Sharon M. Carson

Room 302 107 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301

Republican

Serving as: NH Senate District 14

Statehouse Effectiveness 2025

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

100% Present

Average 98%

Party unity score/partisanship

99% With Party

Average 99%

Participated in official roll call votes

98% Roll Call Votes

Average 98%

Bills sponsored (as prime sponsor)

3 Prime Sponsored Bills

Average 12

Prime sponsored bills that became law

0 Became Law

Average 5

Voting Record

Voted for final compromise state budget

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.

Voted to add an exception to law against sex discrimination for segregation in bathrooms, sports, prisons, etc.

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.

Voted for late budget amendment restoring some police and fire retirement benefits

HB 282 (2025)

Increases the maximum compensation for first responders' critical injury benefits from $500,000 to $1,000,000.

Voted to ban "harmful" material related to sex in schools

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.

Voted to ban hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors, with limited exceptions

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.

Voted against home-growing of medical marijuana

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.

Voted to allow no-cause eviction at the end of a lease

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.

Voted to set mandatory minimum sentence for dealing fentanyl

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.

Voted against reporting some mental health court records for firearm background checks

SB 144 (2025)

Establishes a system to report to the firearm background check system if a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity, not competent to stand trial, or involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. This bill also allows the court to order a person to surrender their firearms in these circumstances. This bill also establishes a process for a person to have their record removed from the background check system after six months, if they are no longer a danger to themselves or others.

Voted against $15 minimum wage

SB 176 (2025)

Gradually raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Voted to remove the household income limit to participate in the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program, with a 10,000 enrollment cap

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%.

Voted to prohibit "sanctuary policies," protect local immigration enforcement

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.

Voted to limit minimum lot sizes in local zoning

SB 84 (2025)

Sets maximum lot size requirements for single-family homes, depending on the availability of municipal or community sewer and water infrastructure. The bill would generally block zoning laws that require lot sizes larger than 66,000 square feet, which is about 1.5 acres.

The Senate amended the bill, raising the limit to 88,000 square feet, which is about 2 acres.

Voted to require schools to respond to all parental inquiries within 10 days

SB 96 (2025)

Requires teachers to respond "honestly and completely" to written requests by parents regarding information relating to their children, within 10 days of receiving the request. If the teacher believes a response would put a child at risk, the teacher must file a report.

The House amended the bill to also establish penalties for violation of parental rights by school districts and school employees, including lawsuits, disciplinary action, and potential fines.

A conference committee of representatives and senators failed to agree on a final version of this bill.

Declined to complete our 2024 State Candidate Survey

Position on Issues

"Education Freedom Account" program
For| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2025

In 2022, Sen. Carson voted to keep the Education Freedom Account program (SB 432). Carson also voted for HB 367, a 2023 bill which increases the maximum household income limit for participation in the Education Freedom Account program, from 300% to 350% of the federal poverty guidelines.

In 2024 Sen. Carson voted for SB 442, a bill that would raise the income cap for families participating in the EFA program from 350% to 400% of the federal poverty level.

In 2025 Sen. Carson voted for SB 295, a bill that removed the household income limit to participate in the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program.

Ban abortion during 1st trimester
No Response

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?

Ban abortion during 2nd trimester
No Response

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?

Broad-based income tax
Against| Read My Position

Union Leader Voter Guide, 2014

"The New Hampshire Advantage of No Sales and No Income tax! "

Broad-based sales tax
Against| Read My Position

Union Leader Voter Guide, 2014

"The New Hampshire Advantage of No Sales and No Income tax! "

Business tax decrease
No Response

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?

Capital gains tax
No Response

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?

Climate change action
No Response

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?

Conditional, affidavit ballots for new voters
For| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2022

Voted to create a conditional "affidavit ballot" for voters without ID (SB 418)

Encourage local zoning changes for housing development
For| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2025

Sen. Carson voted for SB 145, a 2023 bill to establish a New Hampshire Housing Champion Designation Program. Generally speaking, cities and towns that adopt land use regulations, water infrastructure, public transportation, and other programs that promote the development of workforce housing would have preferential access to state funds.

In 2025 Sen. Carson also voted for SB 84, a bill to limit minimum lot sizes in local zoning.

Expand net metering opportunities
Other| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2020

Sen. Carson originally voted in favor of SB 159, a bill to increase the electric generating capacity of customer generators who may participate in net energy metering, generally from 1 megawatt to 5 megawatts. However, she later voted to sustain Gov. Sununu's veto of SB 159.

Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks
Against| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2025

Sen. Carson voted against HB 88 (2023), SB 181 (2023), and SB 260 (2025). All of those bills would prohibit any new state restrictions on abortion, without changing the current ban on abortion after 24-weeks and the requirement for parental notification before a minor's abortion.

Increase funding for child care providers
No Response

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the state increase funding for child care providers?

Majority of public school funding through local property taxes
No Response

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?

Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales
Against| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2022

Voted against legalizing possession of 3/4 oz marijuana with home growing, no sales (HB 629)

Marijuana legalization with private sales
Against| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2023

Voted against HB 639, a bill to legalize marijuana sales for adults over age twenty-one, with a 12.5% excise tax.

Marijuana legalization with state-run stores
Against| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2024

Voted against legalizing marijuana with state-run stores and a 15% tax on gross revenue (HB 1633)

Minimum wage increase
Against| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2025

In the 2019-2020 legislative session, Carson voted against three bills that would have gradually raised the minimum wage to $12/hour: SB 410, HB 731, and SB 10.

In 2023 and 2024 Carson also voted against SB 144 and SB 308, both of which would have raised the minimum wage to $15/hour.

In 2025 Carson voted against SB 176, which would have gradually raised the minimum wage to $15/hour.

Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion
No Response

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?

Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks
No Response

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?

Require local immigration enforcement
For| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2025

Voted to prohibit state and local governments from adopting "sanctuary policies" in 2024 (SB 563) and 2025 (SB 62).

Stricter gun laws
Against| Read My Position

Voting Record, 2024

Voted against HB 109 and SB 571 (expanding firearm background checks), HB 514 and SB 577 (establishing a waiting period for firearm purchases), HB 564 and SB 593 (banning firearms on school grounds), and HB 687 and SB 360 (establishing extreme risk protection orders, similar to a red flag law).

Sharon M. Carson

Serving as: NH Senate District 14

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

Declined to complete our 2024 State Candidate Survey

Position on Issues

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?

Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?

Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?

Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?

Should the state increase funding for child care providers?

Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?

Should New Hampshire add legal protections for residents of other states who travel here for health care related to abortion or gender transition?

Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?

Thank you to our sponsors and donors