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 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 23) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 23) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 935 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1000 | Requires Health Warning Labels on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 28, 2014 | CA | SB 1372 | Amends the Corporate Tax Rate | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| May 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1576 | Amends the Health and Safety Provisions for Adult Films | Bill Passed - House (48 - 13) |
| May 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1576 | Amends the Health and Safety Provisions for Adult Films | Bill Passed - House (48 - 13) |
| May 23, 2014 | CA | AB 1699 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Microplastics | Bill Passed - House (47 - 13) |
| May 8, 2014 | CA | SB 962 | Requires Smartphones to Include a Kill Switch | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| April 24, 2014 | CA | SB 962 | Requires Smartphones to Include a Kill Switch | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | CA | SB 383 | Authorizes Businesses to Collect Certain Cardholder Information in Online Transactions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 241 | Expands Labor Laws for Domestic Workers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Sept. 11, 2013 | CA | AB 241 | Expands Labor Laws for Domestic Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 30, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (45 - 27) |
| May 30, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (45 - 27) |
| May 30, 2013 | CA | AB 1217 | Establishes Certain Regulations for Home Care Aides | Bill Passed - House (52 - 26) |
| May 29, 2013 | CA | SB 53 | Requires Ammunition Purchasers to Undergo a Background Check | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| May 29, 2013 | CA | AB 375 | Amends Teacher Dismissal Requirements | Bill Passed - House (64 - 11) |
| May 24, 2013 | CA | SB 648 | Prohibits the Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Public Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| May 20, 2013 | CA | SB 439 | Exempts Certain Medical Marijuana Collectives and Cooperatives from Prosecution | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (35 - 33) |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | CA | SB 1234 | Establishes Retirement Program for Private Sector Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (35 - 33) |
| Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | AB 889 | Establishes Work Condition Requirements for Domestic Work Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 2346 | Authorizes Farm Workers to Sue Employers for Health or Safety Violations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 2132 | Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 889 | Establishes Work Condition Requirements for Domestic Work Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Aug. 28, 2012 | CA | AB 2132 | Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 2327 | Increases Penalties for the Misuse of Funds by Charitable Organizations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 18) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 2346 | Authorizes Farm Workers to Sue Employers for Health or Safety Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 2327 | Increases Penalties for the Misuse of Funds by Charitable Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Aug. 21, 2012 | CA | HB 2676 | Increases Penalties For Agriculture Health And Safety Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| Aug. 20, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Aug. 13, 2012 | CA | AB 1500 | Corporate Tax Rates and Middle Class Scholarship Fund | Bill Passed - House (54 - 25) |
| June 14, 2012 | CA | AB 2127 | Authorizes Work Release for Certain Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 31, 2012 | CA | AB 2312 | Regulations for Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - House (41 - 30) |
| May 31, 2012 | CA | SB 956 | Regulates Buy-Here-Pay-Here Car Loans and Lenders | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| May 30, 2012 | CA | SB 1234 | Establishes Retirement Program for Private Sector Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 30, 2012 | CA | AB 1450 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Unemployed Workers | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| May 30, 2012 | CA | SB 1054 | Requires Notifying Property Owners Prior to Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18) |
| May 29, 2012 | CA | AB 1447 | Requires Buy-Here-Pay-Here Car Sellers to Provide a Limited Warranty | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| May 29, 2012 | CA | AB 1534 | Requires Buy-Here-Pay-Here Dealers to Label Used Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
| April 30, 2012 | CA | AB 1960 | Requires the Department of Transportation to Include Sexual Orientation Reported by Business Owners | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| April 12, 2012 | CA | AB 2127 | Authorizes Work Release for Certain Offenders | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 931 | Payroll Debit Cards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Bill Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | SB 931 | Payroll Debit Cards | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | ABX1 40 | State Tax Code Restructuring | Bill Passed - House (54 - 15) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 26) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Sept. 1, 2011 | CA | SB 185 | Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Sept. 1, 2011 | CA | SB 469 | Requirements for Expansion by Large Retailers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Aug. 30, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Aug. 29, 2011 | CA | SB 185 | Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| June 2, 2011 | CA | AB 889 | Establishes Work Condition Requirements for Domestic Work Employees | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| June 2, 2011 | CA | SB 568 | Recycling Polystyrene Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| May 31, 2011 | CA | SB 469 | Requirements for Expansion by Large Retailers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 31, 2011 | CA | AB 155 | Online Sale Taxes | Bill Passed - House (52 - 20) |
| May 23, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
| May 19, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1391 | Business Tax Incentive Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 482 | Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 18) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
| Aug. 30, 2010 | CA | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | SB 145 | Prohibiting Denial of Workers' Compensation if the Injury or Death was Related to Certain Personal Characteristics | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 28) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | AB 482 | Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | AB 2666 | Establishing Public Database of Companies and Their Tax Credits in the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 26) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 1391 | Business Tax Incentive Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | SB 145 | Prohibiting Denial of Workers' Compensation if the Injury or Death was Related to Certain Personal Characteristics | Bill Passed - House (47 - 27) |
| Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | AB 2666 | Establishing Public Database of Companies and Their Tax Credits in the State | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| July 1, 2010 | CA | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 1264 | Airline Passenger Rights | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 1163 | Denials of Health Care Coverage | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 12) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2047 | Expanding Authorized University Admission Considerations | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 28) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 974 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| June 2, 2010 | CA | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | Bill Passed - House (42 - 27) |
| June 2, 2010 | CA | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| June 2, 2010 | CA | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (46 - 27) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | AB 1652 | Ski Resort Safety Requirement Modifications | Bill Passed - House (44 - 30) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Bill Passed - House (50 - 27) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | SB 900 | Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| April 5, 2010 | CA | AB 1656 | Requiring Fur Product Labeling | Bill Passed - House (59 - 11) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | CA | ABx8 8 | Internet Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | CA | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| Sept. 10, 2009 | CA | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |