Howard C. Pearl
Room 105-A
107 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
United States
Serving as: NH Senate District 17
These objective, nonpartisan measures are used to show this legislator's activities at the Statehouse in 2025. The measures are not intended to present a ranking or rating of any kind. Average is that of all state elected officials in this chamber. Gov. Ayotte is still in the process of signing and vetoing 2025 bills, so the number of prime sponsored bills that became law may increase.
Session days attended
Party unity score/partisanship
Participated in official roll call votes
Bills sponsored (as prime sponsor)
Prime sponsored bills that became law
Voting Record
HB 1 (2025)
State budget bill. The governor presented her proposal for the next state budget February 13. Click here to read a summary of the budget process.
HB 148 (2025)
Adds an exception to state anti-discrimination laws for bathrooms, locker rooms, sports, prisons, hospitals, and treatment centers to classify individuals based on biological sex.
HB 282 (2025)
Increases the maximum compensation for first responders' critical injury benefits from $500,000 to $1,000,000.
HB 324 (2025)
Prohibits K-12 schools from making "any material that is harmful to minors" available to students. The bill defines this material to include various content related to sex. This bill also requires school boards to adopt complaint resolution policies to address complaints regarding harmful material by parents or guardians.
HB 377 (2025)
Makes it a felony to provide hormone treatments and puberty blockers to a minor unless a minor is "born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development."
The Senate amended the bill to allow doctors to continue hormone treatments and puberty blockers started prior to January 1, 2026.
The Senate amended the bill to also recognize Children's Environmental Health Day, similar to SB 184.
A conference committee of representatives and senators agreed to those Senate amendments.
HB 53 (2025)
Allows qualifying medical marijuana patients and caregivers to grow marijuana at home. There would be limits on the size of the growing operation.
The House added the text of this bill to SB 118.
HB 60 (2025)
After six months of renting, this bill adds the expiration of the term of the lease or tenancy as grounds for an eviction.
The Senate amended the bill so that it will only take effect if there is a 4% vacancy rate in the state. The amended bill also increases in the minimum lease term to twelve months before eviction.
A conference committee of representatives and senators agreed on a final version of the bill. Landlords could evict without cause after twelve months, and the law would take effect regardless of the vacancy rate.
SB 14 (2025)
Sets a mandatory minimum sentence for supplying fentanyl. The minimum starts at three years and six months and goes up for higher quantities.
The House amended the bill to also increase penalties for dealing fentanyl to a person who overdoses and dies, similar to SB 15. The amendment also decreases the penalty for possessing 3/4 of an ounce or less of psilocybin (magic mushrooms) to a misdemeanor.
SB 144 (2025)
Establishes a system to report to the firearm background check system if a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity, not competent to stand trial, or involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. This bill also allows the court to order a person to surrender their firearms in these circumstances. This bill also establishes a process for a person to have their record removed from the background check system after six months, if they are no longer a danger to themselves or others.
SB 176 (2025)
Gradually raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
SB 295 (2025)
Removes the household income limit to participate in the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program.
The Senate amended the bill, adding a 10,000 enrollment cap for the EFA program. If there are 9,000 EFA applicants in a year, the enrollment cap would increase by 25%.
SB 62 (2025)
Prohibits state and local government from blocking law enforcement participation in a federal 287(g) program. That program allows local law enforcement to perform some immigration enforcement duties.
The House amended the bill to add the text of SB 71, which prohibits state and local governments from adopting "sanctuary policies," which prohibit or impede law enforcement cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
SB 84 (2025)
Sets maximum lot size requirements for single-family homes, depending on the availability of municipal or community sewer and water infrastructure. The bill would generally block zoning laws that require lot sizes larger than 66,000 square feet, which is about 1.5 acres.
The Senate amended the bill, raising the limit to 88,000 square feet, which is about 2 acres.
SB 96 (2025)
Requires teachers to respond "honestly and completely" to written requests by parents regarding information relating to their children, within 10 days of receiving the request. If the teacher believes a response would put a child at risk, the teacher must file a report.
The House amended the bill to also establish penalties for violation of parental rights by school districts and school employees, including lawsuits, disciplinary action, and potential fines.
A conference committee of representatives and senators failed to agree on a final version of this bill.
Declined to complete our 2024 State Candidate Survey
Position on Issues
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?
"Parents should be able to access the funds that come out of their own pocket for education for what they believe is the best way to educate their child. The state should be striving to expand parental rights in education as much as possible, not remove parental rights, as has been attempted by the federal government bureaucrats in Washington."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"I support New Hampshire's current law which bans the abhorrent practice of late term abortions. I will review other legislation when and if it is proposed"
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"I support New Hampshire's current law which bans the abhorrent practice of late term abortions. I will review other legislation when and if it is proposed"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"Against"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"For"
Against| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2019
Voted against HB 686, a bill that would extend the interest and dividends tax to capital gains and increase the exemptions and filing thresholds for the interest and dividends tax. HB 686 would have used the new capital gains tax revenue to increase per-pupil school funding and lower the state property tax rate.
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"Climate change alarmists and activists are using their crusade to drive up the cost of energy and electricity which is at an all-time high. Granite Staters are starting to lock in their home heating oil rates for the winter and many cannot afford the outrageous prices. We need to reduce the cost of energy not give in to climate change alarmists."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support giving voters who register without ID on Election Day a ballot that only counts if they return identifying documents to the state before a deadline?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"New Hampshire has a housing shortage and all local government leaders should work together to determine how to adjust regulations to allow for smart and efficient growth in our communities."
Other| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2020
In 2019 Rep. Pearl voted for HB 365, a bill to increase the electric generating capacity of customer generators who may participate in net energy metering, generally from 1 megawatt to 5 megawatts. However, he later voted to sustain Gov. Sununu's veto of the bill. Rep. Pearl also voted against HB 1218 and SB 159, two 2020 bills to increase the electric generating capacity of customer generators who may participate in net energy metering.
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"I support New Hampshire's current law which bans the abhorrent practice of late term abortions. I will review other legislation when and if it is proposed"
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?
"The system is far from perfect but many other alternatives have been discussed and they all rely on more broadbased taxes which I am firmly opposed to as it would be an economic disaster for New Hampshire. We should continually pursue expanding school choice opportunities for families."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?
"I am supported medical marijuana programs and decriminalization. I will give full consideration to any bill relating to full recreational use, homegrown, and state run distribution facilities. The challenge with many of these bills is in the details of the language. In the past I have supported some and not others."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"I am supported medical marijuana programs and decriminalization. I will give full consideration to any bill relating to full recreational use, homegrown, and state run distribution facilities. The challenge with many of these bills is in the details of the language. In the past I have supported some and not others."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"I am supported medical marijuana programs and decriminalization. I will give full consideration to any bill relating to full recreational use, homegrown, and state run distribution facilities. The challenge with many of these bills is in the details of the language. In the past I have supported some and not others."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"Against"
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add legal protections for residents of other states who travel here for health care related to abortion or gender transition?
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"I support New Hampshire's current law which bans the abhorrent practice of late term abortions. I will review other legislation when and if it is proposed"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"Against"
