Public School Performance Ratings Bill Passed - House (53 - 11)
2/26 H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
4/08 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/27 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
3/03 SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
2/28 SB 162 State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs Bill Passed - House (38 - 33)
4/14 SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - House (97 - 3)
2/26 SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
3/03 HB 473 Campus Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - House (60 - 11)
2/28 AB 870 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
2/29 SB 506 Mandatory School Physical Fitness Testing Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
2/29 S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
4/01 SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
2/28 SB 129 Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
3/04 SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/05 HB 15 Sexually Transmitted Disease Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17)
3/05 AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
2/28 HB 2605 Changing School Finance Formula Bill Failed - House (62 - 63)
3/04 HB 186 Dental Health Certificate Requirement for School Enrollment Bill Passed - House (91 - 4)
2/29 HB 2870 Employment Incentive for Teachers Bill Failed - House (59 - 63)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
3/05 AB 67 Business Education Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
3/03 AM 1 Mandating the Concealment of Firearms on Campus Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 29)
3/11 AB 482 Prohibiting Teacher Residency Requirements Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
1/29 HB 1210 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
2/27 HB 1210 Teacher Certification Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
3/06 SB 778 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
2/27 McKinney Amnd. A to HB 2760 Per Student Public School Funding Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 70)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21)
2/13 SB 3419 Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
3/13 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
2/27 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/21 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (93 - 5)
4/01 HB 1133 Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20)
3/11 HB 1133 Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations Bill Passed - House (92 - 73)
3/06 Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
3/19 HB 2230 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - House (48 - 11)
3/04 HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
3/12 HB 2628 Parental Consent for Sex Education Bill Failed - House (50 - 51)
5/14 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46)
5/13 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
3/25 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
3/12 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
4/24 HB 2711 State Control of Mismanaged Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 6)
4/23 HB 2711 State Control of Mismanaged Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
3/12 HB 2711 State Control of Mismanaged Schools Bill Passed - House (52 - 7)
5/07 SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (184 - 141)
3/20 SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
4/07 LD 1932 School Consolidation Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
4/02 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Rejected - House (97 - 46)
3/20 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8)
4/04 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 47)
4/07 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
3/24 HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
3/19 HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
3/31 LD 2289 2008-2009 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55)
3/31 LD 2289 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/27 HB 2002 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget Bill Passed - House (90 - 66)
3/26 SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)

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