Rita Mattson
Historical Details
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?
"Educational freedom accounts provide more opportunity for parents to choose the educational approach that best fits the needs of their children. This is particularly true for families with low or modest incomes."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"I support New Hampshire's current law on abortion which allows abortions without restriction for the first 6 months of gestation and provides exceptions in cases of fatal fetal anomalies or serious risks to the health or life of the mother. Reproductive rights are not in any way under threat in New Hampshire."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"I support New Hampshire's current law on abortion which allows abortions without restriction for the first 6 months of gestation and provides exceptions in cases of fatal fetal anomalies or serious risks to the health or life of the mother. Reproductive rights are not in any way under threat in New Hampshire."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?
"For"
For| 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"?
"For"
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"
Against| 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?
"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?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"Against"
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?
"The use of affidavit ballots for new voters has been superseded by the voting law changes made by the adoption of HB 1569."
Undecided| 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?
"Undecided"
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Against any state mandated zoning changes."
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?
"Expanding net metering to more systems would shift costs to the great majority of ratepayers. New Hampshire's electrical energy costs are already among the highest in the country. I will not support any measures which further increase the costs for most rate payers."
Against| 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?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"I support New Hampshire's current law on abortion which allows abortions without restriction for the first 6 months of gestation and provides exceptions in cases of fatal fetal anomalies or serious risks to the health or life of the mother. Reproductive rights are not in any way under threat in New Hampshire."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"The most effective and long-lasting approach to improving access and affordability of childcare in New Hampshire is to increase the supply of those services, and to remove barriers that inflate costs. This is best done by revising regulations which cruelly restrict the supply, considering childcare centers face over 100 pages of regulations imposed by the state. The legislature has started to fix this. This year it took an exciting step. It revised childcare licensure requirements to permit larger numbers of smaller daycare services. It did this by exempting from licensing the care of up to 4 children, in addition to one's own children, in private home daycare. This is a smart, neighborly, child-friendly approach that costs taxpayers nothing, increases childcare supply, and reduces costs to parents. The legislature needs to continue progressing with solutions like these in which parents, taxpayers, providers, and children all win."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?
"Against"
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?
"Different communities have different needs, each community needs to be able control to meet its own needs."
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?
"Before I would consider further decriminalizing marijuana growing and use we would have to have reliable tests and standards to determine whether a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle has been impaired by that use."
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?
"Before I would consider further decriminalizing marijuana growing and use we would have to have reliable tests and standards to determine whether a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle has been impaired by that use."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"Before I would consider further decriminalizing marijuana growing and use we would have to have reliable tests and standards to determine whether a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle has been impaired by that use."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"Against"
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 would need to read the proposed bill first. I need more info on this."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?
"For"
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?
"It's unnecessary. What jurisdiction do states have over actions committed in other states?"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"I support New Hampshire's current law on abortion which allows abortions without restriction for the first 6 months of gestation and provides exceptions in cases of fatal fetal anomalies or serious risks to the health or life of the mother. Reproductive rights are not in any way under threat in New Hampshire."
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?
"'.....shall not be infringed'"
For| Read My Position
Keene Sentinel, 2021
"Mattson, on the other hand, has a different opinion on the school voucher system. She has said she feels that money should follow the student to give families more flexibility in how their kids are educated.
"During a rally Saturday at Pelletier’s Sports Shop in Jaffrey, Mattson, 65, said that students' needs vary, and that the public school setting isn’t ideal for everyone.
"'Some children need a smaller group of people, and a charter school, private school, whatever, would be a better fit for them,' she said. 'Public school is great for a lot of people, but they should have the choice. And I think the voucher program is the perfect … fix for it.'"
Voting Record
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.
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.
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.
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 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 282 (2025)
Increases the maximum compensation for first responders' critical injury benefits from $500,000 to $1,000,000.
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 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.
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 238 (2025)
Right-to-work bill that prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union.
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 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.
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 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 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 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.
