Gerald W.R. Ward

Voting Record, 2024

Ward voted to consider repealing the Education Freedom Account program in 2022 (HB 1683). In 2023, Ward also voted against two bills that would expand eligibility for the Education Freedom Account program (HB 367 and HB 464). In 2024 Rep. Ward voted against several bills to expand eligibility for Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), including HB 1561, HB 1634, HB 1665, and HB 1677. Ward also voted for HB 1512, which would limit the EFA program to a budget.

Voting Record, 2026

Voted against several bills that would revise New Hampshire's anti-discrimination law to allow segregation based on biological sex in some settings, including HB 1217, HB 1299, HB 1442, HB 1447, SB 268, and SB 552.

Voting Record, 2023

Voted against HB 591, a bill that would prohibit a doctor from performing an abortion after detecting a fetal heartbeat.

Voting Record, 2016

Ward voted against various abortion restrictions in 2016, including a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks gestation (HB 1636) and a bill to prohibit abortions based on genetic abnormality (HB 1623)

Voting Record, 2026

Voted against CACR 12, a constitutional amendment that would ban any taxes on income.

Voting Record, 2026

Voted against cutting the Business Enterprise Tax (BET) rate from 0.55% to 0.50% starting in 2028 (HB 155).

Voting Record, 2026

In 2024 Rep. Ward voted for a few bills that would ease zoning requirements. For example, Ward voted for HB 1291 (to increase rights of property owners to build accessory dwelling units), HB 1399 (to make it easier to convert single family residence into two units), and HB 1400 (to limit parking requirements, plus add tax credits for office conversions). 

In 2025 Rep. Ward voted to limit parking requirements in zoning laws (SB 284) and voted to prohibit planning boards from differentiating based on the number of bedrooms in a residential development (SB 174).

In 2026 Rep. Ward voted to keep the Housing Champion designation and grant program (HB 1196).

Voting Record, 2025

Voted to increase the maximum electric generating capacity to participate in net energy metering, from one to five megawatts (HB 523) and voted to consider other expansions to net metering eligibility (SB 228).

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?

Voting Record, 2026

In 2025 and 2026 Rep. Ward voted to consider increasing base per-pupil state school funding (HB 651 and HB 1826). Rep. Ward then voted against establishing a tax cap for local school districts (HB 675). Rep. Ward also voted to consider HB 1799, which would have redefined an "adequate education," increased how much funding the state must provide per pupil, and created a commission to study alternative methods of funding public schools besides property taxes. Lastly, Rep. Ward voted against HB 1815, which pushes back against New Hampshire Supreme Court rulings on what the state must fund for an adequate education.

Voting Record, 2025

Voted to remove legal penalties for possessing and using marijuana (HB 198)

Voting Record, 2024

In 2023 Rep. Ward voted to legalize private marijuana sales with a 12.5% excise tax (HB 639). In 2024 Ward voted to legalize marijuana with licensed outlets and a 10% tax on monthly total gross revenue (HB 1633).

Voting Record, 2022

Voted against a bill to legalize marijuana with the Liquor Commission regulating sales (HB 1598)

Voting Record, 2023

Voted to repeal the "fetal life protection act", which restricts access to abortion after 24 weeks (HB 271).

Voting Record, 2026

Voted against capping how much local school districts can increase their budget year to year (HB 675) and voted against requiring a vote on a school district local tax cap at each general election (HB 1300)

Voting Record, 2025

Ward has voted for many bills that would tighten gun laws, including:

• HB 1285 and HB 564 (banning firearms on school grounds)
• HB 1608 (banning large capacity magazines)
• HB 109 HB 1379, and HB 56 (expanding firearm background checks)
• HB 514, HB 1101, HB 76, and HB 56 (establishing a waiting period for firearm purchases)
• HB 687 and HB 106 (establishing extreme risk protection orders, similar to a red flag law)