Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Massachusetts
Democratic
· Senator
John Velis
Represents District Hampden and Hampshire in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
85%
on 52 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 100%
Cast a vote
71%
Yea or Nay on 154 of 217 roll calls · Senate median 100%
Their bills that became law
1 of 82
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 1
Roll calls on record
217
194th General Court
Votes and bills updated Oct 5, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 194th General Court.
How John Velis votes
A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.
Where John Velis sits in the Senate
Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. John Velis is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
8 of 52 party-line votes.
S3072 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #67 · 2026-05-07 · Failed 10–29 · most Democrats voted the other way
S3072 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #67 · 2026-05-07 · Failed 10–29 · most Democrats voted the other way
S3072 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #63 · 2026-05-07 · Failed 7–32 · most Democrats voted the other way
S3072 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #63 · 2026-05-07 · Failed 7–32 · most Democrats voted the other way
S3 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #924 · 2025-05-22 · Failed 12–28 · most Democrats voted the other way
H58 · Making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
Senate Enacted Roll Call #25 · 2025-02-26 · Passed 32–7 · most Democrats voted the other way
S16 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #14 · 2025-02-12 · Failed 12–26 · most Democrats voted the other way
H58 · Making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
Senate Passed to be engrossed – Roll Call #16 · 2025-02-12 · Passed 33–6 · most Democrats voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
S16 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #14 · 2025-02-12 · Failed 12–26
S3 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #924 · 2025-05-22 · Failed 12–28
S3072 · Site Information & Links
Senate Amendment #67 · 2026-05-07 · Failed 10–29
S15 · Proposed Joint Rules for the Senate and House of Representatives for the 2025-2026 Legislative Session.
Senate Amendment #22 · 2025-02-12 · Failed 9–29
H5175 · Relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness
Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #205 · 2026-07-01 · Passed 32–8
Republicans they vote with most
Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.
Patrick O'ConnorRepublican · District 1-NOR · 45 shared contested votes
27%
Bruce TarrRepublican · District First Essex and Middlesex · 45 shared contested votes
18%
Ryan FattmanRepublican · District Worcester and Hampden · 45 shared contested votes
18%
Their session, month by month
Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (63 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Massachusetts Delegation
YeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaYeaAbsentAbsentAbsent
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills John Velis was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced82
Out of committee4
Passed one chamber2
Passed both chambers1
Became law1
Never left committee78
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 1 bills that became law this session.
To expand dual enrollment for high school students in Gateway Cities
For legislation to expand dual enrollment for high school students in Gateway Cities. Education.
Not out of committeeAccompanied a study order, see S3238 · 2026-07-30
Expanding high school student access to earn industry recognized credentials
For legislation to expand high school student access to earn industry recognized credentials. Education.
Not out of committeeAccompanied a study order, see S3238 · 2026-07-30
Relative to dangerousness hearings
For legislation relative to dangerousness hearings. The Judiciary.
Not out of committeeBill reported favorably by committee as changed and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means · 2026-07-27
To incentivize public service
For legislation to incentivize public service by offering a tax credit. Revenue.
Not out of committeeAccompanied a study order, see H5596 · 2026-07-23
Relative to the interception of wire and oral communications
For legislation relative to the length of wiretap warrants. The Judiciary.
Not out of committeeAccompanied a study order, see S3192 · 2026-07-22
To establish a vendors’ collection allowance
For legislation to establish a vendors’ collection allowance. Revenue.
Not out of committeeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means · 2026-07-02
Relative to recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth
For legislation relative to recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
Not out of committeeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Rules · 2026-07-01
To strengthen the state credit union charter
For legislation to strengthen the state credit union charter. Financial Services.
Not out of committeeAccompanied a study order, see S3113 · 2026-06-08
Relative to repeat violent firearm offenders
For legislation relative to repeat violent firearm offenders. The Judiciary.
Not out of committeeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means · 2026-05-14
Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery – Extension Order
Relativerelative to addiction services.
Not out of committeeAdopted, as amended · 2026-04-21
Veterans and Federal Affairs – Extension Order
Relativerelative to veterans and federal affairs matters.
Not out of committeeAdopted, as amended · 2026-04-21
Relative to retirement equity for parenting teachers
For legislation relative to retirement equity for parenting teachers. Public Service.
Not out of committeeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means · 2026-04-09
Providing for a fair and equitable group 4 retirement benefit for police officers working on Massachusetts public higher education campuses
For legislation to correct inequities regarding the retirement of state-employed and special authority-employed police officers. Public Service.
Not out of committeeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means · 2026-04-09
Relative to unmanned aerial vehicles in the commonwealth
For legislation relative to unmanned aerial vehicles in the Commonwealth. Transportation.
Not out of committeeAccompanied a new draft, see S3008 · 2026-04-01
Authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment
For legislation to authorize pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment. Public Health.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended ought to pass and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means · 2026-03-12
Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.
Loading committees…
H5629 · 2026-07-31
Enhancing child welfare protections (Senate Committee of conference report accepted, in concurrence Roll Call #229)
S3236 · 2026-07-31
Authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game to convey easements over certain parcels of land (Senate Enacted Roll Call #235)
S3237 · 2026-07-31
Authorizing the town of Bourne to convey a right-of-way and easement (Senate Enacted Roll Call #238)
H5627 · 2026-07-31
To improve Massachusetts home care (Senate Committee of conference report accepted, in concurrence Roll Call #228)
S3235 · 2026-07-31
Relative to the Pilgrim Memorial Park in Plymouth (Senate Enacted Roll Call #234)
H5531 · 2026-07-31
Relative to James J. O'Neil Park (Senate Enacted Roll Call #230)
H5639 · 2026-07-31
Authorizing the town of Nantucket conservation commission to convey a certain parcel of land situated in the town for purposes of conveyance to the town of Nantucket under the care, custody, management and control of the select board and the town of Nantucket to convey certain land in the town of Nantucket held for open space, passive recreation or conservation purposes to the Nantucket Islands Land Bank for the purposes pursuant to its enabling legislation for open space, conservation and passive recreation purposes (Senate Enacted Roll Call #231)
S2968 · 2026-07-31
Authorizing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting by and through its Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, to grant permanent easements over certain land in the town of Milton for highway purposes (Senate Enacted Roll Call #236)
H5640 · 2026-07-31
Authorizing the town of Hingham to grant to the commonwealth of Massachusetts certain parcels of land in the town of Hingham for highway purposes (Senate Enacted Roll Call #232)
S3188 · 2026-07-31
Authorizing the Buzzards Bay Water District to convey non-exclusive easements over a certain parcel of land (Senate Enacted Roll Call #233)
S3230 · 2026-07-31
Authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire interests in certain portions of land owned by the town of Andover which were acquired by the town for Article XCVII purposes (Senate Enacted Roll Call #237)
H5463 · 2026-07-30
Relative to a conservation restriction in the town of Middleton (Senate Enacted Roll Call #223)
H5379 · 2026-07-30
Relating to the transfer of interest in land in West Brookfield (Senate Enacted Roll Call #220)
H5492 · 2026-07-30
Authorizing the town of Billerica to transfer control of certain land in the town of Billerica for the Yankee Doodle Bike Path (Senate Enacted Roll Call #225)
S3200 · 2026-07-30
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #17)
S3200 · 2026-07-30
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #18)
H5614 · 2026-07-30
Authorizing the release or exclusion of certain land from conservation restrictions in the town of Deerfield (Senate Enacted Roll Call #226)
H5561 · 2026-07-30
Authorizing the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance to transfer certain parcels of land in the town of Norton (Senate Enacted Roll Call #221)
H5469 · 2026-07-30
Promoting transparency and public access in state government (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #217)
H5616 · 2026-07-30
Authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to take easements over certain land located in the city of Woburn and the town of Burlington held in trust by the city of Boston for the Mary P. C. Cummings Testamentary Trust for highway purposes (Senate Enacted Roll Call #227)
S3160 · 2026-07-30
Relative to the dissolution of the Holmes Park Water District (Senate Enacted Roll Call #219)
H5467 · 2026-07-30
Authorizing the transfer of certain parcels of land in the town of Weston from the Weston conservation commission to the select board (Senate Enacted Roll Call #224)
H4992 · 2026-07-30
Authorizing the Barnstable county and the town of Bourne to convey certain parcels of land and certain interests in land in the town of Bourne (Senate Enacted Roll Call #222)
S3052 · 2026-07-30
Authorizing the town of Dighton to use a portion of conservation land for public way purposes. (Senate Enacted Roll Call #218)
H5388 · 2026-07-22
Authorizing the transfer of a certain parcel of land in the town of Marion from the Open Space Acquisition Commission to the Select Board (Senate Enacted Roll Call #209)
S2735 · 2026-07-22
Dissolving the North Carver water district (Senate Enacted Roll Call #208)
H2250 · 2026-07-16
Dissolving the Whately Water District (Senate Enacted Roll Call #207)
S3175 · 2026-07-09
Protecting children from addictive social media feeds (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #206)
S3162 · 2026-07-01
To improve outdoor lighting, conserve energy, and increase dark-sky visibility (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #198)
H5175 · 2026-07-01
Relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #205)
H5555 · 2026-07-01
Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2027 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements (Senate Enacted Roll Call #200)
H5511 · 2026-06-18
Relative to teacher preparation and student literacy (Senate Enacted and laid before the Governor Roll Call #195)
S3141 · 2026-06-18
Relative to primary care for you (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #197)
H4646 · 2026-06-11
Enhancing child welfare protections (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #192)
H5470 · 2026-06-04
Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects (Senate Committee of conference report accepted, in concurrence Roll Call #188)
H4361 · 2026-06-04
Relative to benefits for teachers (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #187)
H5375 · 2026-06-04
Financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges (Senate Enacted Roll Call #191)
S2963 · 2026-06-04
Authorizing the town of Milton to use certain land acquired for conservation purposes for school purposes (Senate Enacted Roll Call #189)
H4843 · 2026-06-04
Providing for the exchange of certain park land in the town of Lexington (Senate Enacted Roll Call #190)
S3104 · 2026-05-28
RESOLUTIONS RESPONDING TO THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT’S ORDER OF MAY 7, 2026, AND ENHANCING GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY (Senate Adopted Roll Call #186)
H5501 · 2026-05-21
Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2027 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #185)
H5317 · 2026-05-20
Authorizing the grant of easements in or takings of certain parcels of land to the city of Boston (Senate Enacted and laid before the Governor Roll Call #175)
S4 · 2026-05-19
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #423)
S4 · 2026-05-19
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #179)
S4 · 2026-05-19
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #426)
S4 · 2026-05-19
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #530)
S4 · 2026-05-19
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #511)
S3083 · 2026-05-07
Order relative to requesting the opinions of the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court on important questions of law relative to promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment (Senate Motion)
S3072 · 2026-05-07
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #59)
S3072 · 2026-05-07
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #63)
S3072 · 2026-05-07
Site Information & Links (Senate Amendment #67)
H5316 · 2026-05-07
Promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #158)
S3050 · 2026-04-15
To build resilience for Massachusetts communities (Senate Amendment #1)
S3050 · 2026-04-15
To build resilience for Massachusetts communities (Senate Amendment #2)
S3064 · 2026-04-15
To build resilience for Massachusetts communities (Senate Passed to be engrossed Roll Call #152)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 217 total roll-call votes this session).
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