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
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)
Feb. 28, 2018 MS SB 2588 Authorizes Localities to Designate Open Container Districts Bill Passed - House (88 - 29)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Aug. 30, 2016 CA SB 1333 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Aug. 25, 2016 CA SB 1333 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks Bill Passed - House (50 - 26)
July 7, 2016 National S 764 Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30)
May 31, 2016 CA SB 1333 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
May 26, 2016 NJ S 359 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
May 26, 2016 LA HB 67 Prohibits Minors from Possessing Alcohol on Private Property Bill Failed - House (48 - 37)
May 18, 2016 IL SB 3011 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
April 28, 2016 MA S 2269 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
April 18, 2016 LA SB 29 Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 31, 2016 MO HB 1786 Prohibits Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (95 - 56)
March 30, 2016 AK SB 1 Prohibits Smoking in Public Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
March 23, 2016 MD SB 1159 Amends Baltimore Board of Liquor License Commissioners Appointment Regulations Bill Passed - House (90 - 46)
March 10, 2016 CA SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
March 10, 2016 CA SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
March 7, 2016 IN HB 1386 Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 30)
March 3, 2016 CA SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
March 3, 2016 CA SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - House (52 - 21)
March 3, 2016 MO SB 919 Authorizes Breweries to Lease Coolers to Stores Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
March 1, 2016 IN HB 1386 Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
March 1, 2016 OK SJR 68 Authorizes the Public to Vote on Beer and Wine Sales Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
Feb. 26, 2016 ID H 331 Prohibits Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (42 - 24)
Feb. 12, 2016 National HR 2017 Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (266 - 144)
Feb. 2, 2016 IN HB 1247 Establishes State Park Liquor Permit Bill Passed - House (58 - 38)
Jan. 14, 2016 KY SB 200 Amends Alcohol Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Aug. 27, 2015 CA SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Aug. 27, 2015 CA SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
July 23, 2015 National HR 1599 Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (275 - 150)
June 10, 2015 National HR 2393 Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (300 - 131)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 151 Increases Smoking Age Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 140 Prohibits Smoking Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Indoor Areas Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 14, 2015 CT HB 6283 Prohibits E-Cigarettes in Public Spaces Bill Passed - House (99 - 46)
May 13, 2015 WI AB 177 Limits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Purchases Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
May 11, 2015 OR HB 2546 Prohibits Sale of Electronic Cigarettes to Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 28, 2015 HI SB 550 Prohibits Powdered Alcohol Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 2)
April 24, 2015 HI SB 1030 Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/09 H 4479 Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (147 - 4)
5/02 S 2350 Prohibits Advertising Unhealthy Food in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
5/01 HB 2470 Amends Alcoholic Beverage Laws Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 28)
4/19 HB 2155 Authorizes State to Regulate Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (117 - 30)
2/28 SB 2588 Authorizes Localities to Designate Open Container Districts Bill Passed - House (88 - 29)
2/06 HR 772 Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (266 - 157)
2/05 SB 2588 Authorizes Localities to Designate Open Container Districts Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
1/31 HB 415 Amends Alcoholic Beverage Regulations (86 - 26)
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)
4/26 SB 106 Revises Provisions on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages Bill Passed - House (58 - 57)
4/11 HB 1493 Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
3/08 HB 442 Amends Certain Restrictions Regarding the Sale of Alcohol Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 17)
3/02 HB 1493 Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data Bill Passed - House (81 - 17)
2/27 HB 541 Authorizes Small Breweries to Sell 60,000 Barrels of Beer per Year Bill Passed - House (94 - 6)
8/30 SB 1333 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
8/25 SB 1333 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks Bill Passed - House (50 - 26)
7/07 S 764 Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30)
5/31 SB 1333 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
5/26 S 359 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
5/26 HB 67 Prohibits Minors from Possessing Alcohol on Private Property Bill Failed - House (48 - 37)
5/18 SB 3011 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
4/28 S 2269 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
4/18 SB 29 Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/31 HB 1786 Prohibits Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (95 - 56)
3/30 SB 1 Prohibits Smoking in Public Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
3/23 SB 1159 Amends Baltimore Board of Liquor License Commissioners Appointment Regulations Bill Passed - House (90 - 46)
3/10 SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
3/10 SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
3/07 HB 1386 Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 30)
3/03 SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
3/03 SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - House (52 - 21)
3/03 SB 919 Authorizes Breweries to Lease Coolers to Stores Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
3/01 HB 1386 Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
3/01 SJR 68 Authorizes the Public to Vote on Beer and Wine Sales Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
2/26 H 331 Prohibits Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (42 - 24)
2/12 HR 2017 Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (266 - 144)
2/02 HB 1247 Establishes State Park Liquor Permit Bill Passed - House (58 - 38)
1/14 SB 200 Amends Alcohol Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
8/27 SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
8/27 SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
7/23 HR 1599 Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (275 - 150)
6/10 HR 2393 Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (300 - 131)
6/02 SB 151 Increases Smoking Age Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/02 SB 140 Prohibits Smoking Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Indoor Areas Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/14 HB 6283 Prohibits E-Cigarettes in Public Spaces Bill Passed - House (99 - 46)
5/13 AB 177 Limits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Purchases Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
5/11 HB 2546 Prohibits Sale of Electronic Cigarettes to Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/28 SB 550 Prohibits Powdered Alcohol Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 2)
4/24 SB 1030 Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 4)

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