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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1640 | Expands Cash Assistance Programs for Pregnant Teenagers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 26) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | SB 1476 | Authorizes Courts to Designate More than 2 Individuals as Parents of a Child | Bill Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 2109 | Requires Parents to Obtain a Waiver for Unvaccinated Children | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 1640 | Expands Cash Assistance Programs for Pregnant Teenagers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Aug. 20, 2012 | CA | SB 9 | Sentence Reconsideration for Juvenile Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Aug. 16, 2012 | CA | SB 9 | Sentence Reconsideration for Juvenile Offenders | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| May 31, 2012 | CA | SB 1140 | Exempts Religious Institutions from Performing Same-Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| May 30, 2012 | CA | SB 1172 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 30, 2012 | CA | SB 1476 | Authorizes Courts to Designate More than 2 Individuals as Parents of a Child | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | AB 101 | Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | AB 101 | Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 26) |
| Sept. 2, 2011 | CA | SB 746 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| Sept. 1, 2011 | CA | SB 746 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors | Bill Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| Aug. 31, 2011 | CA | AB 499 | Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| Aug. 30, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 23, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
| May 12, 2011 | CA | AB 499 | Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs | Bill Passed - House (50 - 25) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 30, 2010 | CA | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Bill Passed - House (58 - 17) |
| Aug. 30, 2010 | CA | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Bill Passed - House (58 - 17) |
| Aug. 24, 2010 | CA | AB 2072 | Informational Pamphlet for Parents of Deaf Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| June 2, 2010 | CA | SB 1088 | Young Adults Health insurance Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | AB 2244 | Prohibiting the Denial of Health Care Coverage for Children with Preexisting Conditions | Bill Passed - House (50 - 25) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 27, 2010 | CA | SB 1255 | Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | CA | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | |
| Jan. 6, 2010 | CA | SBx5 4 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Jan. 6, 2010 | CA | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| Jan. 5, 2010 | CA | SBx5 4 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (41 - 27) |
| Jan. 5, 2010 | CA | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (45 - 17) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Sept. 2, 2009 | CA | AB 1422 | Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 11, 2008 | CA | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | AB 8 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (47 - 32) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 48 | Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 32 | Children's Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| June 5, 2007 | CA | AB 43 | Same Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
| June 5, 2007 | CA | AB 1108 | Phthalates in Children Products | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| Aug. 28, 2006 | CA | AB 3029 | CalWorks and Food Stamp Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Aug. 24, 2006 | CA | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| Aug. 24, 2006 | CA | AB 2205 | Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Aug. 22, 2006 | CA | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Aug. 21, 2006 | CA | SB 1437 | Prohibiting Discriminatory Content in Public School Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
| Aug. 16, 2006 | CA | AB 1873 | Safe Child Surrender Time Limit Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| May 31, 2006 | CA | AB 2205 | Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients | Bill Passed - House (48 - 32) |
| May 31, 2006 | CA | AB 3029 | CalWorks and Food Stamp Program | Bill Passed - House (49 - 31) |
| May 30, 2006 | CA | SB 1576 | Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 25, 2006 | CA | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - House (44 - 30) |
| May 11, 2006 | CA | SB 1437 | Sexual Diversity Content in Public School Curriculums | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/27 | AB 1640 | Expands Cash Assistance Programs for Pregnant Teenagers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 26) |
| 8/27 | SB 1476 | Authorizes Courts to Designate More than 2 Individuals as Parents of a Child | Bill Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| 8/22 | AB 2109 | Requires Parents to Obtain a Waiver for Unvaccinated Children | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 8/22 | AB 1640 | Expands Cash Assistance Programs for Pregnant Teenagers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 8/20 | SB 9 | Sentence Reconsideration for Juvenile Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 8/16 | SB 9 | Sentence Reconsideration for Juvenile Offenders | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| 5/31 | SB 1140 | Exempts Religious Institutions from Performing Same-Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 5/30 | SB 1172 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 5/30 | SB 1476 | Authorizes Courts to Designate More than 2 Individuals as Parents of a Child | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 9/09 | AB 101 | Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| 9/08 | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 9/08 | AB 101 | Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 9/06 | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| 9/06 | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 26) |
| 9/02 | SB 746 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 9/01 | SB 746 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors | Bill Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| 8/31 | AB 499 | Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| 8/30 | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 5/23 | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
| 5/12 | AB 499 | Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs | Bill Passed - House (50 - 25) |
| 8/31 | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 8/31 | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 8/30 | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Bill Passed - House (58 - 17) |
| 8/30 | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Bill Passed - House (58 - 17) |
| 8/24 | AB 2072 | Informational Pamphlet for Parents of Deaf Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 6/02 | SB 1088 | Young Adults Health insurance Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 6/01 | AB 2244 | Prohibiting the Denial of Health Care Coverage for Children with Preexisting Conditions | Bill Passed - House (50 - 25) |
| 6/01 | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/27 | SB 1255 | Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| 1/12 | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | |
| 1/06 | SBx5 4 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 1/06 | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 1/05 | SBx5 4 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (41 - 27) |
| 1/05 | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (45 - 17) |
| 11/03 | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 9/02 | AB 1422 | Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 8/13 | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 8/11 | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 6/07 | AB 8 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (47 - 32) |
| 6/07 | SB 48 | Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 6/07 | SB 32 | Children's Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 6/07 | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 6/05 | AB 43 | Same Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
| 6/05 | AB 1108 | Phthalates in Children Products | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| 8/28 | AB 3029 | CalWorks and Food Stamp Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 8/24 | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 8/24 | AB 2205 | Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 8/22 | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 8/21 | SB 1437 | Prohibiting Discriminatory Content in Public School Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
| 8/16 | AB 1873 | Safe Child Surrender Time Limit Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| 5/31 | AB 2205 | Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients | Bill Passed - House (48 - 32) |
| 5/31 | AB 3029 | CalWorks and Food Stamp Program | Bill Passed - House (49 - 31) |
| 5/30 | SB 1576 | Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 5/25 | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - House (44 - 30) |
| 5/11 | SB 1437 | Sexual Diversity Content in Public School Curriculums | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |