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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2019 | PA | SB 453 | Authorizes Annual Farming Construction Code Building Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| May 2, 2019 | MO | SB 391 | Prohibits Local Officials from Regulating Industrial Farms | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| April 16, 2019 | AK | HB 35 | Establishes Employment Regulations within the Board of Fisheries to Prevent a Conflict of Interest | Bill Passed - House (29 - 9) |
| April 1, 2019 | NY | A 558 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 9) |
| March 28, 2019 | MT | HB 327 | Amends Definitions for Ground Beef and Hamburger | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 21) |
| March 28, 2019 | MT | HB 327 | Amends Definitions for Ground Beef and Hamburger | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 21) |
| March 19, 2019 | NH | HB 558 | Prohibits Restaurant Use of Plastic Straws Unless Specifically Requested | Bill Passed - House (196 - 146) |
| March 13, 2019 | UT | SB 132 | Increases Alcohol Cap for Beer Sales | Bill Passed - House (61 - 14) |
| March 12, 2019 | SD | HB 1191 | Authorizes the Cultivation of Industrial Hemp | Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| March 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| March 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| March 7, 2019 | GA | HB 545 | Reduces Statute of Limitations for Certain Nuisance Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (107 - 58) |
| March 6, 2019 | NY | A 558 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - House (120 - 26) |
| March 4, 2019 | AZ | HB 2604 | Prohibits Labeling of "Milk" or "Meat" if Product is not Animal Derived | Bill Failed - House (22 - 36) |
| March 4, 2019 | AZ | HB 2604 | Prohibits Labeling of "Milk" or "Meat" if Product is not Animal Derived | Bill Failed - House (22 - 36) |
| Feb. 28, 2019 | UT | SB 58 | Establishes the "Kratom Consumer Protection Act" | Bill Passed - House (39 - 34) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | UT | SB 132 | Increases Alcohol Cap for Beer Sales | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | KS | SB 32 | Authorizes The Farm Bureau To Offer Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | VA | HB 2748 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 32) |
| Feb. 12, 2019 | IN | HB 1444 | Authorizes the Taxation of Vaping Liquids | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| Feb. 7, 2019 | WV | HB 2481 | Expands Liquor Sales | Bill Passed - House (85 - 13) |
| Dec. 11, 2018 | National | HR 2 | Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 13) |
| Aug. 21, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 16, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| July 12, 2018 | National | HR 3281 | Reclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act | Bill Passed - House (233 - 184) |
| July 11, 2018 | National | HR 200 | Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act | Bill Passed - House (222 - 193) |
| June 30, 2018 | DE | HB 165 | Authorizes Shipment of Wine from Out-of-State Sellers | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (19 - 21) |
| June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 2) |
| June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| June 28, 2018 | MA | H 4479 | Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| June 28, 2018 | National | HR 2 | Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 11) |
| June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 374 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 374 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - House (75 - 44) |
| June 27, 2018 | NC | SB 711 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 45) |
| June 27, 2018 | DE | HB 165 | Authorizes Shipment of Wine from Out-of-State Sellers | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| June 26, 2018 | NC | SB 711 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| June 21, 2018 | National | HR 2 | Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (213 - 211) |
| June 20, 2018 | ME | LD 1584 | Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| June 7, 2018 | DE | HB 165 | Authorizes Shipment of Wine from Out-of-State Sellers | Bill Passed - House (25 - 13) |
| May 31, 2018 | CA | SB 1138 | Requires Prisons to Provide Vegan Meal Options | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | SB 905 | Authorizes Alcohol Sales Until 4 AM | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| May 17, 2018 | RI | H 7419 | Prohibits Advertising of Unhealthy Food and Beverages in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 10) |
| May 9, 2018 | MA | H 4479 | Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (147 - 4) |
| May 2, 2018 | RI | S 2350 | Prohibits Advertising Unhealthy Food in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| May 1, 2018 | KS | HB 2470 | Amends Alcoholic Beverage Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 28) |
| April 19, 2018 | MO | HB 2155 | Authorizes State to Regulate Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (117 - 30) |
| March 16, 2018 | VT | H 710 | Amends State Beer Franchise Contracts | Bill Passed - House (123 - 11) |
| March 12, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 37) |
| March 12, 2018 | TN | HB 1875 | Authorizes Commissioner of Agriculture to Exempt Industrial Hemp from Regulatory Requirements | Bill Passed - House (79 - 7) |
| Feb. 28, 2018 | MS | SB 2588 | Authorizes Localities to Designate Open Container Districts | Bill Passed - House (88 - 29) |
| Feb. 22, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Feb. 6, 2018 | National | HR 772 | Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (266 - 157) |
| Feb. 6, 2018 | National | HR 772 | Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (266 - 157) |
| Feb. 5, 2018 | MS | SB 2588 | Authorizes Localities to Designate Open Container Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
| Jan. 31, 2018 | MS | HB 415 | Amends Alcoholic Beverage Regulations | (86 - 26) |
| Jan. 23, 2018 | IA | SF 512 | Amends Wastewater Treatment Financial Assistance Program | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| Oct. 12, 2017 | MI | HB 4999 | Prohibits Localities from Taxing Foods and Beverages | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| Sept. 5, 2017 | CA | AB 841 | Restricts Marketing of Unhealthy Foods in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| June 28, 2017 | NC | SB 615 | Amends Agricultural Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 18) |
| June 28, 2017 | NC | SB 615 | Amends Agricultural Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10) |
| June 21, 2017 | WI | SB 68 | Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| June 14, 2017 | WI | SB 68 | Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| May 24, 2017 | National | HR 953 | Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 165) |
| April 26, 2017 | FL | SB 106 | Revises Provisions on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| April 11, 2017 | WA | HB 1493 | Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| April 10, 2017 | NC | H 467 | Limits Penalties for Agricultural Operations | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| March 22, 2017 | IA | SF 447 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| March 14, 2017 | IA | SF 447 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| March 8, 2017 | UT | HB 442 | Amends Certain Restrictions Regarding the Sale of Alcohol | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 17) |
| March 2, 2017 | WA | HB 1493 | Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data | Bill Passed - House (81 - 17) |
| Feb. 27, 2017 | MT | HB 541 | Authorizes Small Breweries to Sell 60,000 Barrels of Beer per Year | Bill Passed - House (94 - 6) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | HB 1414 | Establishes Regulations for the Release of Certain Agricultural Data | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | HB 1414 | Establishes Regulations for the Release of Certain Agricultural Data | Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 46) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | SB 641 | Establishes Income Tax Deduction for Agricultural Disaster Aid Payments | Veto Override Passed - House (112 - 38) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | SB 641 | Establishes Income Tax Deduction for Agricultural Disaster Aid Payments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |