Jessica F. LaMontagne
Serving as: NH House Strafford County District 17
These objective, nonpartisan measures are used to show this legislator's activities at the Statehouse in 2023. 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. Sununu is still in the process of signing and vetoing 2023 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 10 (2023)
Establishes a parental bill of rights. Some of the parental rights in this bill include:
"The right to direct the education and care of his or her minor child"
"The right to be physically present at any health care facility ... at which their minor child is receiving hospital care"
"The right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of his or her minor child is made, shared, or stored"
HB 106 (2023)
Establishes a procedure for issuing "extreme risk protection orders" to protect against persons who pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. An extreme risk protection order would restrict a person's access to firearms, and is also known as a "red flag law."
HB 2 (2023)
State budget bill (part 2). The governor presented his proposal for the next state budget February 14. The House and Senate both made changes to that proposal. Click here to read a summary of the 2023 budget process.
HB 208 (2023)
Establishes greenhouse gas emission reduction goals for the state, to net zero by 2050. This bill also requires the Department of Environmental Services to develop a climate action plan by July 1, 2024, that includes evaluation of best available information, considers inclusion of strategies, programs and compliance mechanisms with measurable goals and targets, considers opportunities to encourage investment in low/moderate income, rural and minority communities, makes recommendations on retraining and apprenticeship opportunities, and coordinates with other state agencies.
HB 224 (2023)
Repeals the civil and criminal penalties for health care providers who violate the state's ban on abortion after 24 weeks.
HB 367 (2023)
Increases the maximum household income limit for participation in the Education Freedom Account program, from 300% to 500% of the federal poverty guidelines. The Education Freedom Account program allows families to spend the state's per-pupil share of education funding on private or home school expenses.
The House amended the bill to only increase the income limit to 350% of the federal poverty guidelines.
HB 523 (2023)
Increases the maximum electric generating capacity to participate in net energy metering, from one to five megawatts. This bill also modifies the transition of tariffs applicable to some customer-generators.
HB 557 (2023)
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.
HB 567 (2023)
Requires at least 30 days written notice for a rent increase. Large, multi-unit rental owners must provide at least 60 days notice. If the rent increase is over 15%, large multi-unit landlords must provide at least 6 months notice.
HB 57 (2023)
Gradually raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next three years, with future adjustments based on the consumer price index. This bill also raises the tipped minimum wage from 45% to 50% of the regular minimum wage. Lastly, this bill allows a minimum wage of $8 per hour for youth under age 18 for the first six months of employment.
HB 59 (2023)
Requires commercial sales and transfers of firearms to take place through licensed dealers. Those dealers are required to perform background checks.
HB 624 (2023)
Requires state and local law enforcement to notify the public before an immigration checkpoint.
HB 639 (2023)
Legalizes marijuana for adults over age twenty-one. The bill allows limited home-growing of marijuana. A new Cannabis Commission would oversee licensing and regulations related to the manufacture, testing, and sale of legal marijuana. Cannabis sales would be taxed under the Meals and Rooms tax system. Alternative Treatment Centers, which currently serve the state's medical marijuana patients, would be allowed to apply for a "dual use certificate" that allows them to participate in recreational marijuana business. Towns could limit marijuana businesses.
SB 263 (2023)
Permanently reauthorizes the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program, commonly known as expanded Medicaid. Previous law ended the program on December 31, 2023. This bill also reestablishes and revises the commission to evaluate the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program, commonly known as expanded Medicaid.
SB 272 (2023)
Establishes a parental bill of rights in education. Some of the parental rights in this bill include:
"The right to access and review all medical records of a child maintained by a school or school personnel"
"The right to inquire of the school or school personnel and to be truthfully and completely informed if the child is being identified or referred to by school district staff, as being of a gender other than that of which the child was identified or referred when enrolled"
Completed our 2022 State Candidate Survey
Position on Issues
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"A broad based sales tax would unfairly burden people with lower incomes as they would pay a higher percentage of their incomes on essential goods."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"I believe an income tax is the only way we can bring in enough revenue for the state to address it's most pressing needs: better and more affordable education at every level and investment in a green economy / preparing for climate change. We are one of only 9 states that do not have an income tax. Having lived elsewhere, I do not see why we are so opposed to it while being really burdened with high property taxes. This hits older people on fixed incomes especially hard. A progressive income tax is the fairest way to increase revenue."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?
"Against"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire add a tax credit for businesses that contribute to student loan repayment for employees?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"We are all affected by inflation particularly rising housing and electricity costs. When the economy takes another downturn, we can't expect people to have to live on less than $10/hour. I think the minimum wage should be $15/hour."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Over a one-year period, the cost of housing in NH increased by 20.5%. We have a housing crisis with many towns having rental vacancy rates of less than 1%. We should work with cities and towns to rethink zoning and incentive programs that will encourage more affordable and fewer luxury units to be built."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should the state permanently increase how much tax revenue it shares with towns and cities every year, beyond public school funding?
"I think the state should increase sharing of tax revenue particularly to towns that are in greater need. We are going to need to address infrastructure problems and climate change that will affect wetlands, for example and those need regional solutions. I'm not sure about a permanent sharing. I don't think we can continue to rely on property tax increases. Nobody wants that."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the state’s current system of public school funding, with each district’s total funding primarily dependent on local property tax revenue?
"Poorer communities are unfairly burdened by the current system. We need to increase school funding. We rank last in the nation in state funding for public education."
Against| 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?
"This expansive voucher program takes money out of public schools, putting more burden on property taxes. Tax revenue belongs in public schools! Also, public funds should not be used for religious education. The home school component also has no oversight provisions. Schools are often the first place situations of abuse and neglect are discovered. It's important we protect children. Only public schools will commit to education of all the children in a community. Voucher programs leave public schools disproportionately burdened with children with disabilities or social problems. I am not opposed to innovative educational reforms and oppose voucher programs."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the state law that bans teaching certain concepts, such as the idea that people may be "inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously"?
"This is a gag rule. The Divisive Concepts law is designed to stifle teaching about systemic racism and teaching a more accurate history of slavery and colonialism than was taught in generations before. Critical Race Theory has become a right-wing talking point to scare parents and threaten teachers, as is the whole 'woke' obsession, as if having an open mind is a problem."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?
"I don't think that the state should play a role in banning any kind of discussions. There will be children in K-3 schools and classes that have non-conforming gender issues. Schools should be free to have discussions to help parents and children understand. It's not a matter of grooming, it's about compassion."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"Bans on abortions after 15 or 24 weeks MUST include exceptions to protect the health and life of the mother and for catastrophic fetal anomalies. The pro-life movement wants us to believe that women are having late-term abortions because they've changed their mind about wanting a baby or for something trivial. Late term abortions are already rare and only happen when something really horrible has gone wrong with the pregnancy. The government should not be getting involved in these situations. It's a very personal decision to be made by the woman, in consultation with her medical team and her family, but is ultimately hers to make. We get into very dangerous territory when we threaten doctors with murder charges. Sometimes D&Cs need to be performed for other medical reasons or after naturally occurring miscarriages. We need to protect a doctor's right to practice medicine without fear of persecution. Banning abortion will not stop abortions, it will just end safe abortions. Women will be pushed into the dangerous back alley procedures that killed many women in the past."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"Bans on abortions after 15 or 24 weeks MUST include exceptions to protect the health and life of the mother and for catastrophic fetal anomalies. The pro-life movement wants us to believe that women are having late-term abortions because they've changed their mind about wanting a baby or for something trivial. Late term abortions are already rare and only happen when something really horrible has gone wrong with the pregnancy. The government should not be getting involved in these situations. It's a very personal decision to be made by the woman, in consultation with her medical team and her family, but is ultimately hers to make. We get into very dangerous territory when we threaten doctors with murder charges. Sometimes D&Cs need to be performed for other medical reasons or after naturally occurring miscarriages. We need to protect a doctor's right to practice medicine without fear of persecution. Banning abortion will not stop abortions, it will just end safe abortions. Women will be pushed into the dangerous back alley procedures that killed many women in the past."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"Bans on abortions after 15 or 24 weeks MUST include exceptions to protect the health and life of the mother and for catastrophic fetal anomalies. The pro-life movement wants us to believe that women are having late-term abortions because they've changed their mind about wanting a baby or for something trivial. Late term abortions are already rare and only happen when something really horrible has gone wrong with the pregnancy. The government should not be getting involved in these situations. It's a very personal decision to be made by the woman, in consultation with her medical team and her family, but is ultimately hers to make. We get into very dangerous territory when we threaten doctors with murder charges. Sometimes D&Cs need to be performed for other medical reasons or after naturally occurring miscarriages. We need to protect a doctor's right to practice medicine without fear of persecution. Banning abortion will not stop abortions, it will just end safe abortions. Women will be pushed into the dangerous back alley procedures that killed many women in the past."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"Bans on abortions after 15 or 24 weeks MUST include exceptions to protect the health and life of the mother and for catastrophic fetal anomalies. The pro-life movement wants us to believe that women are having late-term abortions because they've changed their mind about wanting a baby or for something trivial. Late term abortions are already rare and only happen when something really horrible has gone wrong with the pregnancy. The government should not be getting involved in these situations. It's a very personal decision to be made by the woman, in consultation with her medical team and her family, but is ultimately hers to make. We get into very dangerous territory when we threaten doctors with murder charges. Sometimes D&Cs need to be performed for other medical reasons or after naturally occurring miscarriages. We need to protect a doctor's right to practice medicine without fear of persecution. Banning abortion will not stop abortions, it will just end safe abortions. Women will be pushed into the dangerous back alley procedures that killed many women in the past."
For| 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?
"Recreational cannabis should be legalized in NH as it is in every New England State. I am inclined for this to be in the domain of private enterprises with local control but if it state run stores is the only viable option I would not oppose that. Taxes collected should be used to fund opioid treatment programs and mental health services."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"Recreational cannabis should be legalized in NH as it is in every New England State. I am inclined for this to be in the domain of private enterprises with local control but if it state run stores is the only viable option I would not oppose that. Taxes collected should be used to fund opioid treatment programs and mental health services."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"Recreational cannabis should be legalized in NH as it is in every New England State. I am inclined for this to be in the domain of private enterprises with local control but if it state run stores is the only viable option I would not oppose that. Taxes collected should be used to fund opioid treatment programs and mental health services."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"I am favor of new GUN SAFETY laws. We should be able to find common ground on gun safety if we can stand up to the NRA. It should be at least as hard to get a gun as to get a driver's license. I don't believe civilians have an unalienable right to a military style assault weapon. This is not the intent of the 2nd amendment."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire extend the renewable portfolio standard past 2025, requiring public utilities to obtain more than 25% of electricity from renewable energy sources?
"Absolutely. We lag far behind other New England states in promoting renewable energy. We have some of the highest electric rates in the country as a result. Investment in green energy infrastructure will also provide more jobs. The climate crisis is real and we must take more action to address it."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"Green energy infrastructure investment (EV charging stations; more solar and wind power); incentives to move away from fossil fuels in our homes, cars and industries; planning for rising sea levels are all things we can do to address climate change."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire add a fee or mileage charge for electric vehicle owners to help pay for transportation and/or electric infrastructure?
"If EV owners already pay to use the charging station, I don't see why we would level another fee on top of that. That would be a disincentive. Perhaps we should charge a fee for oversized gas guzzling vehicles instead that create more wear on our roads and pollute the air."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?
"We should be doing everything we can to increase voter turnout whether absentee or in person. I believe in democracy and in our electoral system. We could consider having early voting periods as they do in other states."
Against| 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?
"This is just an opportunity to throw out ballots. Voter fraud is not a real problem."
