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 7, 2007 | CA | AB 102 | Name Equality Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
Sept. 9, 2021 | CA | AB 105 | Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12) |
Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 105 | Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | AB 1078 | Prohibits School Book Bans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 17) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | AB 1078 | Prohibits School Book Bans | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
May 13, 2021 | CA | AB 1184 | Establishes Privacy Rights for Gender-Affirming Care | Bill Passed - House (59 - 13) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 1196 | Prohibits Law Enforcement Agencies from Authorizing the Use of Carotid Restraints or Choke Holds | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1) |
Sept. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 1215 | Prohibits Facial Recognition in Police Body-Cams | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 21) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 1215 | Prohibits Facial Recognition in Police Body-Cams | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Aug. 26, 2014 | CA | AB 1327 | Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 29) |
Aug. 23, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
May 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
June 18, 2020 | CA | AB 1460 | Requires Ethnic Studies Course Completion in State Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1550 | Establishes the "Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act" | Bill Passed - House (78 - 0) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
May 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
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) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
Aug. 27, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 2542 | Prohibits Racial Discrimination in Criminal Courts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 16) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 2542 | Prohibits Racial Discrimination in Criminal Courts | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 7, 2008 | CA | AB 2654 | Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
May 27, 2008 | CA | AB 2654 | Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws | Bill Passed - House (48 - 30) |
Aug. 25, 2022 | CA | AB 2658 | Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12) |
Aug. 24, 2022 | CA | AB 2658 | Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
Aug. 18, 2022 | CA | AB 2799 | Requires Criminal Courts Consider Potential Prejudice when Weighing Music Lyrics as Evidence | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 280 | Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement in California State Prisons | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
May 31, 2023 | CA | AB 280 | Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement in California State Prisons | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
Aug. 6, 2018 | CA | AB 282 | Amends the End of Life Option Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
Jan. 18, 2018 | CA | AB 282 | Amends the End of Life Option Act | Bill Passed - House (45 - 17) |
April 19, 2018 | CA | AB 2943 | Prohibits Advertising Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
Aug. 29, 2020 | CA | AB 3121 | Establishes a Task Force for Reparations to African Americans | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
June 11, 2020 | CA | AB 3121 | Establishes a Task Force for Reparations to African Americans | Bill Passed - House (61 - 12) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 331 | Establishes One Credit of Ethnic and Racial Studies as a High School Graduation Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 12) |
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. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 352 | Requires Information on Fertility and Menstrual Tracking Apps Be Subject to Medical Privacy Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 392 | Increases Public Oversight and Police Accountability when Deadly Use of Force is Used | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
June 5, 2007 | CA | AB 43 | Same Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
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) |
April 29, 2019 | CA | AB 467 | Requires Competitions Held on Public Lands to Offer Equal Prize Compensation Regardless of Gender | Bill Passed - House (74 - 0) |
Aug. 23, 2022 | CA | AB 485 | Amends the California Penal Code on Hate Crimes for Transparency of Police Departments | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
Sept. 10, 2009 | CA | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 20) |
Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 681 | Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 13) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 681 | Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 767 | Establishes Restitution for Victims of Police Violence | Bill Passed - House (59 - 10) |
Sept. 4, 2009 | CA | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 963 | Establishes a Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Program at Public Post-Secondary Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 979 | Requires Corporations to Have Directors From Under-Represented Groups | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 8) |
Aug. 29, 2020 | CA | AB 979 | Requires Corporations to Have Directors From Under-Represented Groups | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
Jan. 27, 2020 | CA | AB 979 | Requires Corporations to Have Directors From Under-Represented Groups | Bill Passed - House (73 - 0) |
Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | ACA 10 | Limits Citizen-led Initiatives to Amend the State Constitution | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 30) |
June 24, 2020 | CA | ACA 5 | Establishes Constitutional Amendment Repealing Prohibition on Affirmative Action Policies | Amendment Adopted - Senate (30 - 10) |
June 24, 2020 | CA | ACA 5 | Establishes Constitutional Amendment Repealing Prohibition on Affirmative Action Policies | Amendment Adopted - Senate (30 - 10) |
June 10, 2020 | CA | ACA 5 | Establishes Constitutional Amendment Repealing Prohibition on Affirmative Action Policies | Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 14) |
June 10, 2020 | CA | ACA 5 | Establishes Constitutional Amendment Repealing Prohibition on Affirmative Action Policies | Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 14) |
June 23, 2014 | CA | AJR 1 | Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
Jan. 30, 2014 | CA | AJR 1 | Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United | Bill Passed - House (51 - 20) |
March 22, 2012 | CA | AJR 22 | Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United | Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
June 4, 2007 | CA | SB 1019 | Access to Police Misconduct Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1096 | Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | SB 1102 | Requires Employers to Provide H-2A Employees with a Written Notice of their Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | SB 1102 | Requires Employers to Provide H-2A Employees with a Written Notice of their Rights | Bill Passed - House (52 - 18) |
May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
April 16, 2009 | CA | SB 242 | Prohibiting Language Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
Aug. 21, 2008 | CA | SB 28 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | SB 28 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (52 - 24) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 310 | Authorizes Felons to Serve on Juries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | SB 310 | Authorizes Felons to Serve on Juries | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | SB 329 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters | Bill Passed - House (46 - 21) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 329 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters | 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) |
May 25, 2023 | CA | SB 399 | Prohibits an Employer from Requiring an Employee to Come to Certain Political Meetings or Religious Outings | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
April 15, 2010 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
March 22, 2010 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - House (42 - 27) |
May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
May 11, 2023 | CA | SB 403 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Ancestry | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1) |
Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Sept. 3, 2009 | CA | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Sept. 3, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | SB 629 | Establishes Legal Protection for Journalists Attending Protest Demonstrations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | SB 629 | Establishes Legal Protection for Journalists Attending Protest Demonstrations | Bill Passed - House (49 - 7) |
June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | SB 742 | Prohibits Interfering with People in Connection with Any Vaccination Services | Bill Passed - House (59 - 6) |
June 2, 2021 | CA | SB 742 | Prohibits Interfering with People in Connection with Any Vaccination Services | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
Aug. 24, 2018 | CA | SB 820 | Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
Aug. 23, 2018 | CA | SB 820 | Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases | Bill Passed - House (56 - 19) |
Sept. 10, 2021 | CA | SB 98 | Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
Sept. 10, 2021 | CA | SB 98 | Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
April 27, 2006 | CA | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |