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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

May 22, 2018 · Senate · S.4State budget for fiscal year 2019Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedMay 22, 2018 · Senate · S.4State budget for fiscal year 2019Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedMay 22, 2018 · Senate · S.4State budget for fiscal year 2019Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes37–0 · Amendment adoptedMay 22, 2018 · Senate · S.4State budget for fiscal year 2019Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Tarr, Bruce E.Voted: Yes10–28 · Amendment rejectedMay 22, 2018 · Senate · S.4State budget for fiscal year 2019Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Tarr, Bruce E.Voted: Yes14–24 · Amendment rejected
May 22, 2018 · Senate · S.4State budget for fiscal year 2019Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedMay 17, 2018 · Senate · S.2372Relative to the Garden of PeaceFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes37–0 · PassedMay 17, 2018 · Senate · S.95Relative to protecting biometric information under the security breach lawApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes37–0 · PassedMay 10, 2018 · Senate · S.2506Modernizing the foundation budget for the 21st centuryAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedMay 3, 2018 · Senate · S.2511RESOLUTIONS COMMITTING TO A SAFE, SECURE AND RESPECTFUL WORKPLACEQuestion on adoption of the resolutionsVoted: Yes37–0 · PassedMay 3, 2018 · Senate · S.2454Relative to veterans' benefits, rights, appreciation, validation and enforcementApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes37–0 · PassedMay 3, 2018 · Senate · S.2454Relative to veterans' benefits, rights, appreciation, validation and enforcementAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes37–0 · Amendment adoptedMay 3, 2018 · Senate · S.2454Relative to veterans' benefits, rights, appreciation, validation and enforcementAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes37–0 · Amendment adoptedMay 3, 2018 · Senate · S.2454Relative to veterans' benefits, rights, appreciation, validation and enforcementAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes37–0 · Amendment adoptedMay 3, 2018 · Senate · S.1820Relative to the flying of the flag of the Commonwealth at half staff on state buildings and installationsApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes37–0 · PassedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · H.4382Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Approve the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes38–0 · PassedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · S.2481Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Small Town MassWorks Grant EligibilityVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · S.2481Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · S.2481Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · S.2481Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes35–3 · Amendment adoptedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · H.4449Financing improvements to municipal roads and bridgesFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes38–0 · PassedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · S.2481Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · S.2481Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Regional TransportationVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · S.2481Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Special Education Circuit Breaker ReimbursementVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adoptedApr 26, 2018 · Senate · S.2481Supplemental budget for fiscal year 2018Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billAmendment: Healthy Incentives ProgramVoted: Yes38–0 · Amendment adopted
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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