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 14, 2018 | AK | HB 287 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4) |
April 14, 2018 | AK | HB 339 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - House (22 - 18) |
March 15, 2018 | AR | HB 1008 | Expands Tuition Savings Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
March 14, 2018 | AR | HB 1008 | Expands Tuition Savings Plan | Bill Passed - House (62 - 16) |
April 19, 2018 | AZ | HB 2563 | Establishes Free Speech Policy for College Campuses | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13) |
Feb. 15, 2018 | AZ | HB 2172 | Authorizes Non-Lethal Weapons on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (35 - 22) |
May 29, 2018 | CA | AB 2160 | Defines Playground Aides as Classified Employees | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
May 9, 2018 | CO | SB 18-272 | Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training | Bill Passed - House (53 - 12) |
May 7, 2018 | CO | SB 18-272 | Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
April 17, 2018 | CO | SB 18-083 | Establishes Educational Tax Credit System | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
April 18, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1391 | Establishes Requirements for Sexual Misconduct Policies | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
May 9, 2018 | CT | HB 5170 | Authorizes Schools to Search Student Cell Phones | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
April 25, 2018 | CT | SB 4 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - House (91 - 59) |
April 18, 2018 | CT | SB 4 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
March 29, 2018 | DE | SB 85 | Requires Report on School Suspensions | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
Feb. 21, 2018 | FL | HB 839 | Requires Schools to Display State Motto | Bill Passed - House (97 - 10) |
March 21, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
March 21, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
March 20, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
April 3, 2018 | IA | HF 2467 | Establishes Guidelines for Handling Students' Lunch Debt | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
March 20, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
Feb. 8, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
Feb. 8, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
March 16, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
March 9, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
April 19, 2018 | IL | SB 2546 | Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
May 23, 2018 | IL | SB 2428 | Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students | Bill Passed - House (66 - 44) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2546 | Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions | Bill Passed - House (66 - 49) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2892 | Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - House (65 - 47) |
May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 3249 | Requires LGBT History in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
May 17, 2018 | IL | SB 2892 | Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 16) |
March 14, 2018 | IN | HB 1426 | Amends Education Standards | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 25) |
March 8, 2018 | IN | HB 1399 | Requires Teacher Licenses for Math and Science Courses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 11) |
March 5, 2018 | IN | SB 387 | Authorizes Teachers without Licenses in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - House (35 - 12) |
Feb. 6, 2018 | IN | SB 387 | Authorizes Teachers without Licenses in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
April 5, 2018 | KS | SB 423 | Appropriates Funds for Department of Education and Board of Regents | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
March 8, 2018 | KS | HB 2757 | Authorizes Public School Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (73 - 48) |
April 5, 2018 | KS | SB 423 | Appropriates Funds for Department of Education and Board of Regents | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
March 16, 2018 | KY | HB 604 | Requires Mental Health Workers in Schools | Bill Passed - House (81 - 1) |
July 12, 2018 | MA | S 2595 | Establishes Commission to Study Lead in Drinking Water at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
April 5, 2018 | MD | SB 639 | Establishes Disciplinary Hearing Procedures for Public School Employees | Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 49) |
April 9, 2018 | MD | HB 16 | Establishes Communication Campaign for Near Completers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (90 - 48) |
March 27, 2018 | MD | HB 420 | Authorizes Certain In-State Students to Receive Financial Aid | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
June 26, 2018 | ME | LD 1869 | Establishes Total Cost of Education and State and Local Contributions to Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 47) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 47) |
March 22, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
March 22, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4069 | Reduces College Credits Required for Substitute Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 46) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Jan. 18, 2018 | MI | SB 574 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Collect Revenues From Enhancement Millages | Bill Passed - House (55 - 52) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 874 | Increases Penalties for Failing to Report Child Abuse or Neglect | Bill Passed - House (107 - 2) |
June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4069 | Reduces College Credits Required for Substitute Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
March 21, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
March 21, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
Dec. 13, 2018 | MI | HB 5526 | Establishes A to F Letter Rating System For Schools | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
March 8, 2018 | MI | HB 5531 | Requires Expulsion of Students Convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct | Bill Passed - House (93 - 14) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | HB 6043 | Requires School Districts to Report Inappropriate Conduct within 60 Days | Bill Passed - House (88 - 21) |
Dec. 13, 2018 | MI | HB 5526 | Establishes A to F Letter Rating System For Schools | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
March 25, 2018 | MS | HB 1593 | Appropriates Funds for Educational Television | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 16) |
Feb. 9, 2018 | National | HR 1892 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 186) |
Feb. 9, 2018 | National | HR 1892 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 28) |
July 17, 2018 | National | PN 1391 | Nomination of James Blew to Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development for the Department of Education | (50 - 49) |
March 14, 2018 | National | HR 4909 | STOP School Violence Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (407 - 10) |
Feb. 9, 2018 | NC | HB 90 | Limits Public School Class Sizes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 5) |
June 6, 2018 | NC | HB 514 | Authorizes Municipalities to Form Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 53) |
June 4, 2018 | NC | HB 514 | Authorizes Municipalities to Form Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
Aug. 27, 2018 | NJ | S 2293 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 0) |
Aug. 27, 2018 | NJ | S 2293 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0) |
Feb. 26, 2018 | NJ | S 414 | Requires Employment Background Checks for Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 699 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - House (49 - 24) |
June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 2 | Amends School Funding Formula | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4110 | Requires Seat Belts on School Buses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 542 | Requires Schools Maintain a Supply of Opioid Antidotes | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
July 1, 2018 | NJ | A 3765 | Authorizes School Employees with Safety Experience to be Appointed as a School Safety Specialist | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 2 | Amends School Funding Formula | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
March 26, 2018 | NJ | S 699 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 2711 | Requires Child Abuse Training for Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | S 2055 | Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Incarcerated Persons | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 764 | Requires Panic Alarms in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (66 - 6) |
June 20, 2018 | NY | S 2493 | Prohibits College Funds for Organizations that Promote Boycotts of Allied Nations | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 12) |
May 2, 2018 | NY | A 10475 | Prohibits State Test Scores from Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (133 - 1) |
May 2, 2018 | NY | A 10475 | Prohibits State Test Scores from Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (133 - 1) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 87 | Establishes Policies on the Distribution of Funds Returned to the State from Community Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 23) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 318 | Requires New Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 20) |
June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 21 | Amends Certain Charter School Enrollment Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 0) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | SB 216 | Amends Regulations Relating to Public Education | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
April 11, 2018 | OH | HB 318 | Requires New Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers | Bill Passed - House (92 - 2) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 540 | Amends Teacher Evaluation Process | Bill Passed - House (91 - 2) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 428 | Requires Schools to Allow Student Religious Expression | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
April 11, 2018 | OH | SB 82 | Requires Schools to Contact Parents for Unexcused Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
April 11, 2018 | OH | HB 360 | Requires Additional Anti-Bullying Policies in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (69 - 27) |
May 16, 2018 | OH | SB 246 | Limits Out-of-School Suspensions and Expulsions For Students in Kindergarten to Third Grade | (32 - 0) |
June 20, 2018 | OH | HB 58 | Require Instruction in Cursive Handwriting | Bill Passed - House (89 - 4) |
May 16, 2018 | OH | SB 246 | Limits Out-of-School Suspensions and Expulsions For Students in Kindergarten to Third Grade | (32 - 0) |
March 28, 2018 | OK | HB 1010 | Increases Taxes to Provide More Funding for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
April 27, 2018 | OK | SB 1600 | Amends General Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (63 - 31) |
March 26, 2018 | OK | HB 1010 | Increases Taxes to Provide More Funding for Education | Bill Passed - House (79 - 19) |
March 3, 2018 | OR | SB 1563 | Authorizes Undocumented Students to Continue Receiving Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |