2024 MA Legislative Scorecard 2023-
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Massachusetts General Court in 2023-2024 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
The selected votes may not be representative of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.
Share this Legislative Scorecard in your district to inform people about the constitutionality of their elected officials' votes.
S2425 allows individuals to change their gender designation on official documents without medical or court documentation. It also permits "X," "M," or "F" gender designations on licenses without requiring paperwork, and mandates the inclusion of "non-binary gender options" on state forms by 2025. The act allows minors to their gender designation.
The Massachusetts State Senate passed S2425 on July 27, 2023 by a vote of 39 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the Left has been promoting radical Marxist ideas like this for years. The indoctrination that leads people to believe that they can choose their pronouns and identify as a different gender is immoral. Scientifically and biblically, there are only two genders. Additionally, minors are not yet capable of giving informed consent and should not have the ability to choose a gender that contradicts biological reality.
H4109 requires businesses and employers to report employee salaries to the Secretary of State every year.
The Massachusetts State Senate passed H4109 on October 19, 2023 by a vote of 38 to 1. We have assigned pluses to the nays because it infringes on the privacy rights of individuals and businesses by mandating the disclosure of employee salaries to the government, which violates the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches. Businesses should be able to operate without government interference.
H4139 expands the state's assault weapon ban by prohibiting new purchases of AR-15-style weapons and banning modifications that turn legal firearms into illegal automatic weapons. It also includes measures to crack down on ghost guns, which are untraceable and have been increasingly recovered by state police. To combat this, the bill requires all firearm frames and receivers to have a serial number and modernizes the state's firearm registration system to close existing loopholes. Additionally, it increases penalties for violations and mandates that the state's gun registry share information with federal authorities.
The Massachusetts State Senate passed H4139 on February 1, 2024 by a vote of 37 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the nays because it is none of the government’s business what firearms you own and possess. The right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and should not be infringed.
H4582 continues funding Massachusetts’ emergency family shelter system. It allocates $863 million to the state escrow fund to finance shelters through the next fiscal year and $245 million from escrow savings to fund shelters until the current fiscal year ends.
The Massachusetts State Senate passed H4582 on April 25, 2024 by a vote of 29 to 9. We have assigned pluses to the nays because it is not the government's responsibility to provide safety nets and free housing shelters for those who are struggling. Such legislation promotes socialism and fosters increased dependency on government assistance, rather than encouraging self-sufficiency and personal responsibility.
S2830 pushes to reduce plastic waste through several measures. Retailers must charge at least 10 cents per bag for recycled paper or reusable bags, with part of the fee supporting the Plastics Environmental Protection Fund. Disposable food service ware is provided only upon request, and state agencies are generally prohibited from purchasing single-use plastic bottles. The bill establishes a statewide bulk plastic recycling program and requires labeling disposable wipes as "Do Not Flush." The Department of Environmental Protection will enforce these rules, impose civil penalties for violations, and conduct outreach and education about non-flushable wipes.
The Massachusetts State Senate passed S2830 on June 20, 2024 by a vote of 38 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill imposes unnecessary government overreach into private businesses and consumer choices, violating principles of free-market capitalism. This type of regulation is not constitutional as it oversteps the bounds of governmental authority, interfering with the rights of businesses to manufacture and sell legal products. Additionally, this legislation’s intent is to address the false climate-change narrative. States should not embrace the left's climate-change agenda.
H4800 would increase spending by about $1.97 billion, or 3.5 percent, over the fiscal 2025 spending plan, authorizing free community college, free rides on regional transit agencies, and legal online lottery sales.
The Massachusetts State Senate passed H4800 on July 19, 2024 by a vote of 40 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the Massachusetts budget is already bloated with unconstitutional spending. Providing free community college and free transportation are significant steps toward socialism, increasing government control and dependency. Such measures divert taxpayer money toward services that should not be government-funded.
