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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 7, 2011 | PA | HB 242 | Permitting the On-Site Sale of Alcohol at Distilleries | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (164 - 29) |
| Nov. 17, 2011 | National | HR 2112 | Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration | Conference Report Adopted - House (298 - 121) |
| July 11, 2011 | CA | SB 39 | Bans Caffeinated Alcohol Drinks | Bill Passed - House (49 - 26) |
| May 24, 2011 | WA | SB 5942 | State Liquor Sales | Bill Passed - House (52 - 42) |
| May 16, 2011 | CA | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| May 9, 2011 | CO | HB 1005 | Repeals Taxes on Agricultural Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| April 12, 2011 | GA | SB 10 | Alcoholic Beverage Sales on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (127 - 44) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 994 | Increases Sales Tax on Alcoholic Beverages | Bill Passed - House (76 - 63) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | WA | HB 1489 | Anti-Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | OR | HB 2336 | Agriculture Regulation Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 13) |
| Dec. 21, 2010 | National | HR 2751 | FDA Food Safety Modernization Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 144) |
| July 1, 2010 | CA | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| April 22, 2010 | WI | SB 434 | Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| March 29, 2010 | SD | HB 1060 | Wind Energy Facility Tax Refunds | Veto Override Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | SD | HB 1060 | Agriculture and Business Facility Tax Refund Reductions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| Feb. 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| July 30, 2009 | National | HR 2749 | Food Safety Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (283 - 142) |
| June 29, 2009 | OR | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| June 29, 2009 | OR | SB 676 | Legalizing the Production of Industrial Hemp | Bill Passed - House (46 - 11) |
| June 8, 2009 | NY | A 1867 | Amending Labor Laws for Farm Workers | Bill Passed - House (86 - 58) |
| June 3, 2009 | CA | AB 49 | Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
| April 7, 2009 | ID | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| March 20, 2009 | KS | HB 2295 | Dairy Labeling Requirements | Bill Passed - House (75 - 44) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
| Aug. 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2765 | Aerial Spraying Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14) |
| June 18, 2008 | National | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
| June 18, 2008 | National | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
| May 21, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
| May 21, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
| May 14, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
| May 14, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
| May 5, 2008 | KS | HB 2860 | Eminent Domain and Water Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 57) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
| April 22, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| April 1, 2008 | CO | HB 1280 | Extending Water Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 8) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | CO | HB 1280 | Extending Water Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 6) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | SD | SB 173 | Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms | Bill Passed - House (63 - 6) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 33) |
| Nov. 13, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (103 - 36) |
| Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | H Sub for Sub SB 222 | 2007-2008 Department of Agriculture Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 4) |
| July 27, 2007 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - House (231 - 191) |
| July 27, 2007 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - House (231 - 191) |
| July 12, 2007 | CA | SB 180 | Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| June 4, 2007 | NC | CS HB 1473 | 2007-2008 Operating Budget | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| Feb. 21, 2007 | IN | HB 1197 | Confined Feeding Operation Regulation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | ND | HB 1420 | Animal Feedlot Regulation | Bill Passed - House (75 - 16) |
| Sept. 7, 2006 | National | HR 503 | Horse Slaughter Prohibition Bill | Bill Passed - House (263 - 146) |
| July 29, 2006 | National | HR 5970 | Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 180) |
| June 28, 2006 | DE | HB 537 | Crop Damage Levels | Bill Passed - House (21 - 18) |
| June 13, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (351 - 67) |
| June 7, 2006 | LA | HB 94 | Daylight Savings Bill | Bill Failed - House (37 - 61) |
| May 23, 2006 | National | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
| May 23, 2006 | National | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 32) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Bill Passed - House (66 - 25) |
| April 30, 2006 | CT | LCO # 5219 | Repeal of Estate/Death Tax for Primary Residence & Working Farm Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 84) |
| April 25, 2006 | VT | S 18 | Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (77 - 63) |
| April 19, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 1444 | Manure as a Hazardous Waste | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| March 16, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - House (348 - 71) |
| March 8, 2006 | National | HR 4167 | National Uniformity for Food Act | Bill Passed - House (283 - 139) |
| March 6, 2006 | IA | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | NH | HB 1269 | Red Deer or Elk Farming and Hunting | Bill Passed - House (217 - 98) |
| Jan. 24, 2006 | SD | SB 27 | State Fair Appropriation | Bill Passed - House (61 - 7) |
| Dec. 19, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
| Oct. 28, 2005 | National | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 63) |
| Oct. 28, 2005 | National | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 63) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/07 | HB 242 | Permitting the On-Site Sale of Alcohol at Distilleries | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (164 - 29) |
| 11/17 | HR 2112 | Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration | Conference Report Adopted - House (298 - 121) |
| 7/11 | SB 39 | Bans Caffeinated Alcohol Drinks | Bill Passed - House (49 - 26) |
| 5/24 | SB 5942 | State Liquor Sales | Bill Passed - House (52 - 42) |
| 5/16 | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| 5/09 | HB 1005 | Repeals Taxes on Agricultural Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| 4/12 | SB 10 | Alcoholic Beverage Sales on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (127 - 44) |
| 4/11 | SB 994 | Increases Sales Tax on Alcoholic Beverages | Bill Passed - House (76 - 63) |
| 2/28 | HB 1489 | Anti-Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 2/16 | HB 2336 | Agriculture Regulation Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 13) |
| 12/21 | HR 2751 | FDA Food Safety Modernization Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 144) |
| 7/01 | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 4/22 | SB 434 | Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| 3/29 | HB 1060 | Wind Energy Facility Tax Refunds | Veto Override Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| 2/16 | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 2/10 | HB 1060 | Agriculture and Business Facility Tax Refund Reductions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| 2/01 | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| 10/07 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| 10/07 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| 7/30 | HR 2749 | Food Safety Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (283 - 142) |
| 6/29 | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| 6/29 | SB 676 | Legalizing the Production of Industrial Hemp | Bill Passed - House (46 - 11) |
| 6/08 | A 1867 | Amending Labor Laws for Farm Workers | Bill Passed - House (86 - 58) |
| 6/03 | AB 49 | Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
| 4/07 | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| 3/20 | HB 2295 | Dairy Labeling Requirements | Bill Passed - House (75 - 44) |
| 8/29 | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31) |
| 8/29 | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
| 8/28 | AB 2765 | Aerial Spraying Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14) |
| 6/18 | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
| 6/18 | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
| 5/21 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
| 5/21 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
| 5/14 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
| 5/14 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
| 5/05 | HB 2860 | Eminent Domain and Water Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 57) |
| 5/05 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
| 4/22 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| 4/01 | HB 1280 | Extending Water Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 8) |
| 2/27 | HB 1280 | Extending Water Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 6) |
| 2/25 | SB 173 | Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms | Bill Passed - House (63 - 6) |
| 11/19 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 33) |
| 11/13 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (103 - 36) |
| 10/30 | H Sub for Sub SB 222 | 2007-2008 Department of Agriculture Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 4) |
| 7/27 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - House (231 - 191) |
| 7/27 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - House (231 - 191) |
| 7/12 | SB 180 | Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| 6/04 | CS HB 1473 | 2007-2008 Operating Budget | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| 2/21 | HB 1197 | Confined Feeding Operation Regulation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| 2/14 | HB 1420 | Animal Feedlot Regulation | Bill Passed - House (75 - 16) |
| 9/07 | HR 503 | Horse Slaughter Prohibition Bill | Bill Passed - House (263 - 146) |
| 7/29 | HR 5970 | Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 180) |
| 6/28 | HB 537 | Crop Damage Levels | Bill Passed - House (21 - 18) |
| 6/13 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (351 - 67) |
| 6/07 | HB 94 | Daylight Savings Bill | Bill Failed - House (37 - 61) |
| 5/23 | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
| 5/23 | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
| 5/03 | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 32) |
| 5/03 | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Bill Passed - House (66 - 25) |
| 4/30 | LCO # 5219 | Repeal of Estate/Death Tax for Primary Residence & Working Farm Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 84) |
| 4/25 | S 18 | Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (77 - 63) |
| 4/19 | HCS SB 1444 | Manure as a Hazardous Waste | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| 3/16 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - House (348 - 71) |
| 3/08 | HR 4167 | National Uniformity for Food Act | Bill Passed - House (283 - 139) |
| 3/06 | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| 2/22 | HB 1269 | Red Deer or Elk Farming and Hunting | Bill Passed - House (217 - 98) |
| 1/24 | SB 27 | State Fair Appropriation | Bill Passed - House (61 - 7) |
| 12/19 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
| 10/28 | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 63) |
| 10/28 | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 63) |