Rick M. Ladd
Serving as: NH House Grafton County District 05
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?
"Your child is eight or nine years old just once, and as a parent, you want the best education possible? That question is driving school choice. For your child, the best learning fit may be public school, private school, homeschooling or an alternative learning environment such as the Education Freedom Account Program. It's not that one program is better than the other, but a decision a parent must make based upon: a child's learning style, academic needs, behavior, family beliefs, or perhaps family scheduling such as proximity to where parents work. Charter public school enrollment has increased 30% in the last five years. Beginning this fall, it is projected that slightly more than 5,000 children will be taking advantage of the Education Freedom Account Program (EFA). This program is administered by the Children's Scholarship Fund. Families below 350% of the federal poverty income level are eligible for an average EFA grant of $5,255. To receive such a grant, the student cannot be enrolled in a public school, and grant funds may only be used to purchase supplies or services from an approved education provider. In accordance with NH statute, all participants in the EFA program must annually complete a standardized nationally normed test such as the California Achievement Test or the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, complete an annual portfolio to be assessed by a certified teacher, or go to the local public school and take the statewide assessment. As in the public school system, students in grades K- 2, do not take the statewide assessment. Academic achievement and growth are determined by a certified teacher. It's alarming that the statewide proficiency average of 8th grade math students is 35%. Parents may ask, 'Could my student have a better opportunity to achieve in an alternative education environment?' The EFA program was signed into law three years ago, and it has become a viable education option for approximately 3% of New Hampshire's 165,000 K-12 student population. This alternative choice program is available to students and parents through the NH Children's Scholarship Fund."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"A broad-based income tax would negatively impact the NHAdvantage. We do not want to go down the path of states that tax and spend such as California and Massachusetts. People are moving from Massachusetts to NH to escape taxes."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"A broad-based sales tax would negatively impact the NHAdvantage. As a resident of Haverhill, NH which is located on the Connecticut River, NH's small businesses and retail stores located in the community attract many shoppers from Vermont due to no sales tax. Once a state sales tax is adopted, the sales tax rate will increase. 'When is enough ENOUGH'"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Lowering business taxes will enable business to use earned revenue for growing business and creating jobs. More job opportunities will keep young people and families in NH. By growing our skilled work force, NH will attract new businesses to the state. Grow business, not government."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"This is a paper tax and counter productive to wise investment. People need to invest in our economy and these investments spur growth."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"I support NHDES in dealing with groundwater contamination when addressing PFAS (forever pollutants). Some groundwater contamination such as arsenic is a natural element that can be mitigated. But, in regard to the government mandating climate control measures such as 'electric' vehicles in 'x' number of years, I cannot support legislation jumping ahead of science or fully developed and proven technology. A quantum leap from fossil fuels would be a costly mistake to our country and economic sustainability."
Against| 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?
"Against"
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Municipalities need to drive this issue as all municipalities within the state are not the same. Local municipalities, based upon local residents, have the responsibility to develop their own master plans that address issues such as zoning, planning, workforce housing and more. Decisions such as this are done through local government: zoning boards, planning boards, select boards, city council, through the annual meeting process."
Against| 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?
"Against"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"For"
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"This is an issue NH needs to address as child care is a complicated matter. The weekly and monthly cost for child care is prohibitive for many young families. Child care is a workforce issue, as many young families need two incomes. For one adult to remain home taking care of non school ages children, this too, is not a viable answer for all."
Other| 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 complicated interaction of state and local funding of public education invites the question, 'Should NH's reliance upon property taxes be reduced?' In accordance with court findings, state K-12 appropriations must provide the opportunity for an adequate education to all children, regardless of a municipality's wealth or need. To comply with court findings, as some have proposed, the K-12 state adequacy formula would be increased from $4,180 to $7,200 per pupil. To accomplish this end, the NH biennium education adequacy funding formula would require an additional $960M. I am sensitive to disparity and inequities encountered in property poor schools; however, I cannot support either an income tax or sales tax as a remedy to 'fix' education funding. Rather, the state needs to focus on funding accountability while also modifying the current budget distribution formula to better fund required educational needs in property and income poor districts. Consideration should also be given to redirecting excess SWEPT funds to better support property poor communities."
Against| 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?
"As a young officer in Vietnam, I saw how substance abuse destroyed lives. Marijuana is a gateway drug, and as a retired teacher and school principal I have encouraged the implementation of substance abuse programs in schools designed to better inform our youth of the negative impacts marijuana and other drugs, including alcohol, have on youth adults. Preventing and reducing substance misuse through educating and disallowing recreational use of marijuana contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Passing legislation allowing recreational use of marijuana sends the wrong message to young people."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"As a young officer in Vietnam, I saw how substance abuse destroyed lives. Marijuana is a gateway drug, and as a retired teacher and school principal I have encouraged the implementation of substance abuse programs in schools designed to better inform our youth of the negative impacts marijuana and other drugs, including alcohol, have on youth adults. Preventing and reducing substance misuse through educating and disallowing recreational use of marijuana contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Passing legislation allowing recreational use of marijuana sends the wrong message to young people."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"As a young officer in Vietnam, I saw how substance abuse destroyed lives. Marijuana is a gateway drug, and as a retired teacher and school principal I have encouraged the implementation of substance abuse programs in schools designed to better inform our youth of the negative impacts marijuana and other drugs, including alcohol, have on youth adults. Preventing and reducing substance misuse through educating and disallowing recreational use of marijuana contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Passing legislation allowing recreational use of marijuana sends the wrong message to young people."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"Raise the minimum wage, fewer jobs will be available for young people. Raising the minimum wage will see all wages go up and with that cycle, consumer prices will increase. Rather than government raising the minimum wage, wages will grow based upon competition and demand."
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?
"I need more information. There are constitutional and interstate commerce issues regarding individuals being denied traveling to or from states."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"Against"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"For"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"Firm supporter of the 2nd Amendment"
