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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 27, 2006 | CA | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33) |
Aug. 30, 2007 | CA | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Aug. 19, 2008 | CA | SB 1171 | Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 21, 2008 | CA | SB 28 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
June 27, 2006 | CA | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 352 | Microstamping of Bullets Fired from Semi-Automatic Guns | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (40 - 37) |
Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1578 | Dog Restraint Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | SB 28 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (52 - 24) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | SB 1171 | Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 32) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1578 | Dog Restraint Regulations | Bill Passed - House (46 - 32) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
Aug. 27, 2007 | CA | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 7) |
Aug. 24, 2006 | CA | AB 352 | Microstamping of Bullets Fired from Semi-Automatic Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
Aug. 12, 2008 | CA | SB 1589 | Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
May 27, 2008 | CA | AB 2654 | Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws | Bill Passed - House (48 - 30) |
Aug. 7, 2008 | CA | AB 2654 | Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
June 27, 2006 | CA | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (64 - 8) |
April 27, 2006 | CA | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
Aug. 16, 2006 | CA | AB 1873 | Safe Child Surrender Time Limit Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
June 27, 2006 | CA | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (64 - 8) |
May 31, 2006 | CA | AB 2076 | Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - House (45 - 34) |
Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 2076 | Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
May 29, 2007 | CA | AB 1471 | Crime Gun Identification Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
June 4, 2007 | CA | SB 1019 | Access to Police Misconduct Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
June 5, 2007 | CA | AB 43 | Same Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
May 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1096 | Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (41 - 35) |
May 27, 2008 | CA | AB 1996 | Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons | Bill Passed - House (42 - 35) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2062 | Regulation Of Ammunition Sales | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1589 | Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
May 7, 2007 | CA | AB 102 | Name Equality Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
Sept. 10, 2021 | CA | SB 586 | Authorizes California's Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to Strip an Officer's Certification | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 20) |
Sept. 10, 2021 | CA | SB 715 | Extends Restrictions on Gun Control Loopholes by Requiring Verification on Hunting Licenses | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 22) |
Sept. 10, 2013 | CA | AB 4 | Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 25) |
Aug. 21, 2018 | CA | SB 10 | Establishes New Provisions for the Criminal Justice System | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Sept. 10, 2013 | CA | AB 711 | Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 29) |
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 | SB 586 | Authorizes California's Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to Strip an Officer's Certification | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 9) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | SB 58 | Amends Laws and Statutes Concerning the Decriminalization of Certain Hallucinogens | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 2147 | Authorizes Certain Defendants that Participate in the California Conversation Camp Program to File Petitions for Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 12) |
March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 117 | Appropriates Funds to Public Schools Amid COVID-19 Emergency Shut-Down | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
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) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 3070 | Prohibits the Use of Peremptory Challenge to Remove a Prospective Juror on the Basis of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, or Religious Affiliation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 17) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 3070 | Prohibits the Use of Peremptory Challenge to Remove a Prospective Juror on the Basis of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, or Religious Affiliation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 17) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 979 | Requires Corporations to Have Directors From Under-Represented Groups | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 8) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | AB 1078 | Prohibits School Book Bans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 17) |
April 15, 2010 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | AB 28 | Establishes an 11% Tax on Firearm and Ammunition Purchases in California | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 17) |
Sept. 14, 2023 | CA | AB 352 | Requires Information on Fertility and Menstrual Tracking Apps Be Subject to Medical Privacy Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 14) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | AB 881 | Increases Juror Pay to $100 Per Day for Middle and Low Income Jurors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 3) |
Sept. 12, 2023 | CA | SB 2 | Amends Penal Code Related to Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | SB 58 | Amends Laws and Statutes Concerning the Decriminalization of Certain Hallucinogens | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Aug. 25, 2022 | CA | AB 2658 | Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12) |
Aug. 25, 2022 | CA | AB 2658 | Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12) |
Aug. 16, 2022 | CA | SB 1384 | Requires Firearm Dealers to Use Video Surveillance Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
Aug. 25, 2022 | CA | AB 2147 | Limits Police Enforcement of Prohibition on Pedestrian Jaywalking | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 16) |
June 29, 2022 | CA | AB 1621 | Limits the Manufacture of Ghost Guns | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 14) |
June 30, 2022 | CA | AB 2571 | Prohibits Marketing of Firearms to Minors; Authorizes Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 15) |
Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | SB 755 | Expands List of Crimes that Disqualify an Individual from Firearm Ownership | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | SB 755 | Expands List of Crimes that Disqualify an Individual from Firearm Ownership | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |