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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 17, 2009 | MN | Limit of 3 Percent on Tuition Increases | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 33) | |
June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 4048 | 2009 Economic Package | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
June 25, 2009 | NJ | A4141 | Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
Aug. 6, 2009 | NY | A 8903-A | Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8) |
Sept. 22, 2009 | WI | AB 119 | Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
June 1, 2009 | NV | AB 458 | Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account | Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 9) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 2 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
April 21, 2009 | ID | H 262 | Teacher Compensation Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
May 8, 2009 | ID | H 374 | Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
July 13, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15) |
June 3, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
March 6, 2009 | UT | HB 100 | Prison Education and Medical Financing Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
April 27, 2009 | CO | HB 1057 | Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13) |
April 6, 2009 | ND | HB 1171 | Home School Deregulation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
Feb. 18, 2009 | SD | HB 1171 | Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | VA | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
March 11, 2009 | UT | HB 2 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
May 27, 2009 | AZ | HB 2001 | Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
May 13, 2009 | AZ | HB 2028 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
April 16, 2009 | WA | HB 2261 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
April 25, 2009 | WA | HB 2344 | Allowing Tuition Increases | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
April 3, 2009 | GA | HB 243 | Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
May 18, 2009 | OR | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
May 27, 2009 | OR | HB 2599 | Expanding School Bullying Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2) |
June 10, 2009 | OR | HB 2834 | Funding School for Blind | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
Dec. 17, 2009 | OH | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
June 24, 2009 | NC | HB 442 | Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
June 23, 2009 | MI | HB 4441 | 2009-2010 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
Oct. 8, 2009 | MI | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13) |
June 24, 2009 | MI | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
June 15, 2009 | LA | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
June 18, 2009 | LA | HB 531 | Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
June 17, 2009 | LA | HB 689 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
June 22, 2009 | AZ | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
March 10, 2009 | NV | IP 1 | Lodging Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5) |
June 8, 2009 | ME | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14) |
June 4, 2009 | ME | LD 977 | Repealing School District Consolidation | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
April 16, 2009 | MN | Limmer Amdt | Homosexuality in Education | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37) |
June 3, 2009 | NY | S 2020 | SUNY Buffalo Education Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17) |
Nov. 17, 2009 | MA | S 2205 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
Feb. 17, 2009 | SD | SB 106 | School Funding Formula Revision | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
April 6, 2009 | CO | SB 170 | Expanding In-State Tuition Eligibility | Motion Rejected - Senate (16 - 18) |
March 25, 2009 | TX | SB 175 | Capping Automatic College Admissions | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
Sept. 11, 2009 | CA | SB 19 | Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Jan. 14, 2009 | FL | SB 2-A | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
Jan. 30, 2009 | ND | SB 2087 | Secrecy in Public University Hiring | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
May 7, 2009 | TN | SB 2133 | Charter School Access Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
May 26, 2009 | CA | SB 219 | Extending Whistle-Blower Protection to UC Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | ND | SB 2238 | Higher Education Tuition Increase Limits | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 22) |
Feb. 12, 2009 | KS | SB 23 | 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
Jan. 29, 2009 | KS | SB 23 | 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
March 9, 2009 | UT | SB 241 | Instructional Spending Requirements for School Districts | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17) |
Jan. 26, 2009 | MS | SB 2664 | Dual Charter School System | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
Feb. 10, 2009 | KY | SB 3 | Allowing Early High School Graduation | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
Jan. 28, 2009 | OR | SB 338 | Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
Nov. 5, 2009 | WI | SB 371 | Higher Education Student Data System | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
Nov. 5, 2009 | WI | SB 372 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | UT | SB 4 | 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
Feb. 13, 2009 | UT | SB 48 | Amending Requirements for Obtaining Teaching Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
May 6, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
June 19, 2009 | OR | SB 5520 | 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
March 3, 2009 | OR | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
March 3, 2009 | OR | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
March 4, 2009 | UT | SB 61 | Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Extracurricular Activities | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16) |
May 31, 2009 | IL | SB 612 | Raising the Cap on Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10) |
Dec. 3, 2009 | MI | SB 638 | "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
June 30, 2009 | CA | SB 64 | Education Spending Reductions (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
June 30, 2009 | CA | SB 74 | Deferring Education Funding (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
March 4, 2009 | OK | SB 748 | Independent Performance Audit of State Department of Education | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
April 27, 2009 | FL | SB 762 | Allowing Universities to Levy "Tuition Differential" Charges | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
June 27, 2009 | OR | SB 767 | Virtual Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 14) |
Feb. 23, 2009 | HI | SB 777 | Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
May 8, 2009 | FL | SB 788 | Gambling Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
June 30, 2009 | CA | SB 80 | Shifting Redevelopment Agency Funds (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
April 29, 2009 | OK | SB 834 | Increased Local School Board Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
March 10, 2009 | OK | SB 834 | Increased Local School Board Control | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
April 29, 2009 | National | S Con Res 13 | 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43) |
April 6, 2009 | MN | SF 10 | Sharing Services For Schools Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33) |
April 7, 2009 | MN | SF 1328 | 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29) |
April 17, 2009 | MN | SF 2083 | 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | IA | SF 218 | Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
April 17, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
4/17 | Limit of 3 Percent on Tuition Increases | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 33) | |
6/25 | A 4048 | 2009 Economic Package | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
6/25 | A4141 | Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
8/06 | A 8903-A | Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8) |
9/22 | AB 119 | Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
6/01 | AB 458 | Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account | Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 9) |
7/24 | ABX4 2 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
4/21 | H 262 | Teacher Compensation Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
5/08 | H 374 | Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
7/13 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15) |
6/03 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
3/06 | HB 100 | Prison Education and Medical Financing Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
4/27 | HB 1057 | Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13) |
4/06 | HB 1171 | Home School Deregulation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
2/18 | HB 1171 | Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
2/24 | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
3/11 | HB 2 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
5/27 | HB 2001 | Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
5/13 | HB 2028 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
4/16 | HB 2261 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
4/25 | HB 2344 | Allowing Tuition Increases | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
4/03 | HB 243 | Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
5/18 | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
5/27 | HB 2599 | Expanding School Bullying Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2) |
6/10 | HB 2834 | Funding School for Blind | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
12/17 | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
6/24 | HB 442 | Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
6/23 | HB 4441 | 2009-2010 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
10/08 | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13) |
6/24 | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
6/15 | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
6/18 | HB 531 | Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
6/17 | HB 689 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
6/22 | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
3/10 | IP 1 | Lodging Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5) |
6/08 | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14) |
6/04 | LD 977 | Repealing School District Consolidation | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
4/16 | Limmer Amdt | Homosexuality in Education | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37) |
6/03 | S 2020 | SUNY Buffalo Education Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17) |
11/17 | S 2205 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
2/17 | SB 106 | School Funding Formula Revision | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
4/06 | SB 170 | Expanding In-State Tuition Eligibility | Motion Rejected - Senate (16 - 18) |
3/25 | SB 175 | Capping Automatic College Admissions | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
9/11 | SB 19 | Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
1/14 | SB 2-A | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
1/30 | SB 2087 | Secrecy in Public University Hiring | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
5/07 | SB 2133 | Charter School Access Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
5/26 | SB 219 | Extending Whistle-Blower Protection to UC Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
2/09 | SB 2238 | Higher Education Tuition Increase Limits | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 22) |
2/12 | SB 23 | 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
1/29 | SB 23 | 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
3/09 | SB 241 | Instructional Spending Requirements for School Districts | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17) |
1/26 | SB 2664 | Dual Charter School System | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
2/10 | SB 3 | Allowing Early High School Graduation | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
1/28 | SB 338 | Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
11/05 | SB 371 | Higher Education Student Data System | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
11/05 | SB 372 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
2/02 | SB 4 | 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
2/13 | SB 48 | Amending Requirements for Obtaining Teaching Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
5/06 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
6/19 | SB 5520 | 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
3/03 | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
9/08 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
5/14 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
3/03 | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
3/04 | SB 61 | Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Extracurricular Activities | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16) |
5/31 | SB 612 | Raising the Cap on Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10) |
12/03 | SB 638 | "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
6/30 | SB 64 | Education Spending Reductions (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
6/30 | SB 74 | Deferring Education Funding (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
3/04 | SB 748 | Independent Performance Audit of State Department of Education | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
4/27 | SB 762 | Allowing Universities to Levy "Tuition Differential" Charges | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
6/27 | SB 767 | Virtual Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 14) |
2/23 | SB 777 | Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
5/08 | SB 788 | Gambling Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9) |
2/02 | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
6/30 | SB 80 | Shifting Redevelopment Agency Funds (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
2/02 | SB 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
4/29 | SB 834 | Increased Local School Board Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
3/10 | SB 834 | Increased Local School Board Control | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
11/03 | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
4/29 | S Con Res 13 | 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43) |
4/06 | SF 10 | Sharing Services For Schools Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33) |
4/07 | SF 1328 | 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29) |
4/17 | SF 2083 | 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
2/24 | SF 218 | Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
4/17 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |