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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan. 29, 2024 | CA | SB 768 | Repeals Parts of the Environmental Quality Act | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
Sept. 14, 2023 | CA | AB 1373 | Appropriates Funding for Various State Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 14, 2023 | CA | AB 1373 | Appropriates Funding for Various State Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | SB 261 | Requires Large Companies Doing Business in California Disclose Their Climate Risk | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 1167 | Prohibits Oil Well Owners from Transferring Ownership to Another Unless They File for a Bond | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 1633 | Requires Local Government Review of State Environmental Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
Sept. 12, 2023 | CA | SB 253 | Requires Large Companies Doing Business in California Disclose Their Carbon Emissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Sept. 6, 2023 | CA | SB 732 | Establishes the Pallid Bat as the State Official Bat | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
July 5, 2023 | CA | SB 147 | Amends the Fish and Game Code to Protect Certain Species | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
July 5, 2023 | CA | SB 147 | Amends the Fish and Game Code to Protect Certain Species | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
May 25, 2023 | CA | SB 252 | Requires the State's Teachers and Employee Retirement Fund Divest from Fossil Fuels | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
May 22, 2023 | CA | SB 674 | Requires Community Air Monitoring Systems be Installed Near Petroleum Refineries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
May 22, 2023 | CA | SB 674 | Requires Community Air Monitoring Systems be Installed Near Petroleum Refineries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
Aug. 31, 2022 | CA | AB 1279 | Establishes California Climate Crisis Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 31, 2022 | CA | AB 1757 | Specifies Strategy Regarding Climate Change and Air Pollution | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
Aug. 31, 2022 | CA | AB 1757 | Specifies Strategy Regarding Climate Change and Air Pollution | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
Aug. 31, 2022 | CA | AB 1279 | Establishes California Climate Crisis Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 30, 2022 | CA | SB 222 | Establishes a State Water Rate Assistance Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
Aug. 30, 2022 | CA | SB 222 | Establishes a State Water Rate Assistance Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
Aug. 29, 2022 | CA | AB 1445 | Requires Governments Factor Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise when Determining Future Municipal Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
Aug. 29, 2022 | CA | AB 2183 | Authorizes Farm Workers to Unionize by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
June 29, 2022 | CA | AB 205 | Establishes New Energy Relief and Environmental Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
June 29, 2022 | CA | AB 205 | Establishes New Energy Relief and Environmental Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
April 21, 2022 | CA | SB 1157 | Limits Indoor Residential Water Use | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
April 21, 2022 | CA | SB 1157 | Limits Indoor Residential Water Use | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
Jan. 24, 2022 | CA | SB 54 | Establishes Plastic Use Reduction Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
Sept. 10, 2021 | CA | SB 715 | Extends Restrictions on Gun Control Loopholes by Requiring Verification on Hunting Licenses | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 9) |
Sept. 10, 2021 | CA | AB 1395 | Requires California to Maintain Net Negative Greenhouse Gas Emissions After Achieving Net-Zero | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 12) |
Sept. 9, 2021 | CA | SB 343 | Establishes Additional Labeling Requirements for Recyclable Materials | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
Sept. 9, 2021 | CA | SB 596 | Requires That a Comprehensive Strategy be Created to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions Associated With Cement by 2045 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 1403 | Authorizes Planned Power Outages During State of Emergencies | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 416 | Requires Companies that Produce Forest-Risk Commodities Maintain a No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 1346 | Prohibits Exhaust, Emissions From Certain Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
Sept. 2, 2021 | CA | SB 500 | Requires All New Self-Driving Cars to be Zero-Emission by 2030 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
Sept. 2, 2021 | CA | AB 1183 | Establishes the California Desert Conservation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
Aug. 26, 2021 | CA | AB 616 | Authorizes "Card Check" for Farm Workers Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
June 3, 2021 | CA | SB 38 | Requires the Beverage Industry to Create an Accessible Recycling and Redemption System | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 826 | Establishes a Disaster Food Assistance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1175 | Prohibits Importation and Possession of Wild Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1215 | Appropriates Funds to Assist Municipalities with Power Outages | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 792 | Increases Recycled Plastics Percentages Used in Plastic Beverage Bottles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 8 | Prohibits Smoking at Public Parks and Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 936 | Amends Environmental Protections Relating to Heavy Crude Oils | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1254 | Prohibits Hunting of Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1162 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastics for Personal Care Products at Lodging Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 454 | Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 273 | Prohibits Recreational and Commercial Fur Trapping Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 1054 | Establishes Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
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 | SB 1 | Rescinds Federal Freeze of Environmental Deregulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
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 23, 2019 | CA | SB 627 | Authorizes Prescription of Medical Cannabis for Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 307 | Prohibits Water Transfers from Desert Groundwater Basins | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 307 | Prohibits Water Transfers from Desert Groundwater Basins | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
May 29, 2018 | CA | SB 836 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
May 10, 2018 | CA | AB 1668 | Requires Water-Use Targets | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
March 5, 2018 | CA | AJR 29 | Expresses Opposition to Executive Offshore Drilling Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
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 31, 2017 | CA | SB 100 | Increases the State Renewable Energy Target | 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 | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Aug. 26, 2016 | CA | SB 839 | Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Aug. 24, 2016 | CA | SB 32 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 1066 | Requires Overtime Pay for Farmworkers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 197 | Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | SB 350 | Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
Sept. 4, 2015 | CA | AB 888 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Sept. 2, 2015 | CA | AB 96 | Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 350 | Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 185 | Requires Public Retirement Systems to Divest from Coal Companies | 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 32 | Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 270 | Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1168 | Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1319 | Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1739 | Amends Groundwater Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
Aug. 21, 2014 | CA | AB 1699 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Microplastics | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 14) |
May 28, 2014 | CA | SB 1319 | Expands Prevention and Response Programs for Oil Spills | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | SB 359 | Appropriates Funds for Hybrid and Zero Emission Vehicle Use | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
Sept. 9, 2013 | CA | AB 711 | Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | AB 1478 | Appropriates Funds for State Parks for 2 Years | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | ACR 161 | Establishes September as "Food Literacy Awareness Month" | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Aug. 20, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
May 21, 2012 | CA | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 292 | Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 376 | Prohibiting the Sale of Shark Fins | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
June 2, 2011 | CA | SB 568 | Recycling Polystyrene Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
March 31, 2011 | CA | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Feb. 24, 2011 | CA | SB 2 | Increasing Renewable Energy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | AB 234 | Marine Oil Shipping Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
April 15, 2010 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |