Matthew Coker
Serving as: NH House Belknap County District 02
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?
"I was against the EFA program before I took office. After being in office and learning more about the program and the challenges our schools face, I changed my mind. The world has changed, and people want flexibility and options in their children's education. Wealthy parents have been able to do this; middle-class and low-income families have not. This program allows them to do so and opens up the entire system to innovation and new possibilities that traditional schools simply cannot evolve quickly enough to provide. This will revolutionize educational possibilities, and in the future, I believe it will reshape how all schools, public, private, and even community colleges operate. There are limitless possibilities with the program, yet there will undoubtedly be some growing pains and issues we have to work through. However, considering the relatively low portion of overall education spending going to this program at this point, I believe it is worth the investment."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"My stance on abortion is that before fetal viability, there should be very few restrictions on abortions. After viability, abortions should be allowed only for the life and health of the mother or in cases of fatal or catastrophic fetal anomalies. Our current law closely follows this by allowing abortions up to 24 weeks and, after that, only for the life or health of the mother or for a fatal fetal condition. I would not be looking to make any major changes to the current law."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"My stance on abortion is that before fetal viability, there should be very few restrictions on abortions. After viability, abortions should be allowed only for the life and health of the mother or in cases of fatal or catastrophic fetal anomalies. Our current law closely follows this by allowing abortions up to 24 weeks and, after that, only for the life or health of the mother or for a fatal fetal condition. I would not be looking to make any major changes to the current law."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"Against"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"For"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"Many say this is just a tax on the wealthy, but that's not true. This tax impacts middle-class retirees and is a de facto income tax, which isn't something we do in New Hampshire."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"The state should take advantage of clean energy when it makes sense, but not just for the sake of doing so. I believe the market will naturally move in this direction as green energy sources become a better option for consumers due to advancing technology. Instead, I would prefer the state to invest in keeping our lakes and forests clean and healthy."
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?
"First off, having an ID should be a must to vote. I don't love the affidavit system, but it's what works for now. With the emergence of real-time ID verification technology, I'd like to see a way for poll workers to verify identity in real-time, rather than dealing with the complexity of the current affidavit system."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Housing demand is a widespread priority issue that needs to be addressed from many angles to make significant progress. I support creating state programs that towns can choose to participate in or not. Each locality has its own character, and I believe in allowing towns to develop housing in a way that fits their character and the will of the town residents."
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?
"From what I've learned during my time in office, net metering really comes down to the details of individual proposals. If it can bring down electricity costs for NH users, I'm for it."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"My stance on abortion is that before fetal viability, there should be very few restrictions on abortions. After viability, abortions should be allowed only for the life and health of the mother or in cases of fatal or catastrophic fetal anomalies. Our current law closely follows this by allowing abortions up to 24 weeks and, after that, only for the life or health of the mother or for a fatal fetal condition. I would not be looking to make any major changes to the current law."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"Yes, quality, available, and affordable child care is a critical component for keeping our economy thriving. I'd like to see increased funding focused on creating new centers or expanding capacity wherever possible. In my own town, I watched a few young entrepreneurs start a childcare center, and it was inspiring. It has become an asset to our community by providing affordable childcare that's desperately needed across the state."
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?
"There is no perfect way to fund education. Our system places funding decisions mostly in the hands of town voters. This allows for easier accountability and enables towns to build a school system that reflects their values. That said, I would like to see the state take on more of the burden for special education, which would prevent major swings in small town budgets and leverage economies of scale to provide those services at a lower overall cost."
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?
"Marijuana legalization is inevitable, with over 70% of NH residents in favor of it. With federal reclassification and legalization looking imminent, NH should not be caught unprepared. I believe the focus of our legalization efforts should be on eliminating the black market and ensuring its use is limited to private, non-public places. We should also ensure that an appropriate portion of the taxes raised by marijuana sales goes to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help reduce any unintended consequences."
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?
"Marijuana legalization is inevitable, with over 70% of NH residents in favor of it. With federal reclassification and legalization looking imminent, NH should not be caught unprepared. I believe the focus of our legalization efforts should be on eliminating the black market and ensuring its use is limited to private, non-public places. We should also ensure that an appropriate portion of the taxes raised by marijuana sales goes to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help reduce any unintended consequences."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"Marijuana legalization is inevitable, with over 70% of NH residents in favor of it. With federal reclassification and legalization looking imminent, NH should not be caught unprepared. I believe the focus of our legalization efforts should be on eliminating the black market and ensuring its use is limited to private, non-public places. We should also ensure that an appropriate portion of the taxes raised by marijuana sales goes to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help reduce any unintended consequences."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"Right now, with inflation still a problem, unemployment at historic lows, and wage growth naturally happening, doing anything at all inflationary is unwise."
Against| 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?
"These laws tend to be pointless political footballs that don't change anything and just continue to stoke the culture wars."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"My stance on abortion is that before fetal viability, there should be very few restrictions on abortions. After viability, abortions should be allowed only for the life and health of the mother or in cases of fatal or catastrophic fetal anomalies. Our current law closely follows this by allowing abortions up to 24 weeks and, after that, only for the life or health of the mother or for a fatal fetal condition. I would not be looking to make any major changes to the current law."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"Both legal and illegal immigration are at a crisis point. Doing anything other than strictly clamping down on illegal immigration is an affront to the millions of immigrants who came here legally and is not in the best interest of our state."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"Against"
