Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Votes


IT Spending  |  H4889

H4889 aims to address the state’s future information technology and security needs by authorizing a bond of $1.256 billion. The bill provides for significant investments in improving IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and broadband access across the state.

The Massachusetts State House of Representatives passed H4889 on July 24, 2024 by a vote of 154 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because $1.256 billion is a large amount for an unconstitutional spending bill. Additionally, government-subsidized internet predominantly benefits specific segments of the population by allowing the government to pick winners and losers. Such subsidies are a step toward socialism and increased government interference in the free market.

State Budget  |  H4800

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 House of Representatives passed H4800 on July 19, 2024 by a vote of 154 to 3. 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.

Gun Control  |  H4885

H4885 includes significant changes to firearm regulations: expanding Massachusetts’ existing assault weapon ban, prohibiting large capacity magazines (LCMs) over 10 rounds, and broadening gun-free zones. It introduces new training requirements for concealed carry, bans ghost guns and 3-D printed firearms, and expands the ban on automatic conversion parts. The bill also increases the number of individuals who can request firearm confiscation under “red flag” laws, establishes a commission to study emerging firearm technology, creates a new crime for firing at occupied buildings, and mandates the state’s gun registry share information with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The Massachusetts State House of Representatives passed H4885 on July 18, 2024, by a vote of 124 to 33. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation is one of the most intrusive 2nd Amendment violations in the country. The bill’s extensive restrictions on firearm ownership and usage infringe upon the constitutionally protected right to bear arms, effectively criminalizing law-abiding gun owners. The right to bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. By expanding the definition of prohibited areas and increasing the scope of “red flag” laws, it undermines due process and individual freedoms, violating the 4th Amendment. Moreover, the sharing of state gun-registry information with federal authorities raises serious privacy concerns and could lead to federal overreach. The bill represents a significant move towards increased government control and diminishes the ability of citizens to protect themselves.

Woke Language  |  H4750

H4750 replaces the term “paternity” with “parentage” and “child born out of wedlock” with “nonmarital child” to create more “inclusive” language. Additionally, it replaces the phrase “a mother and father” with “parents.”

The Massachusetts States House of Representatives passed H4750 on June 12, 2024 by a vote of 156 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill conforms to the woke leftist culture that focuses on virtue signaling and political correctness.

Homeless Shelters  |  H4582

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 House of Representatives passed H4582 on April 25, 2024 by a vote of 117 to 36. 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.

Invasive Salary Disclosure Mandate  |  H4109

H4109 requires businesses and employers to report employee salaries to the Secretary of State every year.

The Massachusetts State House of Representatives passed H4109 on October 4, 2023 by a vote of 148 to 8. 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.

State Budget  |  H4800

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.

Plastics  |  S2830

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.

Homeless Shelters  |  H4582

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.

Firearm Regulations  |  H4139

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.

Invasive Salary Disclosure Mandate  |  H4109

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.

Gender Identification  |  S2425

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.

Mandatory Police Interviews of Gun Owners  |  H5163

H5163 removes the “good reason” provision from Massachusetts’s license-to-carry (LTC) statute in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen, but keeps the requirement of mandatory in-person police interviews for residents who possess or carry firearms.

The House passed H5163 on August 1, 2022, by a vote of 147 to 6. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms “shall not be infringed.” Moreover, the 4th Amendment requires that this right not be violated by means of warrantless inquiry or delay.

Mandatory Police Interviews of Gun Owners  |  H5163

H5163 removes the “good reason” provision from Massachusetts’s license-to-carry (LTC) statute in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen, but keeps the requirement of mandatory in-person police interviews for residents who possess or carry firearms.

The Senate passed H5163 on August 1, 2022, by a vote of 37 to 1. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms “shall not be infringed.” Moreover, the 4th Amendment requires that this right not be violated by means of warrantless inquiry or delay.

State-Sponsored Abortion and Sex Mutilation  |  H5090

H5090 orders the expanded public provision, facilitation, and promotion of “reproductive health care and gender-affirming care” activities, such as abortion and surgical treatment of “gender dysphoria.”  

The House passed H5090 on July 26, 2022, by a vote of 137 to 16. We have assigned pluses to the nays because Massachusetts should act to ban abortion and sex mutilation, which violate the unalienable right to life and limb endowed by God to every person—male or female. States have a duty to not only secure this most sacred right, as guaranteed by both the 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, but to also reject the notion that “heath care” is in any manner the legitimate object of government.

State-Sponsored Abortion and Sex Mutilation  |  H5090

H5090 orders the expanded public provision, facilitation, and promotion of “reproductive health care and gender-affirming care” activities, such as abortion and surgical treatment of “gender dysphoria.”  

The Senate passed H5090 on July 26, 2022, by a vote of 39 to 1. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because Massachusetts should act to ban abortion and sex mutilation, which violate the unalienable right to life and limb endowed by God to every person—male or female. States have a duty to not only secure this most sacred right, as guaranteed by both the 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, but to also reject the notion that “heath care” is in any manner the legitimate object of government.      

Universal Voter Registration and Permanent Mail-In Ballots  |  S2924

S2924, also known as the “VOTES Act,” adopts several changes to state election law, including permanent early voting by mail, reinforcement of automatic voter registration, and municipal discretion over the staffing of both non-local poll workers and local police officers.  

The House passed S2924 on June 16, 2022, by a vote of 126 to 29. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill’s universal voter registration and unsolicited vote-by-mail application schemes enable electoral fraud, which disenfranchises eligible voters. States should instead exercise their authority, under Article 1, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, to implement free, fair, and secure elections, protecting the right of American citizens to vote.

Universal Voter Registration and Permanent Mail-In Ballots  |  S2924

S2924, also known as the “VOTES Act,” adopts several changes to state election law, including permanent early voting by mail, reinforcement of automatic voter registration, and municipal discretion over the staffing of both non-local poll workers and local police officers.  

The Senate passed S2924 on June 9, 2022, by a vote of 37 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill’s universal voter registration and unsolicited vote-by-mail application schemes, among its other provisions, enable electoral fraud, which disenfranchises eligible voters. States should instead exercise their authority, under Article 1, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, to implement free, fair, and secure elections, protecting the right of American citizens to vote.

Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Aliens  |  H4805

H4805 makes applicants without “proof of lawful presence” eligible for a Massachusetts driver’s license and requires that motor vehicle registrars “shall not inquire about or create a record of an applicant’s citizenship or immigration status.”

The House passed (over veto) H4805 on June 8, 2022, by a vote of 119 to 36. We have assigned pluses to the nays because persons unlawfully present in the United States ought not to be permitted sanctuary or residency in Massachusetts, let alone be considered eligible for a state-issued form of identification or licensure. According to Article 1, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. Rather than pursue unconstitutional “sanctuary policy,” states should use their powers reserved under the 10th Amendment to address the crisis of illegal immigration and provide for their own public safety.  

Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Aliens  |  H4805

H4805 makes applicants without “proof of lawful presence” eligible for a Massachusetts driver’s license and requires that motor vehicle registrars “shall not inquire about or create a record of an applicant’s citizenship or immigration status.”

The Senate passed (over veto) H4805 on June 9, 2022, by a vote of 32 to 8. We have assigned pluses to the nays because persons unlawfully present in the United States ought not to be permitted sanctuary or residency in Massachusetts, let alone be considered eligible for a state-issued form of identification or licensure. According to Article 1, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. Rather than pursue unconstitutional “sanctuary policy,” states should use their powers reserved under the 10th Amendment to address the crisis of illegal immigration and provide for their own public safety.  

Income Tax Increase on High-Wage Earners  |  S5

S5 proposed to amend the Massachusetts Constitution to authorize an additional income tax of 4%—an 80% increase—on taxpayers who earn more than $1 million annually.     

The Senate passed S5 on June 9, 2021, by a vote of 38 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the the income tax is an immoral, anti-constitutional act of government-imposed theft that takes from citizens the wages they have rightfully earned. It disparages the principles of both the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, which were intended to safeguard “private property” and guarantee “equal protection of the laws” for all Americans.

Income Tax Increase on High-Wage Earners  |  S5

S5 proposed to amend the Massachusetts Constitution to authorize an additional income tax of 4%—an 80% increase—on taxpayers who earn more than $1 million annually.     

The House passed S5 on June 9, 2021, by a vote of 121 to 39. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the the income tax is an immoral, anti-constitutional act of government-imposed theft that takes from citizens the wages they have rightfully earned. It disparages the principles of both the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, which were intended to safeguard “private property” and guarantee “equal protection of the laws” for all Americans.

Next-Generation “Environmental Justice” Roadmap  |  S9

S9, the “Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy,” sets a statewide target of “net-zero” emissions by 2050, establishes the Massachusetts Climate Policy Commission, and directs a “clean energy equity workforce” for “environmental justice populations.”

The Senate passed S9 on March 18, 2021, by a vote of 39 to 1. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because this bill—modeled after the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group III report—is a back-end, globalist-led effort to codify international treaty language on “environmental justice” into state law. Nevertheless, there is no constitutional authority for federal, state, or local government to pursue such policy, particularly in the name of “climate change.” Unjust encroachments on Americans’ private property or undue interference with their free-market enterprise is protected against by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment.

Next-Generation “Environmental Justice” Roadmap  |  S9

S9, the “Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy,” sets a statewide target of “net-zero” emissions by 2050, establishes the Massachusetts Climate Policy Commission, and directs a “clean energy equity workforce” for “environmental justice populations.”

The House passed S9 on March 18, 2021, by a vote of 145 to 14. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because this bill—modeled after the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group III report—is a back-end, globalist-led effort to codify international treaty language on “environmental justice” into state law. Nevertheless, there is no constitutional authority for federal, state, or local government to pursue such policy, particularly in the name of “climate change.” Unjust encroachments on Americans’ private property or undue interference with their free-market enterprise is protected against by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment.