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
June 10, 2020 CO SB 20-213 Extends State Take-Out Regulations for Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
June 10, 2020 MI SB 942 Extends To-Go and Delivery Options to Cocktails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1)
June 5, 2020 IA SF 2413 Increases Penalties for Trespassing on Animal Food Operations Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
May 31, 2020 LA SB 508 Limits Liability of Restaurants During the COVID-19 Epidemic Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
May 14, 2020 NJ S 2437 Limits Fees Charged to Restaurants by Third-Party Food Delivery Applications Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
March 17, 2020 MD HB 732 Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 10, 2020 WA SB 5947 Establishes the Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 6)
March 5, 2020 NJ A 2371 Requires Recycling of Food Waste Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
March 3, 2020 MD SB 300 Prohibits Use of Chlorpyrifos Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
Feb. 27, 2020 VA HB 119 Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 18, 2020 WA SB 6261 Expands Farm Labor Contractor System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Jan. 16, 2020 MA H 4218 Requires School Districts Offer Breakfast After Instruction Begins Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
Nov. 7, 2019 MI SB 174 Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
Nov. 7, 2019 MI SB 174 Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
Oct. 24, 2019 MI SB 174 Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Oct. 24, 2019 MI SB 174 Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
June 27, 2019 NJ A 3726 Requires Food Waste Recycling Programs Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
June 27, 2019 DE HB 79 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 19, 2019 NY S 2000 Establishes Regulations for PFAS Chemicals in Food Containers Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 6)
June 17, 2019 NC SB 315 Establishes Regulations on Hemp and Other Farming Industries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
June 4, 2019 LA SB 152 Establishes Definitions for Meat and Beef Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
May 21, 2019 CA SB 58 Authorizes Bars to Remain Open Until 3 AM Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
May 7, 2019 PA SB 588 Exempts Milk Haulers from Travel Bans Imposed During Emergency Disasters Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
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 1, 2019 NY A 558 Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 9)
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 - Senate (41 - 8)
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)
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)
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 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 20, 2018 ME LD 1584 Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
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 2, 2018 RI S 2350 Prohibits Advertising Unhealthy Food in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
Feb. 22, 2018 KS SB 405 Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Feb. 5, 2018 MS SB 2588 Authorizes Localities to Designate Open Container Districts Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
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 - Senate (36 - 10)
June 14, 2017 WI SB 68 Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
April 11, 2017 WA HB 1493 Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
March 14, 2017 IA SF 447 Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/10 SB 20-213 Extends State Take-Out Regulations for Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
6/10 SB 942 Extends To-Go and Delivery Options to Cocktails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1)
6/05 SF 2413 Increases Penalties for Trespassing on Animal Food Operations Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
5/31 SB 508 Limits Liability of Restaurants During the COVID-19 Epidemic Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
5/14 S 2437 Limits Fees Charged to Restaurants by Third-Party Food Delivery Applications Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
3/17 HB 732 Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/10 SB 5947 Establishes the Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 6)
3/05 A 2371 Requires Recycling of Food Waste Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
3/03 SB 300 Prohibits Use of Chlorpyrifos Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
2/27 HB 119 Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/18 SB 6261 Expands Farm Labor Contractor System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
1/16 H 4218 Requires School Districts Offer Breakfast After Instruction Begins Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
11/07 SB 174 Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
11/07 SB 174 Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
10/24 SB 174 Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
10/24 SB 174 Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
6/27 A 3726 Requires Food Waste Recycling Programs Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
6/27 HB 79 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/19 S 2000 Establishes Regulations for PFAS Chemicals in Food Containers Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 6)
6/17 SB 315 Establishes Regulations on Hemp and Other Farming Industries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
6/04 SB 152 Establishes Definitions for Meat and Beef Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
5/21 SB 58 Authorizes Bars to Remain Open Until 3 AM Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
5/07 SB 588 Exempts Milk Haulers from Travel Bans Imposed During Emergency Disasters Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
5/07 SB 453 Authorizes Annual Farming Construction Code Building Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
5/02 SB 391 Prohibits Local Officials from Regulating Industrial Farms Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/01 A 558 Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 9)
3/12 HB 1191 Authorizes the Cultivation of Industrial Hemp Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/12 SF 519 Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
2/26 SB 132 Increases Alcohol Cap for Beer Sales Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
2/20 SB 32 Authorizes The Farm Bureau To Offer Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
12/11 HR 2 Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 13)
8/21 SB 1192 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/28 AB 1838 Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
6/28 H 4479 Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
6/28 HR 2 Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 11)
6/27 HB 374 Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
6/27 HB 165 Authorizes Shipment of Wine from Out-of-State Sellers Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
6/26 SB 711 Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
6/20 LD 1584 Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
5/31 SB 1138 Requires Prisons to Provide Vegan Meal Options Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
5/30 SB 905 Authorizes Alcohol Sales Until 4 AM Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
5/02 S 2350 Prohibits Advertising Unhealthy Food in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
2/22 SB 405 Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
2/05 SB 2588 Authorizes Localities to Designate Open Container Districts Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
10/12 HB 4999 Prohibits Localities from Taxing Foods and Beverages Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
9/05 AB 841 Restricts Marketing of Unhealthy Foods in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
6/28 SB 615 Amends Agricultural Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10)
6/14 SB 68 Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
4/11 HB 1493 Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
3/14 SF 447 Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)

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