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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 521 | Authorizes Healthcare Professions be Trained to Reduce Firearm-Related Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 414 | Establishes a Statewide Individual Mandate Program for Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 414 | Establishes a Statewide Individual Mandate Program for Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1162 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastics for Personal Care Products at Lodging Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 500 | Requires Paid Maternity Leave for California Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | SB 276 | Establishes Procedures for Receiving Medical Exemptions from Vaccinations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 624 | Requires Listing a Sexual Assault Hotline and Reproductive Health Care Telephone Numbers on Student Identification Cards | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Aug. 30, 2019 | CA | SB 223 | Authorizes Medical Cannabis on K-12 Campuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| Aug. 26, 2019 | CA | SB 223 | Authorizes Medical Cannabis on K-12 Campuses | Bill Passed - House (43 - 22) |
| Aug. 22, 2019 | CA | SB 343 | Amends Financial Data Disclosure Laws | Bill Passed - House (58 - 13) |
| Aug. 22, 2019 | CA | SB 343 | Amends Financial Data Disclosure Laws | Bill Passed - House (58 - 13) |
| July 11, 2019 | CA | SB 307 | Prohibits Water Transfers from Desert Groundwater Basins | Bill Passed - House (50 - 24) |
| July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 1054 | Establishes Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| June 24, 2019 | CA | SB 78 | Requires Citizens Purchase Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (57 - 14) |
| May 30, 2019 | CA | AB 1611 | Limits What Hospitals Can Charge for Emergency Care | Bill Passed - House (48 - 9) |
| May 30, 2019 | CA | AB 1611 | Limits What Hospitals Can Charge for Emergency Care | Bill Passed - House (48 - 9) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 134 | Establishes a Safe Drinking Water Fund | Bill Passed - House (59 - 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 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1162 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastics for Personal Care Products at Lodging Establishments | Bill Passed - House (50 - 24) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1046 | Increases Tax Rebates for Electric Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (55 - 21) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 54 | Requires Single-Use Plastics be made from Recyclable Materials | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 1 | Rescinds Federal Freeze of Environmental Deregulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 210 | Establishes a Smog-Check Program for Diesel Trucks | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 134 | Establishes a Safe Drinking Water Fund | Bill Passed - House (59 - 0) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 414 | Establishes a Statewide Individual Mandate Program for Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 414 | Establishes a Statewide Individual Mandate Program for Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1246 | Requires Large Group Health Plans to Cover Medically Necessary Prescription Drugs | (58 - 19) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1246 | Requires Large Group Health Plans to Cover Medically Necessary Prescription Drugs | (58 - 19) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 4 | Authorizes Medi-Cal Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (51 - 17) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | SB 65 | Establishes Financial Assistance for Low Income Residents Buying Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | SB 43 | Establishes the Feasibility and Practicality of Assessing the Carbon Intensity of Retail Products Subject to the Sales and Use Tax Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| May 24, 2019 | CA | AB 824 | Prohibits Pharmaceutical Companies from Using "Pay for Delay" Practices | Bill Passed - House (56 - 0) |
| May 24, 2019 | CA | AB 936 | Amends Environmental Protections Relating to Heavy Crude Oils | Bill Passed - House (45 - 19) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 792 | Increases Recycled Plastics Percentages Used in Plastic Beverage Bottles | Bill Passed - House (50 - 15) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 161 | Prohibits Paper Receipts | Bill Passed - House (43 - 24) |
| May 22, 2019 | CA | SB 276 | Establishes Procedures for Receiving Medical Exemptions from Vaccinations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 159 | Authorizes Use of HIV Prevention Drugs Without Prescription | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1) |
| May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 159 | Authorizes Use of HIV Prevention Drugs Without Prescription | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1) |
| May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 58 | Authorizes Bars to Remain Open Until 3 AM | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 307 | Prohibits Water Transfers from Desert Groundwater Basins | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| May 20, 2019 | CA | SB 24 | Requires Public Universities Offer and Cover the Cost of Abortion Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| April 25, 2019 | CA | AB 1063 | Prohibits Covered California from Applying for a Waiver Without Approval from the Legislature and the Governor | Bill Passed - House (62 - 13) |
| April 11, 2019 | CA | SB 78 | Requires Citizens Purchase Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Aug. 31, 2018 | CA | SB 901 | Requires Utilities to File Wildfire Mitigation Plans | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 14) |
| Aug. 28, 2018 | CA | SB 100 | Increases the State Renewable Energy Target | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
| Aug. 21, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 21, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 16, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| Aug. 16, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 2) |
| June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| May 31, 2018 | CA | SB 1138 | Requires Prisons to Provide Vegan Meal Options | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | SB 905 | Authorizes Alcohol Sales Until 4 AM | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | AB 2965 | Authorizes Medicaid Benefits for Undocumented Children | Bill Passed - House (47 - 25) |
| May 29, 2018 | CA | SB 836 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| May 17, 2018 | CA | AB 1668 | Requires Water-Use Targets | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 26) |
| May 10, 2018 | CA | AB 1668 | Requires Water-Use Targets | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 10, 2018 | CA | AB 1815 | Authorizes Loan Repayment Assistance for Medicaid Providers | Bill Passed - House (50 - 22) |
| May 10, 2018 | CA | AB 1815 | Authorizes Loan Repayment Assistance for Medicaid Providers | Bill Passed - House (50 - 22) |
| May 7, 2018 | CA | AB 2741 | Limits Amount of Opioids that can be Prescribed to Minors | Bill Passed - House (58 - 0) |
| March 5, 2018 | CA | AJR 29 | Expresses Opposition to Executive Offshore Drilling Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| Feb. 8, 2018 | CA | AJR 29 | Expresses Opposition to Executive Offshore Drilling Proposal | Bill Passed - House (56 - 9) |
| Sept. 14, 2017 | CA | AB 569 | Prohibits Firing Employees for Obtaining Abortion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 20) |
| Sept. 12, 2017 | CA | AB 569 | Prohibits Firing Employees for Obtaining Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Sept. 5, 2017 | CA | AB 841 | Restricts Marketing of Unhealthy Foods in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 617 | Establishes Air-Quality Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 24) |
| July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 398 | Extends California's Cap-and-Trade Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 398 | Extends California's Cap-and-Trade Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12) |
| July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 617 | Establishes Air-Quality Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| May 31, 2017 | CA | SB 100 | Increases the State Renewable Energy Target | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 30, 2017 | CA | SB 328 | Amends School Start Time | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| April 6, 2017 | CA | SB 1 | Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs | Bill Passed - House (54 - 26) |
| April 6, 2017 | CA | SB 1 | Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | AB 1671 | Prohibits Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Communications with Healthcare Providers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 26) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Bill Passed - House (51 - 20) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | AB 1671 | Prohibits Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Communications with Healthcare Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Aug. 30, 2016 | CA | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Aug. 25, 2016 | CA | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Bill Passed - House (50 - 26) |
| Aug. 24, 2016 | CA | SB 32 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Aug. 24, 2016 | CA | AB 197 | Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
| Aug. 23, 2016 | CA | SB 32 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions Levels | Bill Passed - House (48 - 31) |
| Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 197 | Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| June 2, 2016 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| June 1, 2016 | CA | SB 1033 | Requires Physicians to Disclose Probationary Status | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| May 31, 2016 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| May 31, 2016 | CA | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| April 25, 2016 | CA | SB 966 | Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| March 10, 2016 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| March 10, 2016 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| 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 | AB 15 | Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 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 888 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Aug. 27, 2015 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Aug. 27, 2015 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 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 4, 2015 | CA | SB 128 | Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |