On Wednesday, the newly-elected state legislature meets for the first time. And while this year’s “Organization Day” is largely ceremonial and without competitive elections for officers, it marks the opening of a new two-year term with plenty of difficult challenges to address. So as the new legislative session begins under full GOP control, here’s a few burning questions that we’ll be looking for answers to over the next two years:
Will Republicans Continue Increasing Property Taxes?
As we pointed out in a previous newsletter, hardworking Granite Staters need to watch their wallet with Republicans in control. With the Republican NH Education Commissioner telling school districts to expect less state aid for special education and outgoing Governor Sununu and Governor-elect Ayotte instructing departments to cut their budgets by 4%, we can see the writing on the wall: more costs pushed down to local property taxpayers to fund.
And with property tax bills going on across the state, Granite Staters are already feeling the results of Republican leadership. In Manchester, under GOP Mayor Jay Ruais, property taxes are going up by 3.82%, the largest property tax increase in more than a decade. And this is before we know what the GOP-led legislature has in store in its next budget.
As we begin the new legislative session, we’re keeping a close eye on the state budget process to see whether Republicans in the legislature prioritize reducing property tax burdens or not.
Will Republicans Honor Their Pledge of No More Abortion Restrictions?
Throughout the campaign season, Kelly Ayotte and NH Republicans repeatedly tried to re-write their abysmal record on reproductive freedoms. And now that they have control, the burning question in our minds is whether they keep their word or do they attempt to further restrict abortion in New Hampshire.
And while legislation is still being filed for the upcoming session, we may already know the answer to that question. GOP Rep. Katy Peternel has filed legislation “relative to restrictions on elective abortion” (LSR 2025-0757) and while we can’t see the text of the bill just yet, Peternel has previously co-sponsored legislation that banned abortion after 6 weeks.
So will Republicans keep their word to Granite Staters to not further trample their reproductive freedoms?
Will Republicans Continue Attempts to Dismantle Public Education?
With a school funding lawsuit pending before the NH Supreme Court and NH Republicans arguing that the state does not have the responsibility to adequately fund public education, this may be a question we already have the answer to. But as the budget process begins, school districts (and property taxpayers) across the Granite State will be keeping a close eye on funding for our public schools.
And just as importantly, does the new Republican legislature decide to further send more public tax dollars to private and religious schools? The school voucher program was over-budget by $27 million last year and with Republicans in control, do they expand the program and divert more public money to private schools?
Will Republicans Focus on Culture War Distractions or Instead Prioritize Reducing the Cost of Living?
It’s clear that Granite Staters want our elected officials to focus on reducing their cost of living over the next two years. And a key question for the upcoming legislature is whether they focus on reducing property taxes, the costs of housing, and increasing wages or do they continue to prioritize “culture war” distractions?
Time will tell, but with NH Republicans filing multiple pieces of legislation dealing with gender and sexual identity, vaccines, and equity, diversity, and inclusion, this will be a key question to how Republicans choose to govern over the next two years.
Will the Legislature Send Legislation Legalizing Marijuana to Governor-elect Ayotte?
Last year, marijuana legalization came close to being enacted and with a new legislature being sworn-in, the debate is likely to be taken up again. And despite widespread support of marijuana legalization, Governor-elect Ayotte seems to be the lone roadblock to legalization in the next two years. Legalization has frequently passed the NH House in recent years and there are at least 15 State Senators-elect on record supporting legalization. So the question is: will the Republican-led legislature put a bill before Ayotte to veto? Or will they cave to Ayotte and fail to act on an issue that has broad, bipartisan support and that could be used to fund critical priorities like education, health care, or affordable housing?
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Thank you,
Ryan Mahoney
Executive Director