Jess Edwards
Serving as: NH House Rockingham County District 31
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 10 (2025)
Establishes a Parental Bill of Rights. The bill requires schools to adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in the public school system. The bill also establishes a right to sue schools that violate the law.
The final version of this bill requires schools to respond to parental inquiries "regarding any and all matters related to their minor child," within ten days.
The final Senate version of this bill also does not require parents to give written consent to any medical procedure or treatment; that provision was removed after much debate.
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 198 (2025)
Removes the legal penalties for possessing and using marijuana and cannabis-infused products for those over age twenty-one. This bill does not include any mechanism for legal sales or taxation.
HB 238 (2025)
Right-to-work bill that prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union.
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 357 (2025)
Removes the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services to require vaccinations beyond those in state law. This bill specifically notes that the requirements for chickenpox, Hepatitis B, and Hib vaccinations will expire in 2026.
The House added the text of this bill to SB 60.
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 56 (2025)
Requires sales and transfers of firearms to take place through licensed dealers. Those dealers are required to perform background checks. This bill also establishes a 3-day waiting period for firearm transfers. The bill includes some exceptions, such as transfers between immediate family members.
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.
HB 649 (2025)
Removes the requirement for physical safety inspections and on-board diagnostic tests for passenger vehicles and eliminates funding for the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Abatement Fund.
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 228 (2025)
Modifies the scope and capacity limits of community solar projects. Generally speaking, this bill increases the size of projects that can participate in net energy metering. The bill also allows nonprofit educational institutions and public housing authorities to operate as “municipal hosts” for net metering.
The Senate added some of this bill to HB 710.
SB 284 (2025)
Limits zoning laws to require no more than one parking spaces per residential unit, with exceptions for certain workforce housing and multi-family developments.
The House amended the bill to remove those exceptions.
SB 287 (2025)
If an absentee voter asks for a ballot to be mailed to an address other than the address shown on the voter checklist, this bill adds additional verification requirements. In particular, the voter must show a copy of their photo ID to the clerk or include a notarized signature on their absentee ballot application. If an absentee voter does not complete either step, "his or her signature on the application for an absentee ballot shall be compared to his or her signature on the absentee ballot affidavit on election day in the same manner as other voters."
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.
Completed our 2024 State Candidate Survey
Position on Issues
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
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?
"This is among the most significant civil rights issue of our time and vital to society's health as we re-empower parents with more CHOICE on the best educational setting for their children. Kids and parents should not be trapped in a monopoly that provides the most important service a family receives."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"If the NH Left would tell the truth about our abortion laws, people would know we are well within what Roe v. Wade allowed states to decide. Our laws are more permissive than all of Europe, Canada, and 42 other states. The life of the mother is protected throughout pregnancy while fatal fetal anomalies can be performed for medical reasons. The thing the Left won't say is the in NH, a healthy baby able to live outside the womb has the same human rights as those of us that were given our shot at living. We've preserved CHOICE."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"If the NH Left would tell the truth about our abortion laws, people would know we are well within what Roe v. Wade allowed states to decide. Our laws are more permissive than all of Europe, Canada, and 42 other states. The life of the mother is protected throughout pregnancy while fatal fetal anomalies can be performed for medical reasons. The thing the Left won't say is the in NH, a healthy baby able to live outside the womb has the same human rights as those of us that were given our shot at living. We've preserved CHOICE."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"New Hampshire has a great economy because the NHGOP has protected the tax structure of the state. It's often referred to as the 'Granite Advantage.'"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"New Hampshire has a great economy because the NHGOP has protected the tax structure of the state. It's often referred to as the 'Granite Advantage.'"
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"I've supported tax rate reductions in the past and will in the future. At this point, most economists say we will have a recession. The timing of when it starts is uncertain. The state budget relies on the House Ways and Means projecting revenues with their estimates arriving March 2025. We'll need to decide once those estimates are updated. I voted for the Interest and Dividends elimination coming 31 December 2024"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"NH has a unique and stable tax structure now. Hopefully the coming questions will be talking about how we can limit the rate of growth in government in a way that can be used to reduce property taxes."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"I'm a Boy Scout. We need the cleanest air, water and living environments we can afford. There's nothing to suggest tax money will be used to have an impact on the natural warming and cooling the Earth has experienced for a million years already. Manmade solutions to fight the energy of the sun and rotation of the Earth are transitory political foolishness and hubris."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
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?
"In order to protect democracy, protecting both the integrity of the vote and public faith in elections are vital."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"I support local control. We have zoning boards, planning boards, selectmen, etc that can advance warrant articles. The state could attempt to create incentives for local communities to make the decisions without coercion."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support legislation to expand the net energy metering system capacity cap from 1 MW to 5 MW for all residential and commercial customers in New Hampshire?
"I'd need to see an actual bill. We obviously need much, much more electricity capacity in the system than any current plans allow for."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"If the NH Left would tell the truth about our abortion laws, people would know we are well within what Roe v. Wade allowed states to decide. Our laws are more permissive than all of Europe, Canada, and 42 other states. The life of the mother is protected throughout pregnancy while fatal fetal anomalies can be performed for medical reasons. The thing the Left won't say is the in NH, a healthy baby able to live outside the womb has the same human rights as those of us that were given our shot at living. We've preserved CHOICE."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"I'd need to see the bill to decide. I don't think politicians are good at intervening in microeconomics making it as likely to have interventions create secondary/tertiary problems. The job market should decide in general. The state has a role in establishing the regulatory framework to support the safe, efficient, and transparent support for parents."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
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 local community decides how much to spend on schools. Fiscal discipline requires that they know what it will do to their property tax. Over 2/3rd of property taxes in NH are driven by the school district while student population is declining with lower academic achievement. I'd rather see proposals on how to improve academic outcomes than witness the endless demand for someone else to fund local decisions."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?
"I've voted over four terms to expand and protect medical cannibis. I've voted for a variety of recreational pot bills in that timeframe. I personally recommend people to maintain a productive, sober lifestyle, it's become counterproductive to try to regulate individual CHOICE."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"I've voted over four terms to expand and protect medical cannibis. I've voted for a variety of recreational pot bills in that timeframe. I personally recommend people to maintain a productive, sober lifestyle, it's become counterproductive to try to regulate individual CHOICE."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"I've voted over four terms to expand and protect medical cannibis. I've voted for a variety of recreational pot bills in that timeframe. I personally recommend people to maintain a productive, sober lifestyle, it's become counterproductive to try to regulate individual CHOICE."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"Business activity and economic health set the real wages of our state. If one looks at the disaster in California of having the arrogance to think politicians can set wage rates, it's a quick lesson to stay out of the way on pay and benefit issues to the extent possible."
Other| Read My Position
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?
"This is already the case in NH and doesn't need to be a political issue. We live in a pretty great state despite the dystopian mythologies."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"If the NH Left would tell the truth about our abortion laws, people would know we are well within what Roe v. Wade allowed states to decide. Our laws are more permissive than all of Europe, Canada, and 42 other states. The life of the mother is protected throughout pregnancy while fatal fetal anomalies can be performed for medical reasons. The thing the Left won't say is the in NH, a healthy baby able to live outside the womb has the same human rights as those of us that were given our shot at living. We've preserved CHOICE."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"Absolutely. Biden is destroying the nation and has created an all-hands-on-deck existential crisis. Our infrastructure is being used up by those that have not bought into the system. Protect people who are here legally from a permitted invasion."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"Between the Feds and the State, we have layers and layers of gun laws that protect the public and enable personal self-defense. In other cities and states with high illegal gun use, the laws are already in place and are not being enforced. The issue is enforcement (and culture), not more burdens on law-abiding families."
