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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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Find my ballot →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
Relative to community benefit districtsApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: No22–15 · PassedRelative to community benefit districtsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Formation and Renewal ThresholdVoted: No15–22 · Amendment rejectedProviding continued investment in the life sciences industry in the CommonwealthAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Tax Expenditure ReviewVoted: No15–22 · Amendment rejectedState budget for fiscal year 2019Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Gobi, Anne M.Voted: Yes17–20 · Amendment rejectedTo protect animal welfare and safety in cities and townsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: No19–17 · Amendment adoptedRelative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Sexually Explicit ImagesVoted: Yes18–19 · Amendment rejectedRelative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Juvenile AgeVoted: Yes17–20 · Amendment rejectedRelative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Parental TestimonyVoted: Yes18–20 · Amendment rejectedRelative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Retail Drug OffensesVoted: Yes17–21 · Amendment rejectedRelative to criminal justice reformAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Ensuring Penalties for Cocaine TraffickingVoted: Yes18–19 · Amendment rejectedVotes 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
Proposed Senate Rules recommended by the (temporary committee on Rules) to be adopted as the permanent rules of the Senate for 2017-2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Committee on Rules Special OrderVoted: Yes6–33 · Amendment rejectedProposed Senate Rules recommended by the (temporary committee on Rules) to be adopted as the permanent rules of the Senate for 2017-2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes39–0 · Amendment adoptedProposed Senate Rules recommended by the (temporary committee on Rules) to be adopted as the permanent rules of the Senate for 2017-2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes39–0 · Amendment adoptedProposed Senate Rules recommended by the (temporary committee on Rules) to be adopted as the permanent rules of the Senate for 2017-2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedFurther regulating the compensation of certain public officialsApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: No31–9 · PassedFor prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addictionQuestion on concurring in the House amendmentVoted: Yes37–0 · Amendment adoptedEnhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animalsApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes37–0 · PassedRelative to economic development in the commonwealthAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes37–0 · Amendment adoptedFor prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addictionAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes33–4 · Amendment adoptedTo regulate bodywork therapyApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes36–0 · PassedEnacting All FBRC RecommendationsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes37–0 · Amendment adoptedTo reduce traffic fatalitiesApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes37–0 · PassedTo prevent wage theft and promote employer accountabilityApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes38–0 · PassedVote without a bill number-- Question on printing in the Journal of the SenateVoted: Yes38–0 · PassedTo promote a clean energy futureApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes35–0 · PassedModernizing the foundation budget for the 21st centuryApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes38–0 · PassedRemoving fees for security freezes and disclosures of consumer credit reportsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedEstablishing a student loan bill of rightsApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes36–0 · PassedCommunication from the Division of Energy Resources of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (under the provisions of section 12 of…Final approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes37–0 · PassedRegulating and insuring short-term rentalsApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes31–6 · PassedRegulating and insuring short-term rentalsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Exempted Lease PeriodVoted: Yes11–26 · Amendment rejectedRegulating and insuring short-term rentalsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes14–22 · Amendment rejectedRelative to manufactured housing communitiesApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes37–0 · PassedRelative to financial literacy in schoolsApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes37–0 · PassedRelative to social media privacy protectionApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes36–0 · PassedSource: 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