Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 14, 2024 MA S 2697 Expands Childcare Affordability Programs Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Feb. 1, 2024 MA H 4139 Amends and Updates Various State Gun Control Laws Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 3)
Jan. 18, 2024 MA S 2551 Repeals Certain Language in Several State Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Jan. 10, 2024 MA H 4241 Prohibits Revenge Porn and Increases Penalties Bill Passed - House (151 - 0)
Oct. 18, 2023 MA H 4135 Amends and Updates Various State Gun Control Laws Bill Passed - House (120 - 38)
Oct. 18, 2023 MA H 4139 Amends and Updates Various State Gun Control Laws Bill Passed - House (120 - 38)
Oct. 4, 2023 MA H 4109 Requires Employers with 25 or More Employees Post Annual Salary or Hourly Wage Amount Bill Passed - House (148 - 8)
Sept. 28, 2023 MA H 4104 Exempts Decedents Estates from State Estate Tax if Under $2 Million Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 1)
April 13, 2023 MA H 43 Establishment of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
March 9, 2023 MA H 58 Authorizes Appropriations for the 2023 Fiscal Year Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Aug. 1, 2022 MA H 5164 Authorizes Sports Wagering in the Commonwealth Bill Passed - House (151 - 2)
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)
Aug. 1, 2022 MA H 5164 Authorizes Sports Wagering in the Commonwealth (36 - 4)
Aug. 1, 2022 MA S 3097 Reduces Barriers to Mental Health Care Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 0)
July 28, 2022 MA H 5106 Establishes New Rules for the Governance and Improvement of Veterans' Homes in the Commonwealth (40 - 0)
July 26, 2022 MA H 5090 Expands Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - House (137 - 16)
July 26, 2022 MA H 5090 Expands Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care (39 - 1)
July 21, 2022 MA H 5060 Establishes Various New Programs and Laws to Promote Growth in the Clean Energy Industry Bill Passed - House (146 - 7)
July 21, 2022 MA H 5060 Establishes Various New Programs and Laws to Promote Growth in the Clean Energy Industry (38 - 2)
July 21, 2022 MA H 5034 Appropriates $3.8 Billion for Economic Development Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
July 7, 2022 MA S 2973 Expands Access to Childcare Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
June 30, 2022 MA S 2988 Limits Use of Asset Forfeiture Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
June 30, 2022 MA S 2987 Prohibits Juvenile Diversion Under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
June 29, 2022 MA H 4954 Expands Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - House (136 - 17)
June 16, 2022 MA H 4638 Appropriates Funds for Transportation Infrastructure Improvements Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
June 16, 2022 MA S 2924 Specifies Mail-In Voting Regulations Bill Passed - House (126 - 29)
June 9, 2022 MA H 4805 Authorizes State Drivers Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
June 8, 2022 MA H 4805 Authorizes State Drivers Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons Veto Override Passed - House (119 - 36)
May 26, 2022 MA H 4805 Authorizes State Drivers Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons Bill Passed - House (117 - 36)
May 26, 2022 MA H 4805 Authorizes State Drivers Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons (32 - 8)
May 18, 2022 MA S 2823 Amends Existing State Cannabis Laws (153 - 2)
May 5, 2022 MA H 4470 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons (32 - 8)
April 14, 2022 MA H 4524 Expands Commonwealth Involvement in Offshore Wind, Clean Energy Industries (37 - 3)
March 31, 2022 MA H 4554 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Hair or Hairstyle (40 - 0)
March 3, 2022 MA H 4524 Expands Commonwealth Involvement in Offshore Wind, Clean Energy Industries Bill Passed - House (144 - 12)
Feb. 16, 2022 MA H 4461 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Undocumented Immigrants (120 - 36)
Feb. 16, 2022 MA H 4470 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons Bill Passed - House (120 - 36)
Feb. 10, 2022 MA H 4441 Expands Protections for Veterans Bill Passed - House (156 - 1)
Jan. 27, 2022 MA S 2554 Establishes Early Voting Opportunities (124 - 34)
Nov. 17, 2021 MA H 4256 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Oct. 27, 2021 MA S 2560 Establishes Senatorial Districts Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
Sept. 23, 2021 MA H 4011 Prohibits Denial of Assistance Based on Person's Assets Veto Override Passed - House (130 - 29)
Sept. 23, 2021 MA H 4121 Establishes House Working Group on COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (131 - 28)
July 29, 2021 MA H 4002 Appropriates Funds for FY 2022 Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 6)
July 28, 2021 MA H 4002 Appropriates Funds for FY 2022 Veto Override Passed - House (124 - 35)
July 22, 2021 MA H 3977 Authorizes the Legalization of Sports Betting Bill Passed - House (156 - 3)
June 30, 2021 MA H 3770 Requires the $400 Million Holyoke Soldiers' Home Construction Project be Completed with Unionized Labor Veto Override Passed - House (130 - 30)
June 15, 2021 MA S 2472 Extends Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency Bill Passed - House (146 - 14)
June 15, 2021 MA S 2475 Amends Measures Adopted During the COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - House (150 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/14 S 2697 Expands Childcare Affordability Programs Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
2/01 H 4139 Amends and Updates Various State Gun Control Laws Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 3)
1/18 S 2551 Repeals Certain Language in Several State Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
1/10 H 4241 Prohibits Revenge Porn and Increases Penalties Bill Passed - House (151 - 0)
10/18 H 4135 Amends and Updates Various State Gun Control Laws Bill Passed - House (120 - 38)
10/18 H 4139 Amends and Updates Various State Gun Control Laws Bill Passed - House (120 - 38)
10/04 H 4109 Requires Employers with 25 or More Employees Post Annual Salary or Hourly Wage Amount Bill Passed - House (148 - 8)
9/28 H 4104 Exempts Decedents Estates from State Estate Tax if Under $2 Million Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 1)
4/13 H 43 Establishment of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
3/09 H 58 Authorizes Appropriations for the 2023 Fiscal Year Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
8/01 H 5164 Authorizes Sports Wagering in the Commonwealth Bill Passed - House (151 - 2)
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)
8/01 H 5164 Authorizes Sports Wagering in the Commonwealth (36 - 4)
8/01 S 3097 Reduces Barriers to Mental Health Care Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 0)
7/28 H 5106 Establishes New Rules for the Governance and Improvement of Veterans' Homes in the Commonwealth (40 - 0)
7/26 H 5090 Expands Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - House (137 - 16)
7/26 H 5090 Expands Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care (39 - 1)
7/21 H 5060 Establishes Various New Programs and Laws to Promote Growth in the Clean Energy Industry Bill Passed - House (146 - 7)
7/21 H 5060 Establishes Various New Programs and Laws to Promote Growth in the Clean Energy Industry (38 - 2)
7/21 H 5034 Appropriates $3.8 Billion for Economic Development Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
7/07 S 2973 Expands Access to Childcare Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
6/30 S 2988 Limits Use of Asset Forfeiture Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
6/30 S 2987 Prohibits Juvenile Diversion Under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
6/29 H 4954 Expands Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - House (136 - 17)
6/16 H 4638 Appropriates Funds for Transportation Infrastructure Improvements Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
6/16 S 2924 Specifies Mail-In Voting Regulations Bill Passed - House (126 - 29)
6/09 H 4805 Authorizes State Drivers Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
6/08 H 4805 Authorizes State Drivers Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons Veto Override Passed - House (119 - 36)
5/26 H 4805 Authorizes State Drivers Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons Bill Passed - House (117 - 36)
5/26 H 4805 Authorizes State Drivers Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons (32 - 8)
5/18 S 2823 Amends Existing State Cannabis Laws (153 - 2)
5/05 H 4470 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons (32 - 8)
4/14 H 4524 Expands Commonwealth Involvement in Offshore Wind, Clean Energy Industries (37 - 3)
3/31 H 4554 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Hair or Hairstyle (40 - 0)
3/03 H 4524 Expands Commonwealth Involvement in Offshore Wind, Clean Energy Industries Bill Passed - House (144 - 12)
2/16 H 4461 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Undocumented Immigrants (120 - 36)
2/16 H 4470 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Undocumented Persons Bill Passed - House (120 - 36)
2/10 H 4441 Expands Protections for Veterans Bill Passed - House (156 - 1)
1/27 S 2554 Establishes Early Voting Opportunities (124 - 34)
11/17 H 4256 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
10/27 S 2560 Establishes Senatorial Districts Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
9/23 H 4011 Prohibits Denial of Assistance Based on Person's Assets Veto Override Passed - House (130 - 29)
9/23 H 4121 Establishes House Working Group on COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (131 - 28)
7/29 H 4002 Appropriates Funds for FY 2022 Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 6)
7/28 H 4002 Appropriates Funds for FY 2022 Veto Override Passed - House (124 - 35)
7/22 H 3977 Authorizes the Legalization of Sports Betting Bill Passed - House (156 - 3)
6/30 H 3770 Requires the $400 Million Holyoke Soldiers' Home Construction Project be Completed with Unionized Labor Veto Override Passed - House (130 - 30)
6/15 S 2472 Extends Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency Bill Passed - House (146 - 14)
6/15 S 2475 Amends Measures Adopted During the COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - House (150 - 10)

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