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. 1, 2022 | MA | H 5163 | Authorizes Technology Improvements to State Judiciary | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
Aug. 1, 2022 | MA | H 5163 | Authorizes Technology Improvements to State Judiciary | Bill Passed - House (147 - 6) |
June 30, 2022 | MA | S 2988 | Limits Use of Asset Forfeiture | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
Jan. 27, 2022 | MA | S 2554 | Establishes Early Voting Opportunities | (124 - 34) |
Sept. 23, 2021 | MA | H 4121 | Establishes House Working Group on COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (131 - 28) |
Sept. 23, 2021 | MA | H 4121 | Establishes House Working Group on COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (131 - 28) |
June 10, 2021 | MA | H 3871 | Appropriates Funds for a Supplemental Budget | Bill Passed - House (131 - 29) |
June 10, 2021 | MA | H 3863 | Amends the Redistricting Process to Redraw Congressional Boundaries | Bill Passed - House (131 - 29) |
March 11, 2021 | MA | H 73 | Establishes That Early Voting by Mail-In Ballot Can Continue Through the End of June | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
July 2, 2020 | MA | H 4820 | Expands Voting Options in Response to COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 0) |
July 31, 2018 | MA | H 4857 | Increases State Clean Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
July 30, 2018 | MA | H 4834 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
July 30, 2018 | MA | H 4834 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
July 18, 2018 | MA | H 4546 | Authorizes Creation of Community Benefit Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
June 7, 2018 | MA | H 4501 | Authorizes Capital for State Life Sciences Capital Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
July 7, 2017 | MA | H 3800 | Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
July 7, 2017 | MA | H 3800 | Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 | Conference Report Adopted - House (140 - 9) |
May 24, 2017 | MA | H 3034 | Limits the Use of Prison Labor | Bill Passed - House (120 - 35) |
May 31, 2012 | MA | H Amdt 11 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 43) |
March 2, 2011 | MA | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - House (123 - 30) |
March 2, 2011 | MA | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - House (123 - 30) |
Feb. 10, 2011 | MA | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
Feb. 10, 2011 | MA | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
July 27, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (28 - 9) |
July 20, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - House (116 - 34) |
July 15, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
June 2, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
Jan. 14, 2010 | MA | S 2247 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 47) |
Jan. 14, 2010 | MA | S 2247 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12) |
Oct. 8, 2009 | MA | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
Sept. 22, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Sept. 22, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Sept. 22, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Sept. 17, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
Sept. 17, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
Sept. 17, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
May 1, 2009 | MA | H 4101 | Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010 | Bill Passed - House (137 - 19) |
April 27, 2009 | MA | Sciortino Amdt | Sales Tax Increase | Amendment Adopted - House (108 - 51) |
April 7, 2009 | MA | S 2024 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Bill Passed - House (147 - 7) |
July 29, 2008 | MA | S 2807 | Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
July 29, 2008 | MA | SB 800 | Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (119 - 36) |
July 29, 2008 | MA | S 2807 | Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
July 9, 2008 | MA | Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District | Bill Failed - House (34 - 120) | |
July 9, 2008 | MA | H 678 | National Popular Vote Plan | Bill Passed - House (116 - 37) |
July 9, 2008 | MA | Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold | Bill Failed - House (34 - 120) | |
June 12, 2008 | MA | H 4554 | Life-Science Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
June 11, 2008 | MA | H 4554 | Life-Science Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15) |
May 6, 2008 | MA | H 4645 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
April 10, 2008 | MA | Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Failed - House (49 - 105) | |
April 10, 2008 | MA | H 4645 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (131 - 23) |
March 20, 2008 | MA | H 4920 to 4307 | Establishing and Regulating Casinos | Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48) |
March 12, 2008 | MA | DeLeo Amdt | Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises | Amendment Adopted - House (126 - 20) |
March 12, 2008 | MA | DeLeo Amdt | Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises | Amendment Adopted - House (126 - 20) |
Feb. 7, 2008 | MA | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
Feb. 7, 2008 | MA | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
Feb. 6, 2008 | MA | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - House (135 - 19) |
Feb. 6, 2008 | MA | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - House (135 - 19) |
Nov. 15, 2007 | MA | S 2414 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
Oct. 11, 2007 | MA | H 4282 | Supplemental Budget | Bill Passed - House (126 - 18) |
Oct. 11, 2007 | MA | H 4282 | Supplemental Budget | Bill Passed - House (126 - 18) |
Sept. 27, 2007 | MA | Koutoujian Amendment | Expanding Pension Fund Divestment to Any State with a History of Genocide | Amendment Rejected - House (53 - 101) |
Sept. 27, 2007 | MA | Jones Amendment | Expanding Pension Fund Divestments to Any State Sponsor of Terrorism | Amendment Rejected - House (32 - 124) |
Sept. 27, 2007 | MA | S 2255 | State Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan | Bill Passed - House (154 - 2) |
July 31, 2007 | MA | HB 2876 | Sales Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
July 26, 2007 | MA | HB 2876 | Sales Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - House (145 - 8) |
July 13, 2006 | MA | H 126 | Unsigned Political Posters | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
May 24, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |
May 24, 2006 | MA | Amdt 8 to SB 3 | Sales Tax Holiday | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 16) |
May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 2) |
April 27, 2006 | MA | C Amdt "H" | Local Education Funding Study Bill | Amendment Adopted - House (144 - 13) |
April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (147 - 10) |
April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 20) |
April 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (154 - 2) |
Jan. 25, 2006 | MA | S 1074 | Disclosure of Religious Funds Bill | Bill Failed - House (3 - 147) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
8/01 | H 5163 | Authorizes Technology Improvements to State Judiciary | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
8/01 | H 5163 | Authorizes Technology Improvements to State Judiciary | Bill Passed - House (147 - 6) |
6/30 | S 2988 | Limits Use of Asset Forfeiture | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
1/27 | S 2554 | Establishes Early Voting Opportunities | (124 - 34) |
9/23 | H 4121 | Establishes House Working Group on COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (131 - 28) |
9/23 | H 4121 | Establishes House Working Group on COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (131 - 28) |
6/10 | H 3871 | Appropriates Funds for a Supplemental Budget | Bill Passed - House (131 - 29) |
6/10 | H 3863 | Amends the Redistricting Process to Redraw Congressional Boundaries | Bill Passed - House (131 - 29) |
3/11 | H 73 | Establishes That Early Voting by Mail-In Ballot Can Continue Through the End of June | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
7/02 | H 4820 | Expands Voting Options in Response to COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 0) |
7/31 | H 4857 | Increases State Clean Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
7/30 | H 4834 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
7/30 | H 4834 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
7/18 | H 4546 | Authorizes Creation of Community Benefit Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
6/07 | H 4501 | Authorizes Capital for State Life Sciences Capital Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
7/07 | H 3800 | Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
7/07 | H 3800 | Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 | Conference Report Adopted - House (140 - 9) |
5/24 | H 3034 | Limits the Use of Prison Labor | Bill Passed - House (120 - 35) |
5/31 | H Amdt 11 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 43) |
3/02 | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - House (123 - 30) |
3/02 | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - House (123 - 30) |
2/10 | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
2/10 | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
7/27 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (28 - 9) |
7/20 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - House (116 - 34) |
7/15 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
6/02 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
1/14 | S 2247 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 47) |
1/14 | S 2247 | Education Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12) |
10/08 | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
9/22 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
9/22 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
9/22 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
9/17 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
9/17 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
9/17 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
5/01 | H 4101 | Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010 | Bill Passed - House (137 - 19) |
4/27 | Sciortino Amdt | Sales Tax Increase | Amendment Adopted - House (108 - 51) |
4/07 | S 2024 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Bill Passed - House (147 - 7) |
7/29 | S 2807 | Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
7/29 | SB 800 | Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (119 - 36) |
7/29 | S 2807 | Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
7/09 | Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District | Bill Failed - House (34 - 120) | |
7/09 | H 678 | National Popular Vote Plan | Bill Passed - House (116 - 37) |
7/09 | Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold | Bill Failed - House (34 - 120) | |
6/12 | H 4554 | Life-Science Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
6/11 | H 4554 | Life-Science Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15) |
5/06 | H 4645 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
4/10 | Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Failed - House (49 - 105) | |
4/10 | H 4645 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (131 - 23) |
3/20 | H 4920 to 4307 | Establishing and Regulating Casinos | Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48) |
3/12 | DeLeo Amdt | Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises | Amendment Adopted - House (126 - 20) |
3/12 | DeLeo Amdt | Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises | Amendment Adopted - House (126 - 20) |
2/07 | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
2/07 | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
2/06 | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - House (135 - 19) |
2/06 | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - House (135 - 19) |
11/15 | S 2414 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
10/11 | H 4282 | Supplemental Budget | Bill Passed - House (126 - 18) |
10/11 | H 4282 | Supplemental Budget | Bill Passed - House (126 - 18) |
9/27 | Koutoujian Amendment | Expanding Pension Fund Divestment to Any State with a History of Genocide | Amendment Rejected - House (53 - 101) |
9/27 | Jones Amendment | Expanding Pension Fund Divestments to Any State Sponsor of Terrorism | Amendment Rejected - House (32 - 124) |
9/27 | S 2255 | State Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan | Bill Passed - House (154 - 2) |
7/31 | HB 2876 | Sales Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
7/26 | HB 2876 | Sales Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - House (145 - 8) |
7/13 | H 126 | Unsigned Political Posters | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
5/24 | H 4479 | MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |
5/24 | Amdt 8 to SB 3 | Sales Tax Holiday | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 16) |
5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 2) |
4/27 | C Amdt "H" | Local Education Funding Study Bill | Amendment Adopted - House (144 - 13) |
4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (147 - 10) |
4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 20) |
4/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (154 - 2) |
1/25 | S 1074 | Disclosure of Religious Funds Bill | Bill Failed - House (3 - 147) |