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 15, 2015 | NV | AB 121 | Prohibits Disciplining Students for Simulating Firearms | Bill Passed - House (24 - 17) |
April 7, 2015 | NV | AB 165 | Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
April 1, 2015 | NV | AB 165 | Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (25 - 17) |
Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | AB 329 | Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
Sept. 10, 2015 | CA | AB 329 | Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
April 21, 2015 | NV | AB 375 | Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex | Bill Failed - House (20 - 22) |
May 22, 2015 | NV | AB 448 | Authorizes Conversion of a Public School to a Charter School | Bill Passed - House (25 - 17) |
Feb. 19, 2015 | GA | HB 100 | Amends Minimum Age for Kindergarten Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (110 - 53) |
April 29, 2015 | IN | HB 1001 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 30) |
April 29, 2015 | IN | HB 1001 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
Feb. 24, 2015 | IN | HB 1001 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 29) |
Feb. 2, 2015 | WY | HB 114 | Authorizes Concealed Carry in Certain Public Buildings | Bill Passed - House (42 - 17) |
April 15, 2015 | CO | HB 1165 | Requires Approval to Use Native American School Mascots | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
March 20, 2015 | ND | HB 1195 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 28) |
Feb. 10, 2015 | SD | HB 1195 | Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
March 3, 2015 | AR | HB 1242 | Amends Requirements for the Creation of a New School District | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
March 13, 2015 | AR | HB 1377 | Authorizes the Use of Waivers by Public School Districts | Bill Passed - House (58 - 18) |
Feb. 26, 2015 | WY | HB 144 | Establishes a School Safety Tip Line | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
Feb. 11, 2015 | WY | HB 144 | Establishes a School Safety Tip Line | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
Feb. 24, 2015 | WY | HB 159 | Repeals Statewide Writing Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
Feb. 5, 2015 | WY | HB 159 | Repeals Statewide Writing Assessment | Bill Passed - House (53 - 6) |
Feb. 17, 2015 | VA | HB 1626 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
March 26, 2015 | OK | HB 1749 | Prohibits Payroll Deductions for Public Employee Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 16) |
March 11, 2015 | MO | HB 187 | Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (111 - 41) |
Sept. 30, 2015 | OH | HB 2 | Amends Charter School Regulations | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (34 - 58) |
March 26, 2015 | OH | HB 2 | Amends Charter School Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
March 14, 2015 | WV | HB 2005 | Expands Certain Teacher Certification Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 37) |
Feb. 10, 2015 | WV | HB 2005 | Expands Certain Teacher Certification Programs | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
Jan. 15, 2015 | AZ | HB 2064 | Requires Additional Testing for High School Students | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
March 9, 2015 | AZ | HB 2246 | Authorizes Parents to Opt-Out of Standardized Tests for Their Children | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
July 9, 2015 | WA | HB 2266 | Establishes a Delay on Class Size Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
June 30, 2015 | WA | HB 2266 | Establishes a Delay on Class Size Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (27 - 17) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | WY | HB 23 | Authorizes Adoption of Next Generation Science Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (43 - 12) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | WY | HB 23 | Authorizes Consideration of Next Generation Science Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
March 25, 2015 | KS | HB 2326 | Amends Teacher Contracts | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 27) |
May 7, 2015 | AL | HB 236 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (52 - 43) |
June 15, 2015 | OR | HB 2655 | Authorizes Parents to Excuse Children from Statewide Assessments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (32 - 28) |
April 13, 2015 | MT | HB 284 | Prohibits Bullying in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 42) |
March 14, 2015 | WV | HB 2934 | Requires a Review of State Education Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
Feb. 28, 2015 | WV | HB 2934 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (75 - 19) |
June 2, 2015 | MI | HB 4041 | Amends Requirements to Receive Certain Assistance Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 34) |
May 26, 2015 | MI | HB 4041 | Amends Requirements to Receive Certain Assistance Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
March 26, 2015 | MI | HB 4041 | Requires School Attendance to Receive Assistance Funds | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
Feb. 11, 2015 | NM | HB 41 | Requires Third-Graders to Demonstrate Reading Proficiency | Bill Passed - House (38 - 30) |
April 29, 2015 | MI | HB 4115 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (60 - 50) |
May 29, 2015 | IL | HB 4151 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24) |
May 27, 2015 | IL | HB 4151 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (66 - 47) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | MO | HB 42 | Amends School Transfer Laws | Bill Passed - House (114 - 43) |
April 2, 2015 | MO | HB 499 | Requires Public Schools to Recite the Pledge of Allegiance in English | Bill Passed - House (118 - 30) |
June 17, 2015 | DE | HB 50 | Authorizes Parents to Opt Children Out of Standardized Tests | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
March 4, 2015 | PA | HB 530 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (118 - 78) |
April 8, 2015 | MO | HB 63 | Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
April 8, 2015 | MO | HB 63 | Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards | Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 49) |
March 18, 2015 | MO | HB 63 | Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 45) |
March 12, 2015 | MO | HB 63 | Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
April 13, 2015 | MD | HB 70 | 2015-2016 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 13) |
April 13, 2015 | MD | HB 70 | 2015-2016 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 49) |
March 27, 2015 | FL | HB 7037 | Appropriates Funds for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (75 - 35) |
June 23, 2015 | PA | HB 805 | Requires Schools to Use Teacher Performance Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (100 - 91) |
Feb. 23, 2015 | AK | HCR 2 | Establishes Alaska School Choice Week | Joint Resolution Passed - House (21 - 14) |
March 5, 2015 | MN | HF 2 | Amends Requirements for Teacher Layoffs | Bill Passed - House (70 - 63) |
May 17, 2015 | MN | HF 844 | Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 59) |
April 25, 2015 | MN | HF 844 | 2015-2017 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 61) |
Oct. 21, 2015 | National | HR 10 | Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 191) |
July 8, 2015 | National | HR 5 | Student Success Act | Bill Passed - House (218 - 213) |
March 16, 2015 | ID | S 1096 | Establishes Parental Rights in Education | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
March 31, 2015 | NY | S 2006B | Establishes Annual Teacher Evaluation Program | Bill Passed - House (92 - 55) |
March 31, 2015 | NY | S 2006B | Establishes Annual Teacher Evaluation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
May 20, 2015 | IL | SB 100 | Establishes Educational Disciplinary Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (73 - 41) |
April 23, 2015 | IL | SB 100 | Establishes Educational Disciplinary Guidelines | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
April 15, 2015 | NH | SB 101 | Prohibits the Requirement of Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (202 - 138) |
April 21, 2015 | MT | SB 107 | Authorizes New High School Districts | Bill Failed - House (48 - 52) |
Feb. 24, 2015 | MT | SB 107 | Authorizes New High School Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
Feb. 23, 2015 | AZ | SB 1172 | Prohibits Schools from Releasing Student Information for Political Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
March 5, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - House (23 - 19) |
Feb. 16, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
Feb. 26, 2015 | MT | SB 12 | Authorizes School Funding for 19-Year-Old Students | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
March 5, 2015 | GA | SB 133 | Establishes Opportunity School District | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
April 1, 2015 | AZ | SB 1332 | Expands Empowerment Scholarship to Include Native Americans | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
May 13, 2015 | MI | SB 139 | Limits Fund-Raising Activities | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
May 4, 2015 | CO | SB 14 | Authorizes Caregivers to Administer Medical Marijuana Treatments to Certain Students on School Property | Bill Passed - House (51 - 13) |
March 2, 2015 | WV | SB 14 | Authorizes Public Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
Feb. 4, 2015 | NC | SB 14 | Transfers Funds to Rules Review Commission for Litigation Expenses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
June 1, 2015 | CA | SB 172 | Repeals Requirement for High School Seniors to Pass Exit Exam | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
April 13, 2015 | MD | SB 183 | Amends Funding for the Geographic Cost of Education Index | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
April 13, 2015 | MD | SB 183 | Amends Funding for the Geographic Cost of Education Index | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
Feb. 24, 2015 | SD | SB 189 | Establishes Tax Credit Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
March 19, 2015 | AL | SB 191 | Establishes the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Community College System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
July 8, 2015 | WI | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
July 7, 2015 | WI | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
May 1, 2015 | CO | SB 213 | Limits Immunity for Public Schools in Incidents of School Violence | Bill Passed - House (43 - 21) |
April 16, 2015 | ND | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
April 15, 2015 | ND | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Bill Passed - House (50 - 41) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | ND | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
Feb. 11, 2015 | MS | SB 2161 | Establishes College and Career Readiness Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | ND | SB 2254 | Amends School District Funding Calculations to Include Early Childhood Education Programs | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 31) |
March 10, 2015 | MS | SB 2258 | Authorizes Department of Education to Investigate Cheating Allegations | Bill Passed - House (65 - 53) |
Feb. 11, 2015 | MS | SB 2695 | Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
March 14, 2015 | WV | SB 286 | Amends Exemption Procedure for Compulsory Immunizations | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
May 29, 2015 | NV | SB 302 | Establishes Education Savings Account | Bill Passed - House (25 - 17) |