California Vote Reports

2025 CA Legislative Scorecard

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the California State Legislature in 2025 and ranks state assemblymen and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

For detailed bill descriptions and thorough explanations of their constitutional merits or violations, scan the QR code above or visit thefreedomindex.org/ca/.

Senate Votes

  • Red-light Cameras

    Lets any California city or county run red-light-camera programs.

  • Reparations for Descendants of Slaves

    Establishes the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within California's Civil Rights Department to administer future reparations-related programs.

  • New State Holiday: Diwali

    Designates Diwali, the Hindu "festival of lights," as an official state holiday in California.

  • Abortion Protection

    Expands protections for access to medication abortion in California, and shields providers, pharmacists, and facilities from out-of-state interference.

  • Free-speech Violation

    Makes large social-media platforms legally liable if their algorithms or actions help facilitate violence, intimidation, or discrimination that violates California civil-rights laws.

  • Con-Con Rescission

    Rescinds all previous applications made by the California Legislature requesting that Congress call an Article V convention for proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

House Votes

  • Red-light Cameras

    Lets any California city or county run red-light-camera programs.

  • Ghost-gun Ban

    Expands California's restrictions on "ghost guns" by criminalizing the act of aiding, abetting, or facilitating the unlawful manufacture of firearms.

  • Satellite Voting Locations

    Expands early-voting access in California by allowing voters to cast their vote-by-mail ballots at the county elections office or satellite locations starting 29 days before an election.

  • DEI Motion-picture Tax Credits

    Requires the California Film Commission to expand the state's motion-picture tax-credit system by adding new data-collection requirements.

  • Descendants of Slaves Preference

    Requires California's professional-licensing boards to fast-track license applications for individuals certified as descendants of American slaves.

  • Con-Con Rescission

    Rescinds all previous applications made by the California Legislature requesting that Congress call an Article V convention for proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

2024 CA Legislative Scorecard

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the California State Legislature in 2024 and ranks state assemblymen and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

Senate Votes

  • Sexual Education

    Mandates free condom access for grades 9-12 starting in 2025-26, promotes partnerships with health organizations, allocates $5 million for community distribution, and prohibits age-based restrictions on nonprescription contraception.

  • Automated Traffic Enforcement

    Allows the city of Malibu to launch a speed-camera pilot program on the Pacific Coast Highway until 2032, using automated systems to ticket drivers.

  • Carbon Sequestration

    Allows for the development of "blue carbon" and "teal carbon" demonstration projects to study and quantify the carbon-sequestration potential of coastal and wetland ecosystems.

  • Free Speech Violation

    Forces large online platforms to censor or label election-related content deemed "deceptive," including deepfakes, during election periods.

  • Firearms Dealer Oversight

    Requires the California Department of Justice to include detailed data on firearm-dealer inspections and handgun-roster updates in its annual report to the Legislature.

  • Abortion

    Allowed licensed Arizona physicians to temporarily practice in California to provide abortion-related care to Arizona residents traveling from Arizona.

House Votes

  • Sexual Education

    Mandates free condom access for grades 9-12 starting in 2025-26, promotes partnerships with health organizations, allocates $5 million for community distribution, and prohibits age-based restrictions on nonprescription contraception.

  • Carbon Sequestration

    Allows for the development of "blue carbon" and "teal carbon" demonstration projects to study and quantify the carbon-sequestration potential of coastal and wetland ecosystems.

  • Paid Sick Leave

    Extends paid sick leave to agricultural employees who work outside.

  • Voter ID Ban

    Prohibits local governments from requiring voters to present identification to vote or submit a ballot at any polling place, vote center, or other ballot-submission location.

  • Firearm Storage

    Imposes stricter firearm storage laws, forcing gun owners to lock up their firearms at home unless being carried or controlled by an authorized user.

  • Gender-mutilation Care Licenses

    Requires California medical licensing boards to expedite licensure for applicants intending to provide so-called gender-affirming healthcare or mental healthcare, similar to the existing process for abortion providers.

2023 CA Legislative Scorecard

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the California State Legislature in 2023 and ranks state assemblymen and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our second state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Senate Votes

  • Right to “Food Security”

    Declares that "it is the established policy of this state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food," and requires "all relevant state agencies to consider this state policy…pertinent to the distribution of sufficient food."

  • “Hate Crimes” Policy by Law Enforcement

    Makes the adoption of a "hate crimes" policy by a state and local law enforcement agency mandatory by July 1, 2024.

  • \"Gender Identity\" Affirmation for Child Custody

    Would include a parent's affirmation of the child's "gender identity or gender expression" as part of the "health, safety, and welfare" factors used to determine the "best interests of the child" for the purposes of deciding custody.

  • Article V Convention: Gun Control

    Applies to Congress to call an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing a constitutional amendment on "firearms regulations and prohibitions."

  • State-Licensing of Homemade Firearms

    Requires anybody who uses a three-dimensional (3D) printer or computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine to make a firearm to be a state-licensed manufacturer.

  • Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Day

    Proclaims March 15, 2023, as "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Day, a day of remembrance and education to ensure that all Californians always honor and remember a vibrant guardian of equality for all."

House Votes

  • Article V Convention: Gun Control

    Applies to Congress to call an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing a constitutional amendment on "firearms regulations and prohibitions."

  • Firearm Purchase Waiting Periods

    Allows the California Department of Justice to delay a firearms background check up to 30 days if "additional research" is required or by "emergency" order of the Attorney General.

  • \"Gender Identity\" Affirmation for Child Custody

    Would include a parent's affirmation of the child's "gender identity or gender expression" as part of the "health, safety, and welfare" factors used to determine the "best interests of the child" for the purposes of deciding custody.

  • Aspiration Abortions by Physician Assistants

    Expands aspiration abortion training for physician assistants and permits them to perform aspiration abortions without the presence of a supervising physician and surgeon.

  • “Climate-Resilient” Bond Act of 2024

    Would authorize $3.4 billion in general bond obligations to finance programs related to "climate change," "food insecurity," and an "equitable economy."

  • Ban on Biometric Police Bodycam Surveillance

    Would prohibit a law enforcement officer or agency from using any biometric surveillance system in connection with a law enforcement agency's body-worn camera or data collected from an officer camera.

2022 CA Legislative Scorecard 2021-

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the California State Legislature in 2021 and 2022 and ranks state assemblymen and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our first state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Senate Votes

  • California Commission on Human Rights

    Would establish the California Commission on Human Rights to evaluate the state's protection of human rights as "defined, enumerated, or set forth by, but not limited to" the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

  • Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) Restrictions

    Would create several major provisions related to concealed carry weapons (CCW) licenses, such as raising the minimum age requirement to 21.

  • Sexual Identity Changes for Minor Children

    Requires California courts to order parents who do not sign a change of gender petition that has been filed on behalf of their minor child to show cause why the petition should not be granted by filing a written objection.

  • Budget

    Contains the 2022 Budget Act, which, along with other related legislation, implements California's state budget of approximately $307.9 billion for FY 2022-23.

  • \'Right to Abortion\' in the California Constitution

    Would amend the California Constitution to include an individual's "fundamental right to choose to have an abortion."

  • State-Mandated Kindergarten

    Requires a child to complete one year of kindergarten before that child may be admitted to the first grade at a public elementary school.

House Votes

  • California Commission on Human Rights

    Would establish the California Commission on Human Rights to evaluate the state's protection of human rights as "defined, enumerated, or set forth by, but not limited to" the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

  • Budget

    Contains the 2022 Budget Act, which, along with other related legislation, implements California's state budget of approximately $307.9 billion for FY 2022-23.

  • Sexual Identity Changes for Minor Children

    Requires California courts to order parents who do not sign a change of gender petition that has been filed on behalf of their minor child to show cause why the petition should not be granted by filing a written objection.

  • \'Right to Abortion\' in the California Constitution

    Would amend the California Constitution to include an individual's "fundamental right to choose to have an abortion."

  • State-Mandated Kindergarten

    Requires a child to complete one year of kindergarten before that child may be admitted to the first grade at a public elementary school.

  • Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) Restrictions

    Would create several major provisions related to concealed carry weapons (CCW) licenses, such as raising the minimum age requirement to 21.

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