John F. Keenan

Wrote the Senate version of a law banning the sale of all flavored tobacco and vaping products, including menthol. The governor signed it (Chapter 133 of the Acts of 2019).

November 27, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted no on a Senate bill creating a program to collect and recycle leftover paint (S.2052). It passed 25-11.

January 21, 2016Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: malegislature.gov

As Senate chair of the Election Laws committee, helped move a bill requiring ballot question campaigns to report who funds them. The Senate passed it.

January 15, 2026Supports Anti-Corruption

Source: malegislature.gov

Sponsored a law letting the city of Quincy issue revenue bonds to build and rebuild telecommunications facilities. The governor signed it (Chapter 94 of the Acts of 2025).

December 23, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: malegislature.gov

Cast the only no vote as the Senate passed the final state budget for fiscal year 2017 (H.4450). It passed 38-1.

June 30, 2016Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted yes to accept the final police reform bill, which set up a state board to certify police officers (S.2963). The Senate accepted it 28-12.

December 1, 2020Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: malegislature.gov

Cast the only no vote on a Senate bill letting cities and towns offer extra property tax relief to residents (S.2915). It passed 37-1.

January 15, 2026Opposes Housing Affordability

Source: malegislature.gov

Cast the only no vote on a Senate bill letting cities and towns soften sudden property tax bill spikes for some homeowners (S.2917). It passed 37-1.

January 15, 2026Opposes Housing Affordability

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted no on a Senate bill on housing and zoning rules for new development (S.2311). It passed 23-15.

June 9, 2016Opposes Housing Affordability

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted yes on a Senate bill requiring public schools to ban student cell phones during the school day (S.2581). It passed 38-2.

July 31, 2025Supports Public Education Quality

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted yes to accept the final bill updating the state's gun laws (H.4885). The Senate accepted it 35-5.

July 18, 2024Supports Gun Control

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted to override Governor Baker's veto of a law expanding access to abortion (H.5179). The override passed 32-8.

December 29, 2020Supports Women's Reproductive Rights

Source: malegislature.gov

Sponsored a law letting the city of Quincy issue revenue bonds to build and rebuild telecommunications facilities. The governor signed it (Chapter 94 of the Acts of 2025).

December 23, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted no on the final bill updating the state's marijuana laws and reshaping the Cannabis Control Commission (H.5350). It passed 33-6.

April 9, 2026

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted "present" instead of backing fellow Democrat Karen Spilka for Senate President. He said the Senate needed more roll calls, fewer missed deadlines and more openness.

January 1, 2025

Source: franklinobserver.town.news

Received the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network's top advocacy award for his work on the state's flavored tobacco ban.

September 21, 2020

Source: fightcancer.org

Voted no on the final bill rewriting the state's voter-approved recreational marijuana law (H.3818). It passed 32-6.

July 20, 2017

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted no on the Senate's education bill that dealt with charter school expansion (S.2203). It passed 22-13.

April 7, 2016

Source: malegislature.gov

Voted no when the Senate passed a bill on printing certain bilingual ballots in Boston (H.4089). It passed 34-5.

July 8, 2014

Source: malegislature.gov