Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 27, 2022 | OK | SB 169 | Authorizes To-Go Cocktails | Bill Passed - House (62 - 27) |
| Nov. 6, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| Nov. 6, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| Aug. 23, 2022 | CA | AB 1341 | Prohibits the Sale of Weight Loss and Over-the-Counter Dietary Pills to Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
| June 18, 2020 | GA | HB 545 | Reduces Statute of Limitations for Certain Nuisance Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| March 3, 2016 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
| March 17, 2020 | MD | HB 732 | Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| May 8, 2013 | MO | SB 114 | Amends Homebrewed Beer and Liquor Distributor Regulations | Bill Passed - House (110 - 48) |
| March 3, 2016 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| June 5, 2023 | LA | HB 537 | Prohibits the Chinese Government and its Citizens from Purchasing Agricultural Land in the State | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| June 23, 2020 | GA | HB 879 | Authorizes Retailers to Deliver Alcohol to Residents | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
| May 15, 2020 | OK | SB 1714 | Repeals Certain Regulations for Selling Homemade Food Items | Bill Passed - House (69 - 13) |
| March 9, 2024 | WV | HB 4793 | Authorizes Individuals 21 and Older to Manufacture Moonshine for Personal or Family Use | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| May 18, 2023 | IL | SB 850 | Authorizes the State Government to Declare Food Deserts | Bill Passed - House (96 - 17) |
| Jan. 16, 2020 | MA | H 4218 | Requires School Districts Offer Breakfast After Instruction Begins | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
| Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 826 | Establishes a Disaster Food Assistance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| June 17, 2020 | MS | HB 1087 | Rescinds the Prohibition on Alcohol Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | TN | SB 837 | Authorizes the Sale of Wine in Grocery Stores | Bill Passed - House (71 - 15) |
| Sept. 22, 2020 | SC | S 1099 | Prohibits Manufactures of Alcoholic Beverages from Imposing Restrictions on Wholesaler's Conduct | Bill Passed - House (76 - 13) |
| March 4, 2020 | WA | SB 5947 | Establishes the Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| Oct. 15, 2014 | PA | HB 1750 | Prohibits Pigeon Shoots | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| April 11, 2023 | WA | HB 1238 | Expands Washington's Free School Lunch Program | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| April 12, 2013 | WA | HB 1001 | Establishes a Liquor License for Small Theaters | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| April 12, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
| Aug. 25, 2016 | CA | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Bill Passed - House (50 - 26) |
| Feb. 24, 2023 | SD | HB 1090 | Authorizes Protections for Farmers and Agricultural Operations from Frivolous Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| May 13, 2021 | AZ | HB 2773 | Authorizes Restaurants to Sell To-Go Cocktails | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| Aug. 29, 2022 | CA | SB 222 | Establishes a State Water Rate Assistance Program | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
| Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 1066 | Requires Overtime Pay for Farmworkers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Aug. 26, 2021 | CA | AB 616 | Authorizes "Card Check" for Farm Workers Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 1, 2016 | IN | HB 1386 | Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| Aug. 29, 2022 | CA | AB 2183 | Authorizes Farm Workers to Unionize by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Bill Passed - House (51 - 20) |
| Aug. 20, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| March 7, 2023 | MS | SB 2523 | Increases Penalties for Illegal Pecan Harvesting | Bill Passed - House (104 - 5) |
| 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) |
| March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 300 | Prohibits Use of Chlorpyrifos | Bill Passed - House (94 - 37) |
| April 7, 2015 | OK | SB 71 | Expands the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act | Bill Passed - House (51 - 43) |
| March 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| March 21, 2024 | GA | SB 420 | Prohibits Foreign Governments from Buying Agricultural Land in Georgia | Bill Passed - House (97 - 67) |
| Feb. 16, 2024 | UT | HB 363 | Establishes Livestock Grazing as a Constitutional Right | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0) |
| April 16, 2024 | PA | SB 979 | Requires Agriculture Businesses and Professionals Post Public Notices On-Site About Dangerous Transmissible Diseases | Bill Passed - House (166 - 34) |
| May 14, 2019 | MO | SB 391 | Prohibits Local Officials from Regulating Industrial Farms | Bill Passed - House (103 - 44) |
| April 26, 2023 | OR | SB 545 | Requires the Oregon Health Authority to Adopt Rules Allowing Restaurants to Allow Consumers to Use Their Own Takeout Containers | Bill Passed - House (39 - 17) |
| Feb. 28, 2018 | MS | SB 2588 | Authorizes Localities to Designate Open Container Districts | Bill Passed - House (88 - 29) |
| March 6, 2013 | MS | SB 2687 | Prohibits Local Government Management of Nutrition Labeling | Bill Passed - House (92 - 26) |
| April 15, 2015 | OK | SB 383 | Amends State Liquor Laws | Bill Passed - House (68 - 21) |
| Dec. 4, 2014 | MI | SB 247 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol until 4 a.m. | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| June 27, 2019 | DE | HB 79 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| May 17, 2023 | IL | HB 3892 | Authorizes the Development of Urban Gardening at Affordable Housing Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 11) |
| June 29, 2022 | NJ | S 772 | Establishes New Jersey Minority, Women, and Under-Served Farmer Registry | Bill Passed - House (74 - 4) |
| March 26, 2024 | KY | SB 16 | Increases Various Corporate Trespass Laws and Penalties and Limits Whistleblowing | Bill Passed - House (72 - 25) |
| March 19, 2015 | NM | SB 503 | Authorizes Beer and Wine Delivery Licenses | Bill Passed - House (48 - 18) |
| Oct. 26, 2022 | PA | SB 431 | Amends Hunting and Furtaking Licenses | Bill Passed - House (174 - 24) |
| Feb. 13, 2024 | WV | SB 171 | Prohibits County Commissions from Authorizing Limits that Exceed State Law Regarding Agriculture | Bill Passed - House (84 - 16) |
| March 12, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 37) |
| Feb. 28, 2019 | UT | SB 58 | Establishes the "Kratom Consumer Protection Act" | Bill Passed - House (39 - 34) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | ID | S 1337 | Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations | Bill Passed - House (56 - 14) |
| April 17, 2013 | TN | SB 1248 | Requires Disclosure of Photographic Evidence of Animal Abuse | Bill Passed - House (50 - 43) |
| June 16, 2021 | PA | HB 1154 | Authorizes Certain Stores to Sell Mixed Alcoholic Beverages To-Go | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| April 16, 2024 | PA | SB 979 | Requires Agriculture Businesses and Professionals Post Public Notices On-Site About Dangerous Transmissible Diseases | Bill Passed - House (166 - 34) |
| March 4, 2015 | KY | HB 168 | Prohibits Out-of-State Breweries from Holding Alcohol Distributors Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| March 20, 2015 | NM | SB 94 | Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research | Bill Passed - House (54 - 12) |
| March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 6261 | Expands Farm Labor Contractor System | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| April 11, 2014 | AK | HB 309 | Authorizes Distilleries to Sell Alcohol Directly to Individuals | Bill Passed - House (29 - 5) |
| March 5, 2020 | NJ | A 2371 | Requires Recycling of Food Waste | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| May 9, 2013 | TX | SB 376 | Establishes a Free Breakfast Program for Students | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| March 3, 2022 | OR | HB 4002 | Requires Overtime Pay for Farm Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10) |
| May 7, 2013 | AL | HB 9 | Authorizes Home Brewing | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| June 5, 2020 | IA | SF 2413 | Increases Penalties for Trespassing on Animal Food Operations | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| March 11, 2015 | GA | SB 103 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages 1 Sunday Each Year | Bill Passed - House (144 - 21) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | IN | SB 339 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol at the Indiana State Fair | Bill Passed - House (75 - 20) |
| March 7, 2022 | WY | SF 9 | Establishes Bonds for Agricultural Processing Endeavors | Bill Passed - House (44 - 14) |
| June 24, 2020 | MI | HB 5781 | Authorizes the Creation of Social Districts for Alcohol Consumption | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |
| June 10, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1343 | Requires Colorado Eggs to be Cage-Free by 2025 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 3, 2024 | IA | SF 2391 | Prohibits Misbranding of Certain Food Products | Bill Passed - House (60 - 34) |
| June 21, 2017 | WI | SB 68 | Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| April 26, 2017 | FL | SB 106 | Revises Provisions on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| April 6, 2022 | IL | HB 5201 | Establishes Agriculture Equity Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 2) |
| Feb. 14, 2023 | NY | S 819 | Requires Food Allergy Awareness be Posted in Non-English Languages | Bill Passed - House (97 - 44) |
| April 11, 2017 | WA | HB 1493 | Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| May 23, 2013 | ME | LD 1546 | Expands Medicaid and Authorizes Liquor Operation Bonds | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| March 23, 2015 | AZ | HB 2150 | Amends Animal Cruelty Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| April 10, 2013 | AR | HB 1536 | Authorizes Sale of Unpasteurized Whole Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Jan. 26, 2021 | NY | S 1042 | Extends Aid to Small Businesses and Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (130 - 20) |
| April 3, 2024 | IA | SF 2391 | Prohibits Misbranding of Certain Food Products | Bill Passed - House (60 - 34) |
| June 28, 2018 | National | HR 2 | Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 11) |
| March 23, 2016 | MD | SB 1159 | Amends Baltimore Board of Liquor License Commissioners Appointment Regulations | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
| May 31, 2023 | OR | SB 643 | Authorizes the Individual Sale of Home Baked Goods | Bill Passed - House (43 - 11) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | NJ | S 998 | Prohibits Confinement of Pregnant Pigs in Certain Enclosures | Bill Passed - House (53 - 13) |
| Oct. 12, 2017 | MI | HB 4999 | Prohibits Localities from Taxing Foods and Beverages | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| March 12, 2015 | UT | HB 48 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| Nov. 20, 2023 | CO | SB 23B-002 | Requires the State Join the Federal Food Assistance Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 16) |
| March 22, 2017 | IA | SF 447 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| April 1, 2019 | NY | A 558 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 9) |
| March 13, 2019 | UT | SB 132 | Increases Alcohol Cap for Beer Sales | Bill Passed - House (61 - 14) |
| June 3, 2019 | ME | LD 351 | Requires Accuracy of Maine's Meat and Poultry Labeling | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (101 - 37) |
| March 11, 2020 | NH | HB 1410 | Prohibits Use of Flavors in Vaping Products | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (192 - 143) |
| April 9, 2021 | NH | HB 183 | Prohibits Municipalities from Requiring a License for a Soft Drink Stand | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (211 - 163) |
| June 3, 2019 | ME | LD 351 | Requires Accuracy of Maine's Meat and Poultry Labeling | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (101 - 37) |