Dave Cortese was elected in November 2020 to represent California's 15th Senate District, which encompasses much of Santa Clara County.[1]
He previously served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for over a decade (four years as board president), on the San Jose City Council for eight years, and as a trustee of the East Side Union High School District for eight years. He is also an attorney and business owner.[1]He grew up in San Jose, graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory, earned a political science degree from the University of California, Davis, and earned his law degree at Lincoln University Law School in San Jose.[1]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Jobs & cost of living358 with · 2 against360 votes
Existing law charges the Labor Commissioner with enforcement of various labor laws, including investigation of employee complaints. This bill would declare it is the policy of the state that a worker providing direct patient care be free to use their professional judgment to make assessments and decisions within their scope of practice as appropriate for their patients. The bill would prohibit an employer from retaliating or discriminating against a worker providing patient care, as specified.
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (act), otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land to agricultural use if the land is located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county, as specified. Existing law authorizes the county or city to cancel a contract under certain circumstances and conditions.
Aug 31, 2026 · Passed 21–14 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Existing law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to direct a business that sells or shares personal information about the consumer to third parties not to sell or share the consumer’s personal information, as specified.
Existing law provides that a cause of action that survives the death of the person entitled to commence an action or proceeding passes to the decedent’s successor in interest and an action may be commenced by the decedent’s personal representative or, if none, by the decedent’s successor in interest. Existing law provides that the damages recoverable in that action or proceeding include the loss or damage that the decedent sustained or incurred before death, including any penalties or punitive or exemplary damages that the decedent would have been entitled to recover had the decedent lived.
The California Constitution authorizes a county or city to make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws. Existing law establishes procedures for the enactment of ordinances by counties and cities and makes a violation of a county or city ordinance, as applicable, a misdemeanor unless by ordinance it is made an infraction.
Existing law provides that a crime punishable with death, by imprisonment in the state prison, or by imprisonment in a county jail for more than one year is a felony and all other offenses, except those that are classified as infractions, are misdemeanors. Existing law further provides that a crime that is punishable, in the discretion of the court, as a felony or as a misdemeanor is a misdemeanor under certain circumstances, including when, at or before the preliminary examination or prior to a certain order being filed, the magistrate determines that the offense is a misdemeanor.
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (act), otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land to agricultural use if the land is located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county, as specified. Existing law authorizes the county or city to cancel a contract under certain circumstances and conditions.
Aug 31, 2026 · Passed 21–14 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
(1) Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards regulate water quality and prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (act) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.
Jun 4, 2025 · Passed 23–12 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Existing law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board in the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the California regional water quality control boards which prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act.
Existing law charges the Labor Commissioner with enforcement of various labor laws, including investigation of employee complaints. This bill would declare it is the policy of the state that a worker providing direct patient care be free to use their professional judgment to make assessments and decisions within their scope of practice as appropriate for their patients. The bill would prohibit an employer from retaliating or discriminating against a worker providing patient care, as specified.
Existing law provides for the licensure of various health facilities, including general acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, and special hospitals, by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations that establish minimum, specific, and numerical licensed nurse-to-patient ratios by licensed nurse classification and by hospital unit for all general acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, and special hospitals.
Existing law generally provides for the regulation of law enforcement agencies and requires specified law enforcement agencies to maintain policies on, among other things, use of force, hate crimes, and gun violence restraining orders. Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to establish and keep updated a field training officer course relating to competencies of the field training program and police training program that addresses how to interact with persons with certain conditions.
The California Constitution authorizes a county or city to make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws. Existing law establishes procedures for the enactment of ordinances by counties and cities and makes a violation of a county or city ordinance, as applicable, a misdemeanor unless by ordinance it is made an infraction.
Existing law, the Housing Accountability Act, among other things, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project for very low, low-, or moderate-income households unless the local agency makes written findings as to one of certain sets of conditions, as specified.
Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to determine whether the housing element is in substantial compliance with those provisions.
Existing law establishes the California College Promise, under the administration of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to provide funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each community college meeting prescribed requirements.
A portion of the Donahoe Higher Education Act, known as the Equity in Higher Education Act, provides, among other things, that all students have the right to participate fully in the educational process, free from discrimination and harassment, and that postsecondary educational institutions have an affirmative obligation to combat discrimination on the basis of, among other things, disability, gender, race, or ethnicity, and a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunity.
(1) Existing law requires a certificated employee of a school district of any type or class or of a county superintendent of schools, with an average daily attendance of 250 or more, who completes 2 consecutive years and is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a position requiring certification, to become and be classified as a permanent employee of the school district or county superintendent.
Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to annually report to the Legislature on sites on railroad lines in the state that the commission finds to be hazardous, including a list of all railroad sites in the state that it determines pose a local safety hazard. Existing law authorizes the commission to submit in the annual report the list of railroad sites submitted in the immediate prior year annual report, and to amend or revise that list from the immediate prior year as necessary.
Existing law, the Mitigation Fee Act, imposes various requirements with respect to the establishment, increase, or imposition of a fee by a local agency as a condition of approval of a development project.
Existing law requires a city, county, or city and county to administratively approve an application to install an electric vehicle charging station through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit, and requires every local government to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, as provided.
Existing law charges the Labor Commissioner with enforcement of various labor laws, including investigation of employee complaints. This bill would declare it is the policy of the state that a worker providing direct patient care be free to use their professional judgment to make assessments and decisions within their scope of practice as appropriate for their patients. The bill would prohibit an employer from retaliating or discriminating against a worker providing patient care, as specified.
Existing law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to direct a business that sells or shares personal information about the consumer to third parties not to sell or share the consumer’s personal information, as specified.
Existing law prohibits a public agency, which includes the state, a city, a county, a city and county, or any agency or political subdivision of the state, a city, a county, or a city and county, including, but not limited to, a law enforcement agency, from selling, sharing, or transferring automated license plate recognition (ALPR) information, except to another public agency, and only as otherwise permitted by law. Existing law defines ALPR information as information or data collected through the use of an ALPR system.
This measure would urge President Donald J. Trump to avoid raising the cost of living for American consumers by rescinding the tariffs that he has imposed since taking office in January 2025 and refunding the American people for the costs passed on to them by his tariffs. The measure would also urge the United States Congress to enact a joint resolution to rescind President Trump’s tariffs and to oppose all future unilateral and arbitrary tariff increases imposed by President Trump.
Existing federal law establishes the militia of the United States, specifies who is eligible to be a part of the militia, divides the militia into the organized and unorganized militia, and defines the organized militia as the National Guard and the Naval Militia. Existing federal law authorizes the President of the United States to call units of the National Guard of any state into federal service if certain criteria are met.
Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment assistance for first-time home buyers.
Voted against most of their party on 5 of 869 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Climate & energy (3), Jobs & cost of living (2), Rights & public safety (1)
Williamson Act contracts: cancellation fees: photovoltaic solar facilities.
What it does: The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (act), otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land to agricultural use if the land…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 21–4, Republicans 0–10
A yes vote agreed to the Assembly's amendments to SB 948, a bill that, as amended, requires a four-hour live-fire training course for firearm safety certificate applicants from 2029 and extends the importer reporting deadline to 180 days. (AI-written)
What it does: Existing law requires any person who purchases or receives a firearm to possess a firearm safety certificate. Existing law also prohibits a person from selling or transferring a firearm to any person who does not poss…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 28–2, Republicans 0–10
Williamson Act contracts: cancellation fees: photovoltaic solar facilities.
What it does: The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (act), otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land to agricultural use if the land…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 25–4, Republicans 0–4
What it does: Existing law, the End of Life Option Act, until January 1, 2031, authorizes an adult who meets certain qualifications, including, among other things, being a resident of the State of California, and who has been deter…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 26–1, Republicans 0–5
What it does: (1) Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards regulate water quality and prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Porte…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 23–2, Republicans 0–10
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
AB 2634 · CA SENATE
Workforce development: High road training partnerships: scoring preference.
YesVOTED
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB2634 Zbur By Durazo
The California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act establishes the California Workforce Development Board to assist the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California’s workforce investment system and the alignment of the education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce.
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB113 Gabriel By Laird
The Budget Act of 2026 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2026–27 fiscal year. This bill would amend that budget act by amending, adding, and repealing items of appropriation and making other changes. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill. This bill would declare that it makes an appropriation for the usual current expenses of the state, and shall go into immediate effect. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Williamson Act contracts: cancellation fees: photovoltaic solar facilities.
NoVOTED
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB1156 Wicks By Laird
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (act), otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land to agricultural use if the land is located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county, as specified. Existing law authorizes the county or city to cancel a contract under certain circumstances and conditions.
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB1331 Elhawary et al. By Durazo
Existing law establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within the Department of Industrial Relations. Existing law authorizes the division, which is headed by the Labor Commissioner, to enforce the Labor Code and all labor laws of the state the enforcement of which is not specifically vested in any other officer, board, or commission. This bill would limit the use of workplace surveillance tools, as defined, by employers, including by prohibiting an employer from monitoring or surveilling employees in a bathroom located in the workplace, except as specified.
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB1349 Bryan et al. By Cabaldon
Existing law provides comprehensive regulation of ticket sellers, defined as a person who, for compensation, commission, or otherwise, sells admission tickets to a sporting, musical, theater, or any other entertainment event. In this regard, existing law, among other things, prohibits specified ticket selling practices and imposes certain recordkeeping and disclosure requirements. If an event is canceled, existing law requires that the ticket price be fully refunded to the consumer whether by an original seller, event presenter, ticket reseller, or ticket resale marketplace, as specified.
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB1642 Harabedian et al. By Allen
Existing law establishes the Department of Toxic Substances Control, which regulates the handling and management of hazardous waste and hazardous materials, and establishes the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the State Air Resources Board. Existing federal law sets action levels for lead in dust and emission standards for asbestos, and existing state law sets workplace standards for asbestos. Existing law authorizes local health officers to take specified actions to protect public health and establishes procedures for the remediation of certain contaminated properties.
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB1795 Gipson By Allen
(1) Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including fire and residential property insurance. Existing law specifies the measure of indemnity under an open fire insurance policy that requires payment of actual cash value or replacement cost. If there is a covered loss relating to a state of emergency, existing law requires additional living expense coverage to be for a period of no less than 24 months from the inception of the loss.
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB184 BUDGET (Gabriel) By Laird
(1) Existing property tax law requires the county auditor, in each fiscal year, to allocate property tax revenue to local jurisdictions in accordance with specified formulas and procedures, and generally provides that each jurisdiction be allocated an amount equal to the total of the amount of revenue allocated to that jurisdiction in the prior fiscal year, subject to certain modifications, and that jurisdiction’s portion of the annual tax increment, as defined.
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB2047 Bauer-Kahan et al. By Blakespear
Existing law makes it a crime to knowingly or willfully cause another person to engage in the unlawful manufacture of firearms or knowingly or willfully aiding, abetting, prompting, or facilitating the unlawful manufacture of firearms, including the manufacture of assault weapons or .50 BMG rifles or the manufacture of any firearm using a 3-dimensional printer, as specified. Existing law authorizes a civil action against a person who knowingly distributes or causes to be distributed any digital firearm manufacturing code to any person, except as specified.
Motion: Assembly 3rd Reading AB2065 Petrie-Norris By Pérez
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, gas corporations, water corporations, and sewer system corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law prohibits a utility from recording to an above-the-line account, as defined, or otherwise recovering from ratepayers specified costs.
