Most bills require a majority vote (it must pass by 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the Assembly), while urgency measures and appropriation bills require a two-thirds vote (27 in the Senate, 54 in the Assembly).

On the morning of May 22, 2025, the United States House of Representatives passed OBBBA by a vote of 215–214–1, mostly along party-lines. Fiscally conservative Republicans Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson broke from their party to vote against the bill, while Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris of Maryland voted present.

California State Senate video programming can also be viewed in the downtown Sacramento area through Comcast Cable's Capitol Channels (Senate on channels 91 and 92, Assembly on 93 and 94).