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 2, 2026 | CA | AB 2018 | Expands Use of the Department of Justice's Missing Persons DNA Program | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| June 15, 2026 | CA | AB 1948 | Extends the Duration of Concealed Carry Licenses from Two to Three Years | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| May 27, 2026 | CA | SB 865 | Establishes the California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
| May 27, 2026 | CA | SB 1305 | Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to Publish an Evaluation of the Possible Reintroduction of the Grizzly Bear | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| May 22, 2026 | CA | SB 1135 | Establishes the Wildlife Coexistence Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2) |
| Jan. 27, 2026 | CA | SB 747 | Authorizes Individuals to File Lawsuits Against Any Federal, State, or Local Official Who Violates Their Constitutional Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/02 | AB 2018 | Expands Use of the Department of Justice's Missing Persons DNA Program | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| 6/15 | AB 1948 | Extends the Duration of Concealed Carry Licenses from Two to Three Years | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| 5/27 | SB 865 | Establishes the California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
| 5/27 | SB 1305 | Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to Publish an Evaluation of the Possible Reintroduction of the Grizzly Bear | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 5/22 | SB 1135 | Establishes the Wildlife Coexistence Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2) |
| 1/27 | SB 747 | Authorizes Individuals to File Lawsuits Against Any Federal, State, or Local Official Who Violates Their Constitutional Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |