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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2008 | CA | SB 1440 | Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| May 19, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1713 | Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| May 12, 2008 | CA | SB 1313 | Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| May 12, 2008 | CA | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| May 1, 2008 | CA | AB 1943 | Passenger Rights on Commercial Airlines | Bill Passed - House (57 - 17) |
| April 28, 2008 | CA | SB 1137 | Residential Property Foreclosures | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| March 12, 2008 | CA | ABx3 9 | Oil Tax | Bill Failed - House (45 - 30) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | CA | GN Borucki | Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| Jan. 30, 2008 | CA | SB 908 | Global Warming Education in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Jan. 30, 2008 | CA | SB 926 | Mortgage Lender Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Sept. 5, 2007 | CA | AB 1155 | Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| Aug. 30, 2007 | CA | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Aug. 27, 2007 | CA | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 7) |
| July 12, 2007 | CA | SB 180 | Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| June 28, 2007 | CA | AB 1738 | California Gaming Code Additions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 32 | Children's Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 48 | Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 456 | Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | AB 8 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (47 - 32) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| June 6, 2007 | CA | AB 1470 | Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (44 - 34) |
| June 6, 2007 | CA | AB 1470 | Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (44 - 34) |
| June 6, 2007 | CA | AB 493 | New Car Purchases Fees and Rebates | Bill Failed - House (35 - 35) |
| June 6, 2007 | CA | AB 493 | New Car Purchases Fees and Rebates | Bill Failed - House (35 - 35) |
| June 6, 2007 | CA | AB 70 | Government Flood Liability | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
| June 6, 2007 | CA | SB 840 | California Universal Healthcare Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 5, 2007 | CA | AB 1108 | Phthalates in Children Products | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| June 5, 2007 | CA | AB 35 | Sustainable Government Building Standards | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| June 5, 2007 | CA | AB 35 | Sustainable Government Building Standards | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| June 4, 2007 | CA | AB 514 | Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban | Bill Passed - House (43 - 33) |
| June 4, 2007 | CA | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 31, 2007 | CA | SB 120 | Nutritional Information Posting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| May 21, 2007 | CA | SB 180 | Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1613 | Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1379 | Biomonitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1675 | Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements | Bill Failed - House (33 - 40) |
| Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 36) |
| Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 36) |
| Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 2076 | Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | SB 1613 | Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (50 - 28) |
| Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | SB 1379 | Biomonitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (47 - 30) |
| Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/27 | SB 1440 | Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 5/19 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| 5/15 | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 5/15 | SB 1713 | Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 5/12 | SB 1313 | Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 5/12 | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 5/05 | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| 5/01 | AB 1943 | Passenger Rights on Commercial Airlines | Bill Passed - House (57 - 17) |
| 4/28 | SB 1137 | Residential Property Foreclosures | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 3/12 | ABx3 9 | Oil Tax | Bill Failed - House (45 - 30) |
| 2/19 | GN Borucki | Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| 1/30 | SB 908 | Global Warming Education in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 1/30 | SB 926 | Mortgage Lender Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 9/05 | AB 1155 | Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 8/30 | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 8/27 | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 7) |
| 7/12 | SB 180 | Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| 6/28 | AB 1738 | California Gaming Code Additions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 6/07 | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 6/07 | SB 32 | Children's Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 6/07 | SB 48 | Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 6/07 | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 6/07 | SB 456 | Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 6/07 | AB 8 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (47 - 32) |
| 6/07 | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 6/06 | AB 1470 | Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (44 - 34) |
| 6/06 | AB 1470 | Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (44 - 34) |
| 6/06 | AB 493 | New Car Purchases Fees and Rebates | Bill Failed - House (35 - 35) |
| 6/06 | AB 493 | New Car Purchases Fees and Rebates | Bill Failed - House (35 - 35) |
| 6/06 | AB 70 | Government Flood Liability | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
| 6/06 | SB 840 | California Universal Healthcare Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 6/05 | AB 1108 | Phthalates in Children Products | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| 6/05 | AB 35 | Sustainable Government Building Standards | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| 6/05 | AB 35 | Sustainable Government Building Standards | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| 6/04 | AB 514 | Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban | Bill Passed - House (43 - 33) |
| 6/04 | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 5/31 | SB 120 | Nutritional Information Posting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| 5/21 | SB 180 | Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 8/31 | SB 1613 | Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 8/31 | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 8/31 | SB 1379 | Biomonitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 8/31 | SB 1675 | Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements | Bill Failed - House (33 - 40) |
| 8/30 | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 36) |
| 8/30 | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 36) |
| 8/30 | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| 8/30 | AB 2076 | Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 8/29 | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 8/29 | SB 1613 | Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (50 - 28) |
| 8/29 | SB 1379 | Biomonitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (47 - 30) |
| 8/29 | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |