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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 10, 2015 | IA | HF 352 | Requires State Agencies to Use a Zero-Base Budget | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 257 | Increases Fuel Taxes | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 171 | Amends Growth Percentage for Budget | Bill Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| 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 7, 2014 | IA | HF 2462 | Prohibits Confidentiality Agreements in State Employee Settlements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 35) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | IA | HF 2175 | Prohibits Webcam Abortions | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| May 23, 2013 | IA | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 17) |
| May 1, 2013 | IA | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| April 23, 2013 | IA | SF 447 | 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| April 17, 2013 | IA | SF 295 | Establishes a Business Property Tax Credit Fund | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| April 16, 2013 | IA | SF 430 | 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 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) |
| March 25, 2013 | IA | HF 527 | Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors | Bill Passed - House (79 - 18) |
| 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) |
| 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 7, 2012 | IA | HF 2475 | Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| April 3, 2012 | IA | HF 2450 | Prohibits the Use of Traffic Cameras | Bill Passed - House (58 - 42) |
| March 13, 2012 | IA | HF 2385 | Authorizes Professionals to Teach Certain High School Courses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| March 13, 2012 | IA | HF 2380 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | IA | HJR 2009 | Prohibiting Mandatory Licensing and Registration of Guns | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | IA | HF 2215 | Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | IA | HF 589 | Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | IA | HF 2274 | Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| June 30, 2011 | IA | HF 649 | Appropriations for Health and Human Services | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 33) |
| June 8, 2011 | IA | SF 534 | Abortion Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (54 - 37) |
| June 8, 2011 | IA | HF 697 | State Budget for 2011-2012 | Bill Passed - House (54 - 38) |
| May 10, 2011 | IA | SF 522 | Establishing a Property Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (58 - 40) |
| March 28, 2011 | IA | HF 590 | Establishes Economic Programs | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| March 23, 2011 | IA | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| March 22, 2011 | IA | HF 534 | School Instructional Hours and Days | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| March 8, 2011 | IA | HF 535 | Repeals Statewide Preschool Program | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | IA | HF 260 | House Rule School Governance | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | IA | HF 194 | Individual Income Tax Rate Reduction | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | IA | HF 111 | Purchase of Health Care | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | IA | HJR 6 | Banning Same Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37) |
| March 30, 2010 | IA | HF 2531 | Appropriations and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 48) |
| March 29, 2010 | IA | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| March 29, 2010 | IA | SF 2379 | Requiring County Sheriffs to Issue Concealed Weapons Permits to Qualified Applicants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| March 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33) |
| March 22, 2010 | IA | SF 2376 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| March 22, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8522 | Allowing Cuts to Teacher Salary Supplement | Amendment Rejected - House (49 - 50) |
| March 19, 2010 | IA | SF 2380 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| March 17, 2010 | IA | HF 2518 | Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| March 10, 2010 | IA | SF 2357 | Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators | Bill Passed - House (73 - 25) |
| March 10, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8381 | Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53) |
| Feb. 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8145 | Animal Facility Regulations | Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 53) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8140 | Animal Abuse and Neglect Penalties | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 52) |
| Feb. 12, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8053 | Omnibus Spending Cuts Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (43 - 54) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | IA | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54) |
| Jan. 26, 2010 | IA | HF 2110 | Military Spouse Relocation Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (56 - 44) |
| April 25, 2009 | IA | SF 477 | Appropriation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| April 24, 2009 | IA | SF 376 | Bonds Issuance for Infrastructure Projects and the Creation of an Iowa Jobs Program, Board, and Fund. | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| March 18, 2009 | IA | HF 243 | Gender Requirements for Certain Local Government Positions | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| March 17, 2009 | IA | HF 670 | Early Absentee Vote Counting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | IA | HF 414 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | IA | SF 218 | Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | IA | HF 333 | Wage Standards for Public Project Workers | Bill Failed - House (49 - 49) |
| Feb. 18, 2009 | IA | HF 311 | Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| Jan. 29, 2009 | IA | SF 44 | Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas | Bill Passed - House (55 - 37) |
| April 25, 2008 | IA | SF 2425 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| April 25, 2008 | IA | SF 2432 | Prison and Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| April 25, 2008 | IA | H 8672 | DUI Appeals | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 50) |
| April 16, 2008 | IA | HF 2686 | Employee Identification Verification | Bill Passed - House (84 - 16) |
| April 16, 2008 | IA | SF 2420 | Increasing Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - House (53 - 47) |
| April 14, 2008 | IA | SF 2216 | State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools | Bill Passed - House (97 - 3) |
| April 10, 2008 | IA | SJR 2002 | Natural Resources Trust Fund | Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 10) |
| April 9, 2008 | IA | HF 2663 | Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| April 8, 2008 | IA | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
| March 20, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| March 19, 2008 | IA | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/10 | HF 352 | Requires State Agencies to Use a Zero-Base Budget | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| 2/24 | SF 257 | Increases Fuel Taxes | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| 2/24 | SF 171 | Amends Growth Percentage for Budget | Bill Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| 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) |
| 4/07 | HF 2462 | Prohibits Confidentiality Agreements in State Employee Settlements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 35) |
| 2/11 | HF 2175 | Prohibits Webcam Abortions | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| 5/23 | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 17) |
| 5/01 | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 4/23 | SF 447 | 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| 4/17 | SF 295 | Establishes a Business Property Tax Credit Fund | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 4/16 | SF 430 | 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 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) |
| 3/25 | HF 527 | Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors | Bill Passed - House (79 - 18) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 5/07 | HF 2475 | Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| 4/03 | HF 2450 | Prohibits the Use of Traffic Cameras | Bill Passed - House (58 - 42) |
| 3/13 | HF 2385 | Authorizes Professionals to Teach Certain High School Courses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| 3/13 | HF 2380 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| 2/29 | HJR 2009 | Prohibiting Mandatory Licensing and Registration of Guns | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 37) |
| 2/29 | HF 2215 | Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| 2/28 | HF 589 | Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28) |
| 2/14 | HF 2274 | Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| 6/30 | HF 649 | Appropriations for Health and Human Services | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 33) |
| 6/08 | SF 534 | Abortion Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (54 - 37) |
| 6/08 | HF 697 | State Budget for 2011-2012 | Bill Passed - House (54 - 38) |
| 5/10 | SF 522 | Establishing a Property Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (58 - 40) |
| 3/28 | HF 590 | Establishes Economic Programs | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| 3/23 | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 3/22 | HF 534 | School Instructional Hours and Days | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| 3/08 | HF 535 | Repeals Statewide Preschool Program | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
| 2/17 | HF 260 | House Rule School Governance | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| 2/16 | HF 194 | Individual Income Tax Rate Reduction | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| 2/02 | HF 111 | Purchase of Health Care | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 2/01 | HJR 6 | Banning Same Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37) |
| 3/30 | HF 2531 | Appropriations and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 48) |
| 3/29 | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| 3/29 | SF 2379 | Requiring County Sheriffs to Issue Concealed Weapons Permits to Qualified Applicants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 3/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33) |
| 3/22 | SF 2376 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| 3/22 | Amdt 8522 | Allowing Cuts to Teacher Salary Supplement | Amendment Rejected - House (49 - 50) |
| 3/19 | SF 2380 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| 3/17 | HF 2518 | Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 3/10 | SF 2357 | Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators | Bill Passed - House (73 - 25) |
| 3/10 | Amdt 8381 | Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53) |
| 2/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| 2/17 | Amdt 8145 | Animal Facility Regulations | Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 53) |
| 2/17 | Amdt 8140 | Animal Abuse and Neglect Penalties | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 52) |
| 2/12 | Amdt 8053 | Omnibus Spending Cuts Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (43 - 54) |
| 2/09 | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54) |
| 1/26 | HF 2110 | Military Spouse Relocation Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (56 - 44) |
| 4/25 | SF 477 | Appropriation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| 4/24 | SF 376 | Bonds Issuance for Infrastructure Projects and the Creation of an Iowa Jobs Program, Board, and Fund. | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 3/18 | HF 243 | Gender Requirements for Certain Local Government Positions | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 3/17 | HF 670 | Early Absentee Vote Counting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
| 2/26 | HF 414 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| 2/26 | SF 218 | Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
| 2/19 | HF 333 | Wage Standards for Public Project Workers | Bill Failed - House (49 - 49) |
| 2/18 | HF 311 | Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| 1/29 | SF 44 | Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas | Bill Passed - House (55 - 37) |
| 4/25 | SF 2425 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| 4/25 | SF 2432 | Prison and Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 4/25 | H 8672 | DUI Appeals | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 50) |
| 4/16 | HF 2686 | Employee Identification Verification | Bill Passed - House (84 - 16) |
| 4/16 | SF 2420 | Increasing Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - House (53 - 47) |
| 4/14 | SF 2216 | State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools | Bill Passed - House (97 - 3) |
| 4/10 | SJR 2002 | Natural Resources Trust Fund | Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 10) |
| 4/09 | HF 2663 | Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| 4/08 | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
| 3/20 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 3/19 | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |