Massachusetts Social 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
June 18, 2014 MA H 4184 Authorizes Parole Eligibility for Certain Juveniles Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Bill Passed - House (129 - 16)
June 12, 2014 MA H 4111 Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
May 28, 2014 MA H 4111 Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center Bill Passed - House (131 - 19)
July 19, 2012 MA H 3818 Requires Habitual Violent Offenders to Serve Their Full Sentence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
July 18, 2012 MA H 3818 Requires Habitual Violent Offenders to Serve Their Full Sentence Conference Report Adopted - House (139 - 14)
May 31, 2012 MA H Amdt 11 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 43)
May 30, 2012 MA H 3986 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Labor Organizations Bill Passed - House (117 - 32)
April 25, 2012 MA H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
April 25, 2012 MA H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
Oct. 13, 2011 MA H 3711 Authorizes Gambling Casinos Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Sept. 14, 2011 MA H 3711 Authorizes Gambling Casinos Bill Passed - House (123 - 32)
July 31, 2010 MA H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
July 31, 2010 MA H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 36)
July 1, 2010 MA H 4619 Gambling Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
May 26, 2010 MA H 4703 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (139 - 17)
April 28, 2010 MA Sánchez Amdt Sending Public Benefits Amendment to Study Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 75)
April 14, 2010 MA H 4591 Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (120 - 37)
Feb. 4, 2010 MA H 4466 Expanding Driving Regulations Bill Passed - House (146 - 9)
Jan. 28, 2010 MA H 4441 School Nutrition Standards Bill Passed - House (152 - 4)
Nov. 18, 2009 MA S 2210 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Oct. 8, 2009 MA SB 2028 Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan Bill Passed - House (114 - 36)
June 3, 2009 MA H Amendment 2 Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78)
July 29, 2008 MA Peterson Amdt to H 5022 Reducing Firearm Licensing Fee Amendment Adopted - House (97 - 59)
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 29, 2008 MA SB 800 Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions Bill Passed - House (119 - 36)
March 20, 2008 MA H 4920 to 4307 Establishing and Regulating Casinos Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48)
Jan. 23, 2008 MA H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
Nov. 1, 2007 MA S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
Nov. 1, 2007 MA S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
July 13, 2006 MA H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - House (132 - 24)
July 13, 2006 MA H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Veto Override Passed - House (115 - 42)
July 13, 2006 MA H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
July 13, 2006 MA H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
June 7, 2006 MA H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
May 24, 2006 MA H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
April 25, 2006 MA H 4479 Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19)
Jan. 11, 2006 MA H 1230 In State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Failed - House (57 - 96)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/18 H 4184 Authorizes Parole Eligibility for Certain Juveniles Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Bill Passed - House (129 - 16)
6/12 H 4111 Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
5/28 H 4111 Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center Bill Passed - House (131 - 19)
7/19 H 3818 Requires Habitual Violent Offenders to Serve Their Full Sentence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
7/18 H 3818 Requires Habitual Violent Offenders to Serve Their Full Sentence Conference Report Adopted - House (139 - 14)
5/31 H Amdt 11 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 43)
5/30 H 3986 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Labor Organizations Bill Passed - House (117 - 32)
4/25 H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
4/25 H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
10/13 H 3711 Authorizes Gambling Casinos Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
9/14 H 3711 Authorizes Gambling Casinos Bill Passed - House (123 - 32)
7/31 H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
7/31 H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 36)
7/01 H 4619 Gambling Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
5/26 H 4703 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (139 - 17)
4/28 Sánchez Amdt Sending Public Benefits Amendment to Study Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 75)
4/14 H 4591 Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (120 - 37)
2/04 H 4466 Expanding Driving Regulations Bill Passed - House (146 - 9)
1/28 H 4441 School Nutrition Standards Bill Passed - House (152 - 4)
11/18 S 2210 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
10/08 SB 2028 Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan Bill Passed - House (114 - 36)
6/03 H Amendment 2 Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78)
7/29 Peterson Amdt to H 5022 Reducing Firearm Licensing Fee Amendment Adopted - House (97 - 59)
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)
7/29 SB 800 Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions Bill Passed - House (119 - 36)
3/20 H 4920 to 4307 Establishing and Regulating Casinos Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48)
1/23 H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
11/01 S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
11/01 S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
7/13 H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - House (132 - 24)
7/13 H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Veto Override Passed - House (115 - 42)
7/13 H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
7/13 H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
6/07 H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
5/24 H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
4/25 H 4479 Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19)
1/11 H 1230 In State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Failed - House (57 - 96)

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