Ruth Ward

CACR 24 (2024)

Constitutional amendment creating "an individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy."

HB 1205 (2024)

Prohibits anyone with the reproductive biology and genetics of a male at birth from participating on school sports teams designated for females. As introduced, this bill covered K-12 schools as well as the university and community college system. The House amended the bill so that it only applies to middle and high schools.

HB 1633 (2024)

Legalizes and regulates recreational marijuana sales to adults over age twenty-one. As amended by the House, this bill would allow the state to license fifteen cannabis retail outlets. There would be a 10% tax on monthly total gross revenue derived from the sale of cannabis and cannabis products. Smoking in public and consuming marijuana while driving would be illegal. Towns could limit marijuana businesses.

HB 1665 (2024)

Raises the annual household income limit to qualify for the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program, from 350% to 500% of the federal poverty level (from about $100,000 to about $150,000 for a family of four).

The Senate rewrote the bill. The Senate version of the bill raises eligibility to just 400% of the federal poverty level, and extends the timeline for phase-out grants for public schools when students leave to use EFA program funds, from 2026 to 2029. These changes are similar to SB 442, a bill killed in the House.

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 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 619 (2023)

Prohibits gender transition care for minors under age 18. This bill also prohibits teaching about gender identity in public schools (with an exception for high school psychology courses), requires schools to use the name and gender that students are enrolled as, prohibits students from participating on sports teams that do not correspond to their biological sex at birth, and requires students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their biological sex at birth.

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 104 (2023)

Establishes regulations for online gambling, with the proceeds going to a new community college scholarship fund.

SB 117 (2023)

Changes the definition of "child" in the law about negligent storage of firearms, raising the age to anyone under age 18.

SB 144 (2023)

Gradually increases the minimum wage to $15 per hour by July 1, 2024.

SB 220 (2023)

Allows any voter to vote by absentee ballot, whether or not he or she will actually be absent on election day. The bill also allows partial processing of absentee ballots prior to Election Day.

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"

SB 308 (2024)

Increases the minimum wage to $12 per hour in 2024 and $15 per hour in 2025.

SB 360 (2024)

Establishes a procedure for issuing extreme risk protection orders to protect against persons who pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. Family, household members, and law enforcement could petition the court for an order. An extreme risk protection order would restrict a person's access to firearms, and is also known as a "red flag law."

SB 415 (2024)

Sets a mandatory minimum sentence for supplying fentanyl. The minimum starts at three years and six months for 5 grams of fentanyl, and goes up for higher quantities.

SB 461 (2024)

Repeals a line in the law against abortion after 24 weeks that states, "Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as creating or recognizing a right to abortion."

The Senate rewrote the bill. The new bill requires any health care provider who performs an abortion to report information including:

SB 536 (2024)

Allows any voter to register and vote by absentee ballot, whether or not he or she will actually be absent on election day.

SB 563 (2024)

Prohibits state and local governments from adopting "sanctuary policies," which prohibit or impede law enforcement cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

The Senate added the text of this bill to HB 1292.