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
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 257 Increases Fuel Taxes Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 219 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 257 Increases Fuel Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 270 Prohibits Wage Diversion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Feb. 10, 2015 IA SF 171 Amends Growth Percentage for Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
May 1, 2014 IA SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
April 30, 2014 IA SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
April 25, 2014 IA SF 2318 Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
April 24, 2014 IA SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
April 23, 2014 IA SF 2347 2014-2015 Higher Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
April 7, 2014 IA HF 2462 Prohibits Confidentiality Agreements in State Employee Settlements Bill Passed - House (63 - 35)
March 27, 2014 IA HF 2438 Establishes a Retroactive Heavy Equipment Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 18, 2014 IA SF 2318 Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19)
Feb. 11, 2014 IA HF 2175 Prohibits Webcam Abortions Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Feb. 5, 2014 IA SF 2079 Increases School Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
May 23, 2013 IA SF 446 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 17)
May 22, 2013 IA SF 446 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 24)
May 1, 2013 IA HF 527 Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
May 1, 2013 IA SF 446 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
April 30, 2013 IA HF 638 Appropriates Funds for Infrastructure Projects Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
April 23, 2013 IA SF 447 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
April 18, 2013 IA HF 604 2013-2014 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 17, 2013 IA SF 295 Establishes a Business Property Tax Credit Fund Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
April 17, 2013 IA SF 447 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
April 16, 2013 IA SF 430 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
April 16, 2013 IA SF 440 Appropriates Funds for Mental Health Services Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 16, 2013 IA SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 10, 2013 IA SF 384 Prohibits the Removal of an Officer's Communication Device Bill Passed - House (77 - 17)
April 8, 2013 IA HF 619 Authorizes Use of All-Terrain Vehicles on Certain Roads Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
April 3, 2013 IA SF 430 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
April 1, 2013 IA SF 429 2013-14 Community Colleges Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
March 26, 2013 IA SF 423 Amends Education Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 25, 2013 IA HF 527 Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (79 - 18)
March 25, 2013 IA SF 296 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 20, 2013 IA SF 422 Increases Earned Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
March 13, 2013 IA HF 478 Authorizes an Alternative Flat Income Tax Bill Passed - House (53 - 47)
Feb. 19, 2013 IA HF 215 Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
Feb. 14, 2013 IA SF 162 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2013 IA SF 161 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Jan. 30, 2013 IA SF 52 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
May 9, 2012 IA SF 2315 Amends the Mental Health and Disability Services Program Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 31)
May 8, 2012 IA SF 2284 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 9)
May 8, 2012 IA SF 2284 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 15)
May 8, 2012 IA SF 2344 Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
May 7, 2012 IA HF 2475 Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
April 24, 2012 IA HF 2460 Limits Tax Increment Financing Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 12, 2012 IA S 5206 Prohibits State Funding For Abortions Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 25)
April 9, 2012 IA SF 2284 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
April 3, 2012 IA HF 2450 Prohibits the Use of Traffic Cameras Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/24 SF 257 Increases Fuel Taxes Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
2/24 SF 219 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
2/24 SF 257 Increases Fuel Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
2/24 SF 270 Prohibits Wage Diversion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
2/24 SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
2/10 SF 171 Amends Growth Percentage for Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
5/01 SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
4/30 SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
4/25 SF 2318 Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
4/24 SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
4/23 SF 2347 2014-2015 Higher Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
4/07 HF 2462 Prohibits Confidentiality Agreements in State Employee Settlements Bill Passed - House (63 - 35)
3/27 HF 2438 Establishes a Retroactive Heavy Equipment Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/18 SF 2318 Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19)
2/11 HF 2175 Prohibits Webcam Abortions Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
2/05 SF 2079 Increases School Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
5/23 SF 446 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 17)
5/22 SF 446 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 24)
5/01 HF 527 Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
5/01 SF 446 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
4/30 HF 638 Appropriates Funds for Infrastructure Projects Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
4/23 SF 447 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
4/18 HF 604 2013-2014 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/17 SF 295 Establishes a Business Property Tax Credit Fund Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
4/17 SF 447 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
4/16 SF 430 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
4/16 SF 440 Appropriates Funds for Mental Health Services Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/16 SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/10 SF 384 Prohibits the Removal of an Officer's Communication Device Bill Passed - House (77 - 17)
4/08 HF 619 Authorizes Use of All-Terrain Vehicles on Certain Roads Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
4/03 SF 430 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
4/01 SF 429 2013-14 Community Colleges Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
3/26 SF 423 Amends Education Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/25 HF 527 Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (79 - 18)
3/25 SF 296 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/20 SF 422 Increases Earned Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
3/13 HF 478 Authorizes an Alternative Flat Income Tax Bill Passed - House (53 - 47)
2/19 HF 215 Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
2/14 SF 162 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
2/14 SF 161 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
1/30 SF 52 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
5/09 SF 2315 Amends the Mental Health and Disability Services Program Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 31)
5/08 SF 2284 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 9)
5/08 SF 2284 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 15)
5/08 SF 2344 Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
5/07 HF 2475 Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
4/24 HF 2460 Limits Tax Increment Financing Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/12 S 5206 Prohibits State Funding For Abortions Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 25)
4/09 SF 2284 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
4/03 HF 2450 Prohibits the Use of Traffic Cameras Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)

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