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Official photo of Richard J. Ross

Former State Senator

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District · Republican · Assistant Minority Leader

  • 2017–2018 State Senator, Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex · Republican

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Record at a glance · 2017–2018 · Senate

560 of 560roll calls voted on (100%) · whole Senate 99%
132no votes (24% of votes cast) · whole Senate 12%
168 of 292split votes where Ross was in the minority (58%) · whole Senate 16%
0times voted “present”
How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official House and Senate roll calls. Quorum calls are not counted, nor joint sessions and the vote electing the Senate President.
  • “Roll calls voted on” matches the Missed votes figures below; voting “present” counts as voting.
  • A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no (ties not counted). “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes.
  • “Whole Senate” combines every member’s record for the same session. Percentages are shown only with at least 10 votes to count.
  • Most bills pass or die without a roll call, so these numbers cover only part of a legislator’s work.
  • Party is shown as the Legislature lists it, next to the district. MassVoter never compares, groups or ranks legislators by party.

These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates legislators.

Most divided votes

For each session, the 10 roll calls where the losing side was largest, with how Richard J. Ross voted. Most roll calls in the Massachusetts Legislature pass by wide margins, so these are where members split the most.

2017–2018

Jul 18, 2018 · Senate · H.4546Relative to community benefit districtsApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: No22–15 · PassedJul 18, 2018 · Senate · H.4546Relative to community benefit districtsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Formation and Renewal ThresholdVoted: No15–22 · Amendment rejectedMay 31, 2018 · Senate · S.2531Providing continued investment in the life sciences industry in the CommonwealthAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Tax Expenditure ReviewVoted: No15–22 · Amendment rejectedMay 24, 2018 · Senate · S.4State budget for fiscal year 2019Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Gobi, Anne M.Voted: Yes17–20 · Amendment rejectedMar 15, 2018 · Senate · S.2332To protect animal welfare and safety in cities and townsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: No19–17 · Amendment adoptedOct 27, 2017 · Senate · S.2185Relative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Sexually Explicit ImagesVoted: Yes18–19 · Amendment rejectedOct 26, 2017 · Senate · S.2185Relative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Juvenile AgeVoted: Yes17–20 · Amendment rejectedOct 26, 2017 · Senate · S.2185Relative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Parental TestimonyVoted: Yes18–20 · Amendment rejectedOct 26, 2017 · Senate · S.2185Relative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Retail Drug OffensesVoted: Yes17–21 · Amendment rejectedOct 26, 2017 · Senate · S.2185Relative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Ensuring Penalties for Cocaine TraffickingVoted: Yes18–19 · Amendment rejected

Votes by topic

Roll calls sorted by subject, from the bill title and the question voted on. A vote can fall under more than one topic; budget amendments mostly fall under Taxes and budgets. Tap a topic to see each vote.

Taxes and budgets 320
Water, sewer and environment 21
Health and human services 19
Roads, traffic and transit 12
Energy and utilities 12
Parks, recreation and libraries 10
Schools and education 9
Housing and zoning 8
Police, fire and public safety 7
Licenses and permits 6
Veterans 6
Elections and how government runs 3
Appointments and hiring 2

How Richard J. Ross voted

560 recorded votes

Aug 1, 2018 · Senate · H.4757Releasing certain land in Northfield from the operation of an agricultural covenantFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes35–0 · PassedAug 1, 2018 · Senate · S.2369Relative to an easement plan for the Milton Inline Inspection ProjectFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes35–0 · PassedAug 1, 2018 · Senate · H.4867Authorizing the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance to release a restriction in the town of PetershamFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes35–0 · PassedAug 1, 2018 · Senate · H.4732Relative to economic development in the commonwealthFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedAug 1, 2018 · Senate · H.4689Authorizing the town of Nantucket to transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of a portion of certain land situated in the town of Nantucket held for wat…Final approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes35–0 · Passed

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Aug 1, 2018 · Senate · H.4373Relative to a Medford Residential Development EasementFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes35–0 · PassedAug 1, 2018 · Senate · H.1102Authorizing the town of Rehoboth to transfer a conservation easement on a certain parcel of landFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · S.2646To protect animal welfare and safety in cities and townsAccept the final compromise version worked out by House and Senate negotiatorsVoted: Yes37–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · S.2540Relative to a certain parcel of conservation land in the city of BostonFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · S.2583Authorizing the town of Wilbraham to exchange a certain parcel of land held for conservation purposesFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4856Authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain land in the city of Somerville to the Somerville Housing AuthorityFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4855Relative to a certain agricultural restriction held by the commonwealth on land in the town of WestboroughFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4854Relative to the release of an agricultural covenant on a certain parcel of land in the town of LancasterFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4853Relative to the release of certain land in Rowley from operation of an agricultural covenantFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4837Authorizing the commissioner of capital asset management to convey certain land to the city known as the town of FranklinFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4814Authorizing the sale of real property in ChelmsfordFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4803Authorizing a surface and sub-surface easement at the Chestnut Hill Reservation located in the Brighton section of the City of BostonFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4813Authorizing the grant of easements relative to the Obery Street Roadway Improvement Project to the town of PlymouthFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4688Authorizing the town of Nantucket to sell, convey or otherwise dispose of certain land situated in the town of Nantucket held for open space, recreati…Final approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4265Authorizing the commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey a certain parcel of land in the city of Lynn to the Neighborhood De…Final approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · S.2576Providing for the abandonment of a certain water line easement in Revere and MaldenFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes35–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · S.2319Authorizing the Department of Fish and Game to acquire a conservation restriction on land of the town of GrovelandFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes35–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4839Authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire certain parcels of land in the town of SouthboroughFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4818Authorizing the conveyance of land from the county of Nantucket and authorizing the town of Nantucket to sell, convey or otherwise dispose of a portio…Final approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · PassedJul 31, 2018 · Senate · H.4816Authorizing the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain land to the town of Foxborough for fire department useFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes36–0 · Passed
How to read these votesOnly recorded votes are listed, a vote on an amendment isn't a vote on the whole bill, and we never score legislators. What's included and what isn't.About the vote tracker →

Source: official profile on malegislature.gov. Only roll call votes are listed; bills passed on a voice vote have no individual record. MassVoter never grades or scores legislators. How to read this

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