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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 17, 2009 OH HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 42)
Dec. 16, 2009 OH HB 60 Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
Dec. 10, 2009 CA ABx5 8 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - House (73 - 20)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 223 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements Bill Passed - House (59 - 34)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (47 - 46)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
Oct. 8, 2009 MI HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 42)
Sept. 17, 2009 National HR 3221 Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN Bill Passed - House (253 - 171)
Sept. 16, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Bill Passed - House (53 - 20)
Sept. 3, 2009 CA SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
Aug. 18, 2009 AZ SB 1025 Tax Law Amendments (Budget Reconciliation) Bill Passed - House (32 - 15)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 2 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 18)
July 13, 2009 OH HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 44)
June 29, 2009 OR SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 29)
June 25, 2009 NJ S 1175 Requiring an After School Activity Plan for School Districts with At-Risk Pupils Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 18)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4048 2009 Economic Package Bill Passed - House (50 - 27)
June 25, 2009 NJ A4141 Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts Bill Passed - House (63 - 14)
June 25, 2009 MI HB 4787 Restructure and Redefine Failing Schools Bill Passed - House (70 - 38)
June 23, 2009 NC SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 57)
June 22, 2009 OR SB 5520 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
June 18, 2009 TN SB 2133 Charter School Access Expansion Bill Passed - House (79 - 15)
June 18, 2009 AZ HCR 2019 Ends Affirmative Action Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18)
June 17, 2009 NY A 8903-A Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools Bill Passed - House (129 - 18)
June 16, 2009 LA HB 495 Aiken Optional School Bill Passed - House (72 - 23)
June 12, 2009 ME LD 977 Repealing School District Consolidation "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (74 - 69)
June 9, 2009 DE HB 117 School Board Elections Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
June 9, 2009 ME LD 285 Delay of School District Consolidation Penalties Bill Passed - House (110 - 36)
June 8, 2009 LA HB 872 Graduate School Tuition Increase Bill Failed - House (51 - 33)
June 5, 2009 ME LD 1438 Allowing Charter Schools "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - House (65 - 72)
June 4, 2009 LA HB 687 Dentistry in Schools Bill Passed - House (64 - 31)
June 3, 2009 LA HB 531 Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
June 2, 2009 LA HB 851 School Board Operations Bill Failed - House (46 - 51)
May 31, 2009 TX SB 956 Establishing a Public Law School in Dallas Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 24)
May 30, 2009 NV AB 458 Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account Veto Override Passed - House (36 - 5)
May 29, 2009 OR HB 2834 Funding School for Blind Bill Passed - House (41 - 18)
May 28, 2009 LA HB 834 Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists Bill Passed - House (53 - 40)
May 27, 2009 AZ HB 2001 Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students Bill Passed - House (35 - 25)
May 27, 2009 LA HB 689 Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund Bill Passed - House (60 - 24)
May 26, 2009 TX SB 175 Capping Automatic College Admissions Bill Passed - House (123 - 20)
May 19, 2009 LA HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - House (63 - 26)
May 18, 2009 MN SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements Bill Passed - House (95 - 39)
May 14, 2009 MO SB 291 Education Provision Modifications Bill Passed - House (110 - 46)
May 13, 2009 AZ HB 2028 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (33 - 25)
May 8, 2009 FL SB 788 Gambling Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 35)
May 7, 2009 TN SB 433 Homeschool Diplomas Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
May 7, 2009 ID H 374 Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education Bill Passed - House (49 - 15)
May 6, 2009 MI HB 4785 Job Training Program Benefits and Security Bill Passed - House (68 - 39)
May 4, 2009 ND SB 2003 2009-2011 Biennuim Higher Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 24)
May 4, 2009 CO HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 26)
April 29, 2009 National S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (233 - 193)
April 29, 2009 OH HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
April 23, 2009 FL HB 1293 Changes in High School Graduation Standards Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
April 22, 2009 WA HB 2344 Allowing Tuition Increases Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
April 20, 2009 WA HB 2261 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 31)
April 16, 2009 MO HJR 32 Bonds to Fund Higher Education Joint Resolution Passed - House (131 - 28)
April 16, 2009 MO HB 668 Firearm Regulation Amendments Bill Passed - House (105 - 50)
April 16, 2009 NC HB 88 Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
April 15, 2009 OK SB 834 Increased Local School Board Control Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
April 15, 2009 NV AJR 7 Allowing for State Lottery Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 11)
April 14, 2009 HI SB 777 Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds Bill Passed - House (44 - 3)
April 14, 2009 ID H 303 Online Public Education Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
April 11, 2009 WV SB 373 PROMISE Scholarship Amendments Bill Passed - House (86 - 14)
April 10, 2009 ND HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 38)
March 26, 2009 MO HB 2 2009-10 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (92 - 64)
March 26, 2009 ID H 262 Teacher Compensation Adjustments Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
March 25, 2009 OR HB 2599 Expanding School Bullying Law Bill Passed - House (50 - 9)
March 13, 2009 NM HB 346 Increasing Gross Receipts Tax and Compensating Tax to Fund Education Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
March 12, 2009 UT HB 2 2009-2010 Education Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27)
March 12, 2009 WA HB 2261 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
March 12, 2009 GA HB 243 Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification Bill Passed - House (92 - 79)
March 11, 2009 OR HB 2509 Sexual Education Bill Passed - House (41 - 19)
March 11, 2009 UT SB 48 Amending Requirements for Obtaining Teaching Licenses Bill Failed - House (17 - 49)
March 5, 2009 OR SB 5552 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
March 5, 2009 OR SB 581 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
March 4, 2009 MI HB 4132 School Attendance Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 37)
March 2, 2009 UT HB 66 Tax Law and Education Funding Amendments Bill Failed - House (33 - 42)
Feb. 26, 2009 MO HB 242 Authorizing Four-Day School Weeks Bill Passed - House (101 - 60)
Feb. 26, 2009 IA SF 218 Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Feb. 24, 2009 NV IP 1 Lodging Tax Bill Passed - House (35 - 7)
Feb. 19, 2009 ND HB 1400 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 16)
Feb. 18, 2009 ND HB 1348 Allowing Concealed Firearms on Campuses Bill Passed - House (48 - 46)
Feb. 12, 2009 MS HB 234 Sex Education Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (79 - 40)
Feb. 12, 2009 KS SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 51)
Feb. 10, 2009 WY HB 218 Amending Hathaway Scholarship Requirements Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
Feb. 10, 2009 IN HB 1723 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Feb. 9, 2009 WY HB 170 State Lottery for Scholarship Funding Bill Failed - House (25 - 35)
Feb. 9, 2009 CO HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
Feb. 5, 2009 VA HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
Feb. 5, 2009 KS SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 48)
Feb. 5, 2009 OR SB 338 Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
Feb. 4, 2009 SD HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
Feb. 2, 2009 UT SB 4 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
Jan. 14, 2009 FL SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
Jan. 7, 2009 MS HB 290 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (87 - 34)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/17 HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 42)
12/16 HB 60 Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
12/10 ABx5 8 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
11/05 SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - House (73 - 20)
11/05 SB 223 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements Bill Passed - House (59 - 34)
11/05 SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (47 - 46)
11/05 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
10/08 HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 42)
9/17 HR 3221 Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN Bill Passed - House (253 - 171)
9/16 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
9/11 SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Bill Passed - House (53 - 20)
9/03 SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
8/18 SB 1025 Tax Law Amendments (Budget Reconciliation) Bill Passed - House (32 - 15)
7/24 ABX4 2 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 18)
7/13 HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 44)
6/29 SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 29)
6/25 S 1175 Requiring an After School Activity Plan for School Districts with At-Risk Pupils Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 18)
6/25 A 4048 2009 Economic Package Bill Passed - House (50 - 27)
6/25 A4141 Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts Bill Passed - House (63 - 14)
6/25 HB 4787 Restructure and Redefine Failing Schools Bill Passed - House (70 - 38)
6/23 SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 57)
6/22 SB 5520 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
6/18 SB 2133 Charter School Access Expansion Bill Passed - House (79 - 15)
6/18 HCR 2019 Ends Affirmative Action Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18)
6/17 A 8903-A Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools Bill Passed - House (129 - 18)
6/16 HB 495 Aiken Optional School Bill Passed - House (72 - 23)
6/12 LD 977 Repealing School District Consolidation "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (74 - 69)
6/09 HB 117 School Board Elections Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
6/09 LD 285 Delay of School District Consolidation Penalties Bill Passed - House (110 - 36)
6/08 HB 872 Graduate School Tuition Increase Bill Failed - House (51 - 33)
6/05 LD 1438 Allowing Charter Schools "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - House (65 - 72)
6/04 HB 687 Dentistry in Schools Bill Passed - House (64 - 31)
6/03 HB 531 Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
6/02 HB 851 School Board Operations Bill Failed - House (46 - 51)
5/31 SB 956 Establishing a Public Law School in Dallas Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 24)
5/30 AB 458 Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account Veto Override Passed - House (36 - 5)
5/29 HB 2834 Funding School for Blind Bill Passed - House (41 - 18)
5/28 HB 834 Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists Bill Passed - House (53 - 40)
5/27 HB 2001 Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students Bill Passed - House (35 - 25)
5/27 HB 689 Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund Bill Passed - House (60 - 24)
5/26 SB 175 Capping Automatic College Admissions Bill Passed - House (123 - 20)
5/19 HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - House (63 - 26)
5/18 SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements Bill Passed - House (95 - 39)
5/14 SB 291 Education Provision Modifications Bill Passed - House (110 - 46)
5/13 HB 2028 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (33 - 25)
5/08 SB 788 Gambling Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 35)
5/07 SB 433 Homeschool Diplomas Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
5/07 H 374 Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education Bill Passed - House (49 - 15)
5/06 HB 4785 Job Training Program Benefits and Security Bill Passed - House (68 - 39)
5/04 SB 2003 2009-2011 Biennuim Higher Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 24)
5/04 HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 26)
4/29 S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (233 - 193)
4/29 HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
4/23 HB 1293 Changes in High School Graduation Standards Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
4/22 HB 2344 Allowing Tuition Increases Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
4/20 HB 2261 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 31)
4/16 HJR 32 Bonds to Fund Higher Education Joint Resolution Passed - House (131 - 28)
4/16 HB 668 Firearm Regulation Amendments Bill Passed - House (105 - 50)
4/16 HB 88 Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
4/15 SB 834 Increased Local School Board Control Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
4/15 AJR 7 Allowing for State Lottery Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 11)
4/14 SB 777 Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds Bill Passed - House (44 - 3)
4/14 H 303 Online Public Education Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
4/11 SB 373 PROMISE Scholarship Amendments Bill Passed - House (86 - 14)
4/10 HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 38)
3/26 HB 2 2009-10 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (92 - 64)
3/26 H 262 Teacher Compensation Adjustments Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
3/25 HB 2599 Expanding School Bullying Law Bill Passed - House (50 - 9)
3/13 HB 346 Increasing Gross Receipts Tax and Compensating Tax to Fund Education Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
3/12 HB 2 2009-2010 Education Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27)
3/12 HB 2261 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
3/12 HB 243 Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification Bill Passed - House (92 - 79)
3/11 HB 2509 Sexual Education Bill Passed - House (41 - 19)
3/11 SB 48 Amending Requirements for Obtaining Teaching Licenses Bill Failed - House (17 - 49)
3/05 SB 5552 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
3/05 SB 581 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
3/04 HB 4132 School Attendance Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 37)
3/02 HB 66 Tax Law and Education Funding Amendments Bill Failed - House (33 - 42)
2/26 HB 242 Authorizing Four-Day School Weeks Bill Passed - House (101 - 60)
2/26 SF 218 Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
2/24 IP 1 Lodging Tax Bill Passed - House (35 - 7)
2/19 HB 1400 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 16)
2/18 HB 1348 Allowing Concealed Firearms on Campuses Bill Passed - House (48 - 46)
2/12 HB 234 Sex Education Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (79 - 40)
2/12 SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 51)
2/10 HB 218 Amending Hathaway Scholarship Requirements Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
2/10 HB 1723 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
2/09 HB 170 State Lottery for Scholarship Funding Bill Failed - House (25 - 35)
2/09 HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
2/05 HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
2/05 SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 48)
2/05 SB 338 Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
2/04 HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
2/02 SB 4 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
1/14 SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
1/07 HB 290 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (87 - 34)

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