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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2022 | MA | H 4441 | Expands Protections for Veterans | Bill Passed - House (156 - 1) |
| 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) |
| July 22, 2021 | MA | H 3977 | Authorizes the Legalization of Sports Betting | Bill Passed - House (156 - 3) |
| 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) |
| Jan. 28, 2021 | MA | S 9 | Establishes a Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy | Bill Passed - House (144 - 14) |
| Jan. 4, 2021 | MA | S 2995 | Amends State Climate Goals | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 2) |
| July 28, 2020 | MA | S 2848 | Establishes a Commission to Revise the State Seal and Motto | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| July 28, 2020 | MA | S 2844 | Repeals Previous Restrictions on Students with Disabilities Attending Universities of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| June 30, 2020 | MA | H 4818 | Establishes a Special Commission to Reduce Racial Inequalities in Maternal Health | Bill Passed - House (159 - 0) |
| Feb. 27, 2020 | MA | H 4502 | Appropriates Funds for the Executive Office of Education to Contain, Treat, and Prevent COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| Jan. 16, 2020 | MA | H 4218 | Requires School Districts Offer Breakfast After Instruction Begins | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
| Nov. 13, 2019 | MA | H 4183 | Prohibits Flavored Tobacco and Vaping Products, Including Menthol Cigarettes | Bill Passed - House (127 - 31) |
| July 12, 2018 | MA | S 2595 | Establishes Commission to Study Lead in Drinking Water at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| June 19, 2018 | MA | H 4617 | Increases Access to Affordable High Quality Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (117 - 32) |
| Nov. 9, 2017 | MA | S 2202 | Amends Various Healthcare Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
| June 22, 2017 | MA | H 3776 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| June 9, 2016 | MA | S 2311 | Amends Residential Zoning Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 9, 2016 | MA | H 4049 | Establishes Regulations for Ride-Sharing Companies | Bill Passed - House (139 - 16) |
| Sept. 17, 2015 | MA | S 1981 | Requires Foreclosure Title Clearing | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 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) |
| April 8, 2013 | MA | H 3382 | Expands Retail Tax to Include Computer System Design Services | Bill Passed - House (97 - 55) |
| July 31, 2012 | MA | S 2400 | Establishes Accountable Care Organizations | Conference Report Adopted - House (133 - 20) |
| June 27, 2012 | MA | H 4174 | Authorizes Funds for State Transportation Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| June 27, 2012 | MA | S 2214 | Amends Renewable Energy Contract Requirements | Bill Passed - House (135 - 16) |
| June 5, 2012 | MA | S 2270 | Reduces Health Care Spending | Bill Passed - House (148 - 7) |
| May 15, 2012 | MA | S Amdt 125 | Requires Establishing a Single Payer Health Care System Benchmark | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 22) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | MA | H 4441 | School Nutrition Standards | Bill Passed - House (152 - 4) |
| 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) |
| Nov. 17, 2009 | MA | S 2205 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | MA | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| June 18, 2009 | MA | S 2087 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
| June 18, 2009 | MA | S 2087 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - House (130 - 25) |
| April 7, 2009 | MA | S 2024 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Bill Passed - House (147 - 7) |
| March 20, 2008 | MA | H 4920 to 4307 | Establishing and Regulating Casinos | Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48) |
| 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) |
| Jan. 23, 2008 | MA | H 4477 | Cell Phone Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (107 - 47) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/10 | H 4441 | Expands Protections for Veterans | Bill Passed - House (156 - 1) |
| 11/17 | H 4256 | Amends Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 10/27 | S 2560 | Establishes Senatorial Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
| 7/22 | H 3977 | Authorizes the Legalization of Sports Betting | Bill Passed - House (156 - 3) |
| 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) |
| 1/28 | S 9 | Establishes a Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy | Bill Passed - House (144 - 14) |
| 1/04 | S 2995 | Amends State Climate Goals | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 2) |
| 7/28 | S 2848 | Establishes a Commission to Revise the State Seal and Motto | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| 7/28 | S 2844 | Repeals Previous Restrictions on Students with Disabilities Attending Universities of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| 6/30 | H 4818 | Establishes a Special Commission to Reduce Racial Inequalities in Maternal Health | Bill Passed - House (159 - 0) |
| 2/27 | H 4502 | Appropriates Funds for the Executive Office of Education to Contain, Treat, and Prevent COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| 1/16 | H 4218 | Requires School Districts Offer Breakfast After Instruction Begins | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
| 11/13 | H 4183 | Prohibits Flavored Tobacco and Vaping Products, Including Menthol Cigarettes | Bill Passed - House (127 - 31) |
| 7/12 | S 2595 | Establishes Commission to Study Lead in Drinking Water at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| 6/19 | H 4617 | Increases Access to Affordable High Quality Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (117 - 32) |
| 11/09 | S 2202 | Amends Various Healthcare Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
| 6/22 | H 3776 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 6/09 | S 2311 | Amends Residential Zoning Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 3/09 | H 4049 | Establishes Regulations for Ride-Sharing Companies | Bill Passed - House (139 - 16) |
| 9/17 | S 1981 | Requires Foreclosure Title Clearing | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 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) |
| 4/08 | H 3382 | Expands Retail Tax to Include Computer System Design Services | Bill Passed - House (97 - 55) |
| 7/31 | S 2400 | Establishes Accountable Care Organizations | Conference Report Adopted - House (133 - 20) |
| 6/27 | H 4174 | Authorizes Funds for State Transportation Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 6/27 | S 2214 | Amends Renewable Energy Contract Requirements | Bill Passed - House (135 - 16) |
| 6/05 | S 2270 | Reduces Health Care Spending | Bill Passed - House (148 - 7) |
| 5/15 | S Amdt 125 | Requires Establishing a Single Payer Health Care System Benchmark | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 22) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 1/28 | H 4441 | School Nutrition Standards | Bill Passed - House (152 - 4) |
| 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) |
| 11/17 | S 2205 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 10/08 | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| 6/18 | S 2087 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 6/18 | S 2087 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - House (130 - 25) |
| 4/07 | S 2024 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Bill Passed - House (147 - 7) |
| 3/20 | H 4920 to 4307 | Establishing and Regulating Casinos | Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48) |
| 2/07 | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| 2/06 | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - House (135 - 19) |
| 1/23 | H 4477 | Cell Phone Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (107 - 47) |