Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
Aug. 17, 2016 CA AB 1887 Prohibits State-Funded Travel to Certain States Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Aug. 17, 2016 CA AB 1785 Prohibits Use of Handheld Electronic Devices While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Aug. 16, 2016 CA AB 2466 Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Aug. 15, 2016 CA AB 1687 Requires Entertainment Database Websites to Remove Actor's Age Upon Request Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Aug. 4, 2016 CA SB 759 Authorizes Early Release for Certain Prisoners in Solitary Confinement Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1674 Limits the Purchase of Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 34)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1135 Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25)
June 30, 2016 CA SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1674 Limits the Purchase of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 2607 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA SB 1446 Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
June 16, 2016 CA SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Bill Passed - House (48 - 28)
June 15, 2016 CA SB 826 Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
June 15, 2016 CA SB 826 Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27)
June 2, 2016 CA SB 10 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 2, 2016 CA AB 2002 Requires Coastal Commission Members to Disclose Private Meetings Bill Passed - House (54 - 23)
June 2, 2016 CA AB 1676 Prohibits Employers from Asking Job Applicants for Salary History Bill Passed - House (47 - 29)
June 2, 2016 CA AB 2757 Requires Overtime Pay for Farmworkers Bill Failed - House (38 - 35)
June 1, 2016 CA SB 1033 Requires Physicians to Disclose Probationary Status Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13)
June 1, 2016 CA AB 2607 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
May 31, 2016 CA SB 10 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
May 31, 2016 CA AB 2466 Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
May 31, 2016 CA SB 1333 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
May 26, 2016 CA SB 1146 Amends Religious Exemption Requirements for Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
May 23, 2016 CA SB 1190 Prohibits Coastal Commission from Engaging in Ex Parte Communications Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 19, 2016 CA AB 1135 Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
May 19, 2016 CA SB 1446 Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 19, 2016 CA SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
May 9, 2016 CA AB 1732 Requires Single User Restrooms to be Gender Neutral Bill Passed - House (55 - 19)
May 2, 2016 CA SB 1129 Repeals Minimum Sentences for Repeat Prostitution Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
April 28, 2016 CA ACR 137 Establishes May 26th as John Wayne Day Resolution Failed - House (36 - 19)
April 25, 2016 CA SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
March 31, 2016 CA SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 31, 2016 CA SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (48 - 26)
March 10, 2016 CA SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
March 10, 2016 CA SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
March 3, 2016 CA SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - House (52 - 21)
March 3, 2016 CA SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
Sept. 11, 2015 CA SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Sept. 11, 2015 CA SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Bill Passed - House (52 - 27)
Sept. 11, 2015 CA AB 329 Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (51 - 26)
Sept. 11, 2015 CA AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Sept. 10, 2015 CA AB 953 Amends "Profiling" Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (43 - 30)
Sept. 10, 2015 CA AB 329 Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Sept. 9, 2015 CA AB 953 Amends "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Sept. 9, 2015 CA AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - House (44 - 35)
Sept. 4, 2015 CA AB 96 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21)
Sept. 4, 2015 CA AB 888 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Sept. 2, 2015 CA AB 96 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Sept. 1, 2015 CA SB 707 Prohibits Concealed Firearms on School Grounds Bill Passed - House (54 - 24)
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)
Aug. 20, 2015 CA AB 1100 Increases Ballot Initiative Fee Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 31)
Aug. 17, 2015 CA AB 1100 Increases Ballot Initiative Fee Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
July 16, 2015 CA SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - House (41 - 33)
June 29, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 25, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
June 19, 2015 CA SB 88 Amends Water Use Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 19, 2015 CA SB 88 Amends Water Use Regulations Bill Passed - House (52 - 28)
June 4, 2015 CA SB 128 Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 548 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 788 Repeals Offshore Oil and Gas Leases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 32 Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 185 Requires Public Retirement Systems to Divest from Coal Companies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 2, 2015 CA AB 1461 Establishes the California New Motor Voter Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 140 Prohibits Smoking Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Indoor Areas Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 151 Increases Smoking Age Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 4 Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 124 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 1, 2015 CA AB 718 Authorizes Sleeping in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
June 1, 2015 CA SB 588 Authorizes Labor Commissioner to Enforce the Payment of Wages Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
8/17 AB 1887 Prohibits State-Funded Travel to Certain States Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
8/17 AB 1785 Prohibits Use of Handheld Electronic Devices While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
8/16 AB 2466 Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
8/15 AB 1687 Requires Entertainment Database Websites to Remove Actor's Age Upon Request Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
8/04 SB 759 Authorizes Early Release for Certain Prisoners in Solitary Confinement Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
6/30 AB 1674 Limits the Purchase of Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 34)
6/30 AB 1135 Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30)
6/30 AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25)
6/30 SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/30 AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/30 SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
6/30 AB 1674 Limits the Purchase of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/30 AB 2607 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
6/30 SB 1446 Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
6/16 SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Bill Passed - House (48 - 28)
6/15 SB 826 Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
6/15 SB 826 Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27)
6/02 SB 10 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/02 AB 2002 Requires Coastal Commission Members to Disclose Private Meetings Bill Passed - House (54 - 23)
6/02 AB 1676 Prohibits Employers from Asking Job Applicants for Salary History Bill Passed - House (47 - 29)
6/02 AB 2757 Requires Overtime Pay for Farmworkers Bill Failed - House (38 - 35)
6/01 SB 1033 Requires Physicians to Disclose Probationary Status Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13)
6/01 AB 2607 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
5/31 SB 10 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
5/31 AB 2466 Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
5/31 SB 1333 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
5/26 SB 1146 Amends Religious Exemption Requirements for Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
5/23 SB 1190 Prohibits Coastal Commission from Engaging in Ex Parte Communications Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/19 AB 1135 Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
5/19 SB 1446 Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/19 SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
5/09 AB 1732 Requires Single User Restrooms to be Gender Neutral Bill Passed - House (55 - 19)
5/02 SB 1129 Repeals Minimum Sentences for Repeat Prostitution Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
4/28 ACR 137 Establishes May 26th as John Wayne Day Resolution Failed - House (36 - 19)
4/25 SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
3/31 SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/31 SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (48 - 26)
3/10 SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
3/10 SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
3/03 SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - House (52 - 21)
3/03 SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
9/11 SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
9/11 SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Bill Passed - House (52 - 27)
9/11 AB 329 Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (51 - 26)
9/11 AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
9/10 AB 953 Amends "Profiling" Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (43 - 30)
9/10 AB 329 Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
9/09 AB 953 Amends "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
9/09 AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - House (44 - 35)
9/04 AB 96 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21)
9/04 AB 888 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
9/02 AB 96 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
9/01 SB 707 Prohibits Concealed Firearms on School Grounds Bill Passed - House (54 - 24)
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)
8/20 AB 1100 Increases Ballot Initiative Fee Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 31)
8/17 AB 1100 Increases Ballot Initiative Fee Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
7/16 SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - House (41 - 33)
6/29 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/25 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
6/19 SB 88 Amends Water Use Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/19 SB 88 Amends Water Use Regulations Bill Passed - House (52 - 28)
6/04 SB 128 Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/03 SB 548 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/03 SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/03 SB 788 Repeals Offshore Oil and Gas Leases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/03 SB 32 Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/03 SB 185 Requires Public Retirement Systems to Divest from Coal Companies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/02 AB 1461 Establishes the California New Motor Voter Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
6/02 SB 140 Prohibits Smoking Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Indoor Areas Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/02 SB 151 Increases Smoking Age Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/02 SB 4 Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
6/02 SB 124 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/01 AB 718 Authorizes Sleeping in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
6/01 SB 588 Authorizes Labor Commissioner to Enforce the Payment of Wages Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)

arrow_upward