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 9, 2017 | IA | HF 516 | Requires Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| March 7, 2017 | IA | HF 517 | Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| April 20, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | IA | HF 2281 | Authorizes Individuals Under the age of 14 to Posses a Handgun | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| April 30, 2014 | IA | SF 2360 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | IA | HF 2175 | Prohibits Webcam Abortions | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| April 10, 2013 | IA | SF 384 | Prohibits the Removal of an Officer's Communication Device | Bill Passed - House (77 - 17) |
| March 25, 2013 | IA | HF 527 | Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors | Bill Passed - House (79 - 18) |
| March 25, 2013 | IA | HF 527 | Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors | Bill Passed - House (79 - 18) |
| April 3, 2012 | IA | HF 2450 | Prohibits the Use of Traffic Cameras | Bill Passed - House (58 - 42) |
| 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) |
| March 23, 2011 | IA | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| March 8, 2011 | IA | HF 535 | Repeals Statewide Preschool Program | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | IA | HJR 6 | Banning Same Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37) |
| 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 10, 2010 | IA | SF 2357 | Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators | Bill Passed - House (73 - 25) |
| March 10, 2010 | IA | SF 2357 | Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators | Bill Passed - House (73 - 25) |
| 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) |
| March 10, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8381 | Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53) |
| 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 8140 | Animal Abuse and Neglect Penalties | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 52) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8145 | Animal Facility Regulations | Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 53) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | IA | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 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) |
| March 18, 2009 | IA | HF 243 | Gender Requirements for Certain Local Government Positions | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 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 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 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 12, 2008 | IA | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| March 5, 2008 | IA | HF 2359 | Veterans Trust Fund | Bill Passed - House (75 - 21) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | IA | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (56 - 44) |
| April 25, 2007 | IA | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| April 25, 2007 | IA | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| April 18, 2007 | IA | SF 263 | Land-Based Casinos | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| March 29, 2007 | IA | HF 611 | Research-Based Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (55 - 40) |
| March 28, 2007 | IA | HF 877 | Statewide Preschool Program | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| Feb. 22, 2007 | IA | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | IA | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Bill Passed - House (62 - 37) |
| Feb. 1, 2007 | IA | HF 5 | Maximum Title Loan Finance Charge | Bill Passed - House (84 - 12) |
| March 16, 2006 | IA | HF 2671 | Undocumented Immigrants Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (69 - 25) |
| March 7, 2006 | IA | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/09 | HF 516 | Requires Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| 3/07 | HF 517 | Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 4/20 | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| 2/23 | HF 2281 | Authorizes Individuals Under the age of 14 to Posses a Handgun | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| 4/30 | SF 2360 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |
| 2/11 | HF 2175 | Prohibits Webcam Abortions | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| 4/10 | SF 384 | Prohibits the Removal of an Officer's Communication Device | Bill Passed - House (77 - 17) |
| 3/25 | HF 527 | Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors | Bill Passed - House (79 - 18) |
| 3/25 | HF 527 | Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors | Bill Passed - House (79 - 18) |
| 4/03 | HF 2450 | Prohibits the Use of Traffic Cameras | Bill Passed - House (58 - 42) |
| 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) |
| 3/23 | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 3/08 | HF 535 | Repeals Statewide Preschool Program | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
| 2/01 | HJR 6 | Banning Same Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37) |
| 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) |
| 3/10 | SF 2357 | Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators | Bill Passed - House (73 - 25) |
| 3/10 | SF 2357 | Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators | Bill Passed - House (73 - 25) |
| 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) |
| 3/10 | Amdt 8381 | Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53) |
| 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 8140 | Animal Abuse and Neglect Penalties | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 52) |
| 2/17 | Amdt 8145 | Animal Facility Regulations | Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 53) |
| 2/09 | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 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) |
| 3/18 | HF 243 | Gender Requirements for Certain Local Government Positions | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 4/25 | SF 2432 | Prison and Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 4/25 | H 8672 | DUI Appeals | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 50) |
| 4/25 | H 8672 | DUI Appeals | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 50) |
| 4/16 | HF 2686 | Employee Identification Verification | Bill Passed - House (84 - 16) |
| 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) |
| 3/12 | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| 3/05 | HF 2359 | Veterans Trust Fund | Bill Passed - House (75 - 21) |
| 2/19 | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (56 - 44) |
| 4/25 | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| 4/25 | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| 4/18 | SF 263 | Land-Based Casinos | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| 3/29 | HF 611 | Research-Based Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (55 - 40) |
| 3/28 | HF 877 | Statewide Preschool Program | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| 2/22 | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| 2/07 | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Bill Passed - House (62 - 37) |
| 2/01 | HF 5 | Maximum Title Loan Finance Charge | Bill Passed - House (84 - 12) |
| 3/16 | HF 2671 | Undocumented Immigrants Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (69 - 25) |
| 3/07 | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |