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 26, 2021 | CA | SB 771 | Repeals Limit on the Number of Prenatal Tests State Programs May Provide Per Patient | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
| May 26, 2021 | CA | SB 9 | Authorizes the Development of Up to Two Duplexes Without Local Reviews or Hearings | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| Feb. 22, 2021 | CA | SB 130 | Appropriates Funds for Education Related Expenses | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Jan. 21, 2021 | CA | SB 86 | Appropriates $6.5 Billion for In Person Learning | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 1) |
| Jan. 21, 2021 | CA | SB 87 | Expands COVID-19 Small Business Assistance | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
| Jan. 21, 2021 | CA | SB 93 | Transfers Emergency COVID-19 Relief Funds for Childcare | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
| Jan. 21, 2021 | CA | SB 86 | Appropriates $6.5 Billion for In Person Learning | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 1) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | SB 275 | Establishes Personal Protective Equipment Stockpile Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | SB 1079 | Prohibits Bundling Foreclosed Properties for the Purpose of Sale | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | SB 852 | Establishes the California Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act of 2020 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 1867 | Requires Employers with 500 Employees to Provide 2 Weeks of Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for Full Time Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 2537 | Requires Hospitals Maintain 3-Month Supply of PPE | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 826 | Establishes a Disaster Food Assistance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 685 | Requires Employers to Report COVID-19 Infections | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| Aug. 29, 2020 | CA | AB 2405 | Establishes a Right to Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| Aug. 28, 2020 | CA | AB 2762 | Prohibits Certain Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| Aug. 28, 2020 | CA | AB 376 | Establishes Protections for Student Loan Borrowers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 24, 2020 | CA | AB 901 | Limits a School District's Ability to Refer Students to Probation Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1159 | Requires Coverage of COVID-19 Related Illness and Death Under Workers' Compensation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1215 | Appropriates Funds to Assist Municipalities with Power Outages | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1410 | Authorizes COVID-19 Eviction Relief Agreements Between Tenants and Landlords | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| 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 | SB 795 | Appropriates Funds for Affordable Housing and Homelessness Aid | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| June 25, 2020 | CA | SB 1257 | Establishes Employment Safety Standards for Domestic Service Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| June 25, 2020 | CA | SB 908 | Requires the Licensing of Debt Collectors | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| June 25, 2020 | CA | SB 793 | Prohibits Flavored Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| June 22, 2020 | CA | SB 1138 | Requires Land Zoned for Shelters Meet Certain Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 89 | Amends 2019-2020 State Budget to Appropriate Funds for the COVID-19 Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
| March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 117 | Appropriates Funds to Public Schools Amid COVID-19 Emergency Shut-Down | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
| Jan. 30, 2020 | CA | SB 50 | Amends City Housing and Transportation Accommodations and Developments | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 68 | Amends Municipality and County Process for Reviewing and Approving Accessory Dwelling Units | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 8 | Prohibits Smoking at Public Parks and Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 824 | Prohibits Pharmaceutical Companies from Using "Pay for Delay" Practices | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 857 | Authorizes Cities and Counties to Establish Public Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 1482 | Establishes Rental Increase Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 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 521 | Authorizes Healthcare Professions be Trained to Reduce Firearm-Related Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| Sept. 6, 2019 | CA | SB 330 | Establishes the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 500 | Requires Paid Maternity Leave for California Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| 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. 19, 2019 | CA | AB 467 | Requires Competitions Held on Public Lands to Offer Equal Prize Compensation Regardless of Gender | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 210 | Establishes a Smog-Check Program for Diesel Trucks | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 5 | Establishes the Affordable Housing and Community Development Investment Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 330 | Establishes the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 329 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 22, 2019 | CA | SB 206 | Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
| 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) |
| Aug. 21, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | SB 930 | Authorizes Cannabis Limited Charter Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| Sept. 5, 2017 | CA | AB 841 | Restricts Marketing of Unhealthy Foods in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| June 1, 2017 | CA | SB 35 | Amends Affordable Housing Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 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) |
| 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 - Senate (27 - 11) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | AB 1671 | Prohibits Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Communications with Healthcare Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Aug. 25, 2016 | CA | AB 1889 | Appropriates Funds for High-Speed Rail Project | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Aug. 24, 2016 | CA | SB 1150 | Authorizes Heirs to Receive Home Loan Information | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 1066 | Requires Overtime Pay for Farmworkers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Aug. 17, 2016 | CA | AB 1785 | Prohibits Use of Handheld Electronic Devices While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 17, 2016 | CA | AB 1887 | Prohibits State-Funded Travel to Certain States | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| Aug. 15, 2016 | CA | AB 1687 | Requires Entertainment Database Websites to Remove Actor's Age Upon Request | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| June 1, 2016 | CA | SB 1033 | Requires Physicians to Disclose Probationary Status | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | SB 350 | Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | AB 15 | Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 29, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| June 4, 2015 | CA | SB 128 | Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 350 | Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 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) |
| May 14, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1319 | Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1168 | Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1739 | Amends Groundwater Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| Aug. 21, 2014 | CA | SB 968 | Authorizes Public Access Route to Martins Beach | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1000 | Requires Health Warning Labels on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 837 | Establishes the California Prekindergarten Program | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| May 28, 2014 | CA | SB 1319 | Expands Prevention and Response Programs for Oil Spills | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 28, 2014 | CA | SB 968 | Requires Public Access Route to Martin's Beach | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | SB 359 | Appropriates Funds for Hybrid and Zero Emission Vehicle Use | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 60 | Authorizes Driver's License for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| June 27, 2013 | CA | AB 277 | Authorizes Gaming on Traditional Tribal Territory | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| May 29, 2013 | CA | SB 391 | Establishes Real Estate Transaction Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| May 24, 2013 | CA | SB 648 | Prohibits the Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Public Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| March 7, 2013 | CA | SB 1-1 | Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | SB 1172 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | ACR 161 | Establishes September as "Food Literacy Awareness Month" | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 2189 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Individuals Ineligible for a Social Security Number | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 472 | Authorizes Immunity for Reporting Drug Overdoses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 2109 | Requires Parents to Obtain a Waiver for Unvaccinated Children | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Aug. 20, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| July 6, 2012 | CA | SB 1029 | Authorizes the Sale of State Bonds for a High-Speed Rail | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| July 2, 2012 | CA | SB 900 | Establishes Regulations for Home Loans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| July 2, 2012 | CA | SB 900 | Establishes Regulations for Home Loans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| July 2, 2012 | CA | AB 278 | Establishes Regulations for Foreclosure Procedures on Home Loans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| July 2, 2012 | CA | AB 278 | Establishes Regulations for Foreclosure Procedures on Home Loans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |