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
Dec. 8, 2010 National HR 5281 DREAM Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198)
Nov. 17, 2010 PA HB 101 Education Law Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
Nov. 15, 2010 PA HB 101 Education Law Amendments Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24)
Nov. 15, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31)
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Sept. 15, 2010 MI SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5)
Sept. 15, 2010 MI SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49)
Sept. 8, 2010 MI HB 6086 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Bill Passed - House (51 - 18)
Aug. 30, 2010 CA SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
Aug. 27, 2010 CA SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Bill Passed - House (52 - 22)
Aug. 25, 2010 CA SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Aug. 25, 2010 MI HB 6086 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (57 - 47)
Aug. 23, 2010 CA SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Bill Passed - House (48 - 28)
Aug. 10, 2010 National HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (247 - 161)
Aug. 5, 2010 National HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty Bill Passed - House (41 - 36)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
June 23, 2010 PA HB 704 Special Education Funding Bill Passed - House (173 - 25)
June 21, 2010 NY A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
June 20, 2010 LA HB 519 Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19)
June 20, 2010 LA HB 1171 Standards for Colleges and Universities Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23)
June 18, 2010 LA SB 584 Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority Bill Passed - House (75 - 23)
June 18, 2010 LA HB 1171 Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 18, 2010 NY A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - House (79 - 52)
June 16, 2010 LA HB 303 Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13)
June 16, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - House (192 - 6)
June 14, 2010 LA HB 303 Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 10, 2010 RI H 8094 Education Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 10)
June 10, 2010 RI H 8094 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
June 3, 2010 CA AB 2047 Expanding Authorized University Admission Considerations Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 28)
June 2, 2010 CA SB 969 College Tuition Prices for Students Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
June 2, 2010 OH SB 210 Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools Bill Passed - House (77 - 21)
May 28, 2010 NY A 11310 Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 14)
May 28, 2010 NY A 11310 Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (93 - 42)
May 27, 2010 NC SB 704 School Change Models Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
May 27, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23)
May 27, 2010 CA SB 1255 Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 26, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 26, 2010 NC SB 704 School Change Models Bill Passed - House (70 - 43)
May 26, 2010 LA Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
May 18, 2010 OH SB 210 Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
May 13, 2010 LA HB 1368 Exempts Local School Districts from Various Rules and Regulations Bill Passed - House (68 - 20)
May 12, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
May 12, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
May 10, 2010 LA HB 942 School Board and Superintendent Contracts Bill Passed - House (76 - 16)
May 10, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - House (68 - 26)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 642 Public University Borrowing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 642 Public University Borrowing Bill Passed - House (87 - 28)
May 5, 2010 CT SB 438 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
May 5, 2010 CT SB 438 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (106 - 38)
May 4, 2010 CT HB 5423 Classroom Experiments and Dissections on Animals Bill Passed - House (81 - 67)
May 3, 2010 NY S 7678 Amending Charter School Cap Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 15)
April 30, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 30, 2010 CT HB 5033 Partial Refund of Sales Tax Imposed on the Sale of School Buses with Seat Belts Bill Passed - House (125 - 18)
April 29, 2010 AZ HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (32 - 26)
April 28, 2010 MO HB 2003 Higher Education Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (115 - 34)
April 28, 2010 HI HB 2377 Board of Education Selection Advisory Council Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 2)
April 28, 2010 MO HB 2002 2010-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6)
April 28, 2010 HI HB 2377 Board of Education Selection Advisory Council Conference Report Adopted - House (40 - 11)
April 28, 2010 MO HB 2002 2010-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 64)
April 28, 2010 MN SF 2716 Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15)
April 28, 2010 AZ HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 27, 2010 HI HB 2376 Requiring Board of Education Members be Appointed Conference Report Adopted - House (44 - 7)
April 27, 2010 DE HB 347 Raising the Reporting Age for Misdemeanors by Students Bill Passed - House (22 - 9)
April 27, 2010 LA HB 251 Superintendent of Education Qualifications Bill Passed - House (75 - 16)
April 22, 2010 WI SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
April 21, 2010 AL SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 7)
April 21, 2010 AL SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 3)
April 21, 2010 AL HB 105 Required Physical Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 7)
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 18 Reducing Funding for Public Media Amendment Rejected - House (43 - 52)
April 20, 2010 MO SB 943 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/08 HR 5281 DREAM Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198)
11/17 HB 101 Education Law Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
11/15 HB 101 Education Law Amendments Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24)
11/15 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31)
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
9/15 SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5)
9/15 SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49)
9/08 HB 6086 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/31 SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/31 SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
8/31 SB 1381 Increasing Age Requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade Bill Passed - House (51 - 18)
8/30 SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
8/27 SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
8/26 SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Bill Passed - House (52 - 22)
8/25 SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
8/25 HB 6086 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (57 - 47)
8/23 SB 970 College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations Bill Passed - House (48 - 28)
8/10 HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (247 - 161)
8/05 HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
6/28 S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty Bill Passed - House (41 - 36)
6/28 S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
6/23 HB 704 Special Education Funding Bill Passed - House (173 - 25)
6/21 A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
6/20 HB 519 Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19)
6/20 HB 1171 Standards for Colleges and Universities Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23)
6/18 SB 584 Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority Bill Passed - House (75 - 23)
6/18 HB 1171 Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/18 A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - House (79 - 52)
6/16 HB 303 Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13)
6/16 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - House (192 - 6)
6/14 HB 303 Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/10 H 8094 Education Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 10)
6/10 H 8094 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
6/03 AB 2047 Expanding Authorized University Admission Considerations Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 28)
6/02 SB 969 College Tuition Prices for Students Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
6/02 SB 210 Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools Bill Passed - House (77 - 21)
5/28 A 11310 Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 14)
5/28 A 11310 Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (93 - 42)
5/27 SB 704 School Change Models Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
5/27 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23)
5/27 SB 1255 Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/26 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/26 SB 704 School Change Models Bill Passed - House (70 - 43)
5/26 Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
5/18 SB 210 Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
5/13 HB 1368 Exempts Local School Districts from Various Rules and Regulations Bill Passed - House (68 - 20)
5/12 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
5/12 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
5/10 HB 942 School Board and Superintendent Contracts Bill Passed - House (76 - 16)
5/10 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - House (68 - 26)
5/06 SB 642 Public University Borrowing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
5/06 SB 642 Public University Borrowing Bill Passed - House (87 - 28)
5/05 SB 438 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
5/05 SB 438 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (106 - 38)
5/04 HB 5423 Classroom Experiments and Dissections on Animals Bill Passed - House (81 - 67)
5/03 S 7678 Amending Charter School Cap Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 15)
4/30 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/30 HB 5033 Partial Refund of Sales Tax Imposed on the Sale of School Buses with Seat Belts Bill Passed - House (125 - 18)
4/29 HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (32 - 26)
4/28 HB 2003 Higher Education Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (115 - 34)
4/28 HB 2377 Board of Education Selection Advisory Council Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 2)
4/28 HB 2002 2010-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6)
4/28 HB 2377 Board of Education Selection Advisory Council Conference Report Adopted - House (40 - 11)
4/28 HB 2002 2010-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 64)
4/28 SF 2716 Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15)
4/28 HB 2281 Ethnic Studies Ban Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/27 HB 2376 Requiring Board of Education Members be Appointed Conference Report Adopted - House (44 - 7)
4/27 HB 347 Raising the Reporting Age for Misdemeanors by Students Bill Passed - House (22 - 9)
4/27 HB 251 Superintendent of Education Qualifications Bill Passed - House (75 - 16)
4/22 SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
4/21 SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 7)
4/21 SB 162 PACT Funding and Tuition Restrictions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 3)
4/21 HB 105 Required Physical Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 7)
4/21 Amdt 18 Reducing Funding for Public Media Amendment Rejected - House (43 - 52)
4/20 SB 943 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)

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