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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 15, 2021 | CA | AB 133 | Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| June 21, 2021 | CA | AB 439 | Requires Listing the Gender Identity of a Deceased Individual on their Death Certificate | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
| June 2, 2021 | CA | AB 1550 | Establishes New Rules Regarding Higher Education Labor Relations | Bill Passed - House (61 - 16) |
| June 2, 2021 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Cities to Rezone Certain Lands for Low-Income Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| June 1, 2021 | CA | SB 519 | Authorizes the Decriminalization of Psychedelic Drugs for Veterans Suffering from PTSD | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| June 1, 2021 | CA | SB 464 | Authorizes Food Assistance Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| May 27, 2021 | CA | AB 816 | Requires State and Local Governments to Develop Plans to Reduce Homelessness | Bill Passed - House (55 - 15) |
| May 20, 2021 | CA | AB 978 | Establishes Rent Stabilization and Protections for Mobile Home Owners | Bill Passed - House (50 - 19) |
| May 13, 2021 | CA | AB 1184 | Establishes Privacy Rights for Gender-Affirming Care | Bill Passed - House (59 - 13) |
| May 10, 2021 | CA | AB 616 | Authorizes "Card Check" for Farm Workers Unions | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | CA | AB 133 | Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (56 - 18) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | CA | AB 133 | Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (56 - 18) |
| Feb. 22, 2021 | CA | SB 132 | Requires the University of California to Place all Construction Funds Into an Account With the State Controller | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Jan. 15, 2021 | CA | AB 81 | Extends Unemployment Benefits During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - House (48 - 13) |
| Jan. 11, 2021 | CA | AR 7 | Alleges that Donald Trump Should be Removed from Office | Bill Passed - House (51 - 6) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 1869 | Repeals Certain Judicial Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 17) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | SB 132 | Authorizes Incarcerated Transgendered Individuals to be Housed by Gender Identity | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 1869 | Repeals Certain Judicial Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 1876 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrant Workers to Qualify for State Tax Returns | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | SB 1383 | Expands Protections for Paid Family Leave | Bill Passed - House (46 - 16) |
| Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | SB 973 | Requires Employers to Submit Annual Pay Data Report | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 826 | Establishes a Disaster Food Assistance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | SB 132 | Authorizes Incarcerated Transgendered Individuals to be Housed by Gender Identity | Bill Passed - House (52 - 15) |
| Aug. 29, 2020 | CA | AB 2405 | Establishes a Right to Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| July 2, 2020 | CA | SB 1383 | Expands Protections for Paid Family Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| June 25, 2020 | CA | ACA 11 | Establishes the "Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| June 25, 2020 | CA | ACA 11 | Establishes the "Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| June 10, 2020 | CA | AB 2405 | Establishes a Right to Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - House (64 - 5) |
| Jan. 23, 2020 | CA | AB 323 | Establishes the Save Local Journalism Act | Bill Passed - House (77 - 0) |
| Jan. 23, 2020 | CA | AB 323 | Establishes the Save Local Journalism Act | Bill Passed - House (77 - 0) |
| Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 16) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | SB 142 | Requires Additional Lactation Accommodations for Employees | Bill Passed - House (57 - 13) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | SB 329 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters | Bill Passed - House (46 - 21) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1282 | Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 16) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1291 | Requires Cannabis Businesses to Enter Into Labor Peace Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 14) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 35 | Requires Reporting on Employee Blood Level Testing for Lead | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1282 | Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1291 | Requires Cannabis Businesses to Enter Into Labor Peace Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 175 | Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 175 | Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 500 | Requires Paid Maternity Leave for California Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 711 | Authorizes High School Document Name Changes Regarding Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 29 | Expands Medi-Cal Program Eligibility to Undocumented Immigrants Ages 19-25 or 65 and Older | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 4 | Authorizes Medi-Cal Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (51 - 17) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 35 | Requires Reporting on Employee Blood Level Testing for Lead | Bill Passed - House (49 - 22) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 493 | Specifies Biennial LGBTQ Teacher Training be Encouraged | Bill Passed - House (61 - 0) |
| May 24, 2019 | CA | AB 1593 | Authorizes Certain Tax Breaks for Undocumented Families | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 132 | Authorizes Inmate Housing According to Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 329 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 22, 2019 | CA | AB 163 | Requires State Oversight of Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors | Bill Passed - House (60 - 5) |
| May 22, 2019 | CA | AB 175 | Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 8) |
| May 22, 2019 | CA | AB 175 | Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 8) |
| May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 142 | Requires Additional Lactation Accommodations for Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| April 11, 2019 | CA | SB 92 | Amends Tax Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| April 11, 2019 | CA | SB 92 | Amends Tax Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| April 11, 2019 | CA | AB 101 | Prohibits Citizens' Right to Appeal the Building of Homeless Navigation Centers | Bill Passed - House (54 - 13) |
| Aug. 24, 2018 | CA | SB 820 | Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| Aug. 23, 2018 | CA | SB 820 | Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases | Bill Passed - House (56 - 19) |
| Aug. 6, 2018 | CA | SB 892 | Authorizes the Official Recognition of the Lunar New Year | Bill Passed - House (75 - 0) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | AB 2965 | Authorizes Medicaid Benefits for Undocumented Children | Bill Passed - House (47 - 25) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | AB 3080 | Prohibits Nondisclosure Agreements Regarding Workplace Harassment | Bill Passed - House (47 - 25) |
| May 10, 2018 | CA | SB 785 | Prohibits Irrelevant Disclosures of Immigration Status in Open Court | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| April 9, 2018 | CA | AB 1976 | Amends Lactation Accommodation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (57 - 1) |
| Sept. 16, 2017 | CA | SB 54 | Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| Sept. 15, 2017 | CA | SB 54 | Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| Sept. 14, 2017 | CA | SB 179 | Recognizes Nonbinary as an Official Legal Gender | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| Sept. 13, 2017 | CA | SB 179 | Recognizes Nonbinary as an Official Legal Gender | Bill Passed - House (57 - 21) |
| Sept. 11, 2017 | CA | AB 291 | Prohibits Landlords from Disclosing Immigration Status of Tenants | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 20) |
| April 3, 2017 | CA | SB 54 | Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| June 2, 2016 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| May 31, 2016 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| May 9, 2016 | CA | AB 1732 | Requires Single User Restrooms to be Gender Neutral | Bill Passed - House (55 - 19) |
| 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) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | AB 329 | Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| Sept. 10, 2015 | CA | AB 329 | Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 548 | Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 548 | Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 4 | Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| June 1, 2015 | CA | AB 718 | Authorizes Sleeping in Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (56 - 15) |
| June 1, 2015 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1159 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to Receive Professional Licenses | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1253 | Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 935 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1576 | Amends the Health and Safety Provisions for Adult Films | Bill Passed - House (48 - 13) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 60 | Authorizes Driver's License for Undocumented Immigrants | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 60 | Authorizes Driver's License for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Sept. 10, 2013 | CA | AB 4 | Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| Sept. 9, 2013 | CA | AB 4 | Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Aug. 8, 2013 | CA | AB 817 | Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| July 8, 2013 | CA | AB 817 | Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| July 3, 2013 | CA | AB 1266 | Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| June 27, 2013 | CA | AB 277 | Authorizes Gaming on Traditional Tribal Territory | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| May 29, 2013 | CA | SB 323 | Prohibits Tax-Exempt Status for Organizations that Discriminate Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| May 29, 2013 | CA | AB 60 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |