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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
July 14, 2008 | CA | AB 1155 | Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26) |
Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21) |
Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11) |
Aug. 17, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1819 | Voter Registration Age Minimum Changes | Bill Passed - House (45 - 31) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1830 | Subprime Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | AB 1860 | Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 30) |
Aug. 19, 2008 | CA | AB 1894 | Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29) |
May 1, 2008 | CA | AB 1943 | Passenger Rights on Commercial Airlines | Bill Passed - House (57 - 17) |
Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | AB 1945 | Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17) |
Aug. 12, 2008 | CA | AB 1946 | Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 29) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 1991 | Development on Half Moon Bay | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
May 27, 2008 | CA | AB 1996 | Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons | Bill Passed - House (42 - 35) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2058 | Paper and Plastic Bag Tax | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2062 | Regulation Of Ammunition Sales | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2076 | Prohibiting E-verify | Bill Passed - House (43 - 31) |
May 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
Aug. 12, 2008 | CA | AB 2270 | Water Softener Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 19) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (41 - 35) |
Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2368 | CalWORKs Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31) |
Aug. 7, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27) |
May 19, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2572 | Nutritional Disclosure Bill | Bill Passed - House (46 - 15) |
May 27, 2008 | CA | AB 2654 | Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws | Bill Passed - House (48 - 30) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2716 | Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 33) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2759 | Amending the Administration of State Preschool Programs | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
Aug. 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2765 | Aerial Spraying Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14) |
May 27, 2008 | CA | AB 3025 | Polystyrene Packaging Regulations | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | AB 3034 | High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 15) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 3034 | High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 3) |
Aug. 30, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 624 | Disclosing Organizational Diversity | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
July 14, 2008 | CA | AB 97 | Trans Fats Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
March 12, 2008 | CA | ABx3 9 | Oil Tax | Bill Failed - House (45 - 30) |
Sept. 9, 2008 | CA | SB 1087 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - House (27 - 45) |
June 30, 2008 | CA | SB 1137 | Residential Property Foreclosures | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | SB 1171 | Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 32) |
Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
Aug. 18, 2008 | CA | SB 1313 | Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban | Bill Failed - House (37 - 34) |
Aug. 27, 2008 | CA | SB 1313 | Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
Aug. 27, 2008 | CA | SB 1420 | Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
Aug. 19, 2008 | CA | SB 1440 | Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 31) |
June 5, 2008 | CA | SB 153 | Property Transfer | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
Aug. 12, 2008 | CA | SB 1589 | Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
Aug. 18, 2008 | CA | SB 1713 | Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban | Bill Failed - House (33 - 32) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | SB 28 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (52 - 24) |
Aug. 25, 2008 | CA | SB 375 | Global Warming and Land Use Policy | Bill Passed - House (49 - 22) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (41 - 31) |
June 9, 2008 | CA | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Failed - House (49 - 26) |
June 23, 2008 | CA | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Passed - House (54 - 24) |
June 30, 2008 | CA | SB 823 | Private Postsecondary Education Regulation | Bill Failed - House (41 - 33) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | SB 840 | California Universal Healthcare Agency | Bill Passed - House (44 - 32) |
July 15, 2008 | CA | SB 974 | Shipping Fee | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
Sept. 19, 2008 | CA | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
8/29 | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
7/14 | AB 1155 | Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26) |
9/16 | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21) |
9/16 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11) |
8/17 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30) |
5/29 | AB 1819 | Voter Registration Age Minimum Changes | Bill Passed - House (45 - 31) |
5/29 | AB 1830 | Subprime Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
8/31 | AB 1860 | Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 30) |
8/19 | AB 1894 | Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29) |
5/01 | AB 1943 | Passenger Rights on Commercial Airlines | Bill Passed - House (57 - 17) |
8/31 | AB 1945 | Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17) |
8/12 | AB 1946 | Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 29) |
5/28 | AB 1991 | Development on Half Moon Bay | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
5/27 | AB 1996 | Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons | Bill Passed - House (42 - 35) |
5/28 | AB 2058 | Paper and Plastic Bag Tax | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
5/29 | AB 2062 | Regulation Of Ammunition Sales | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
5/29 | AB 2076 | Prohibiting E-verify | Bill Passed - House (43 - 31) |
5/05 | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
8/12 | AB 2270 | Water Softener Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 19) |
5/28 | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (41 - 35) |
8/31 | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25) |
5/28 | AB 2368 | CalWORKs Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
8/29 | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31) |
8/07 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27) |
5/19 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
5/29 | AB 2572 | Nutritional Disclosure Bill | Bill Passed - House (46 - 15) |
5/27 | AB 2654 | Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws | Bill Passed - House (48 - 30) |
5/28 | AB 2716 | Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 33) |
5/28 | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
5/28 | AB 2759 | Amending the Administration of State Preschool Programs | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
8/28 | AB 2765 | Aerial Spraying Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14) |
5/27 | AB 3025 | Polystyrene Packaging Regulations | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
8/13 | AB 3034 | High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 15) |
5/29 | AB 3034 | High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 3) |
8/30 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
1/29 | AB 624 | Disclosing Organizational Diversity | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
8/13 | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
7/14 | AB 97 | Trans Fats Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
12/18 | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
3/12 | ABx3 9 | Oil Tax | Bill Failed - House (45 - 30) |
9/09 | SB 1087 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - House (27 - 45) |
6/30 | SB 1137 | Residential Property Foreclosures | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
8/13 | SB 1171 | Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 32) |
8/31 | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
8/18 | SB 1313 | Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban | Bill Failed - House (37 - 34) |
8/27 | SB 1313 | Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
8/29 | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
8/27 | SB 1420 | Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
8/19 | SB 1440 | Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 31) |
6/05 | SB 153 | Property Transfer | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
8/12 | SB 1589 | Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
8/18 | SB 1713 | Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban | Bill Failed - House (33 - 32) |
8/13 | SB 28 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (52 - 24) |
8/25 | SB 375 | Global Warming and Land Use Policy | Bill Passed - House (49 - 22) |
8/29 | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (41 - 31) |
6/09 | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Failed - House (49 - 26) |
6/23 | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Passed - House (54 - 24) |
6/30 | SB 823 | Private Postsecondary Education Regulation | Bill Failed - House (41 - 33) |
8/29 | SB 840 | California Universal Healthcare Agency | Bill Passed - House (44 - 32) |
7/15 | SB 974 | Shipping Fee | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
9/19 | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
9/16 | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14) |