Thomas Cormen
Serving as: NH House Grafton County District 15
These objective, nonpartisan measures are used to show this legislator's activities at the Statehouse in 2023. 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. Sununu is still in the process of signing and vetoing 2023 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 10 (2023)
Establishes a parental bill of rights. Some of the parental rights in this bill include:
"The right to direct the education and care of his or her minor child"
"The right to be physically present at any health care facility ... at which their minor child is receiving hospital care"
"The right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of his or her minor child is made, shared, or stored"
HB 106 (2023)
Establishes a procedure for issuing "extreme risk protection orders" to protect against persons who pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. An extreme risk protection order would restrict a person's access to firearms, and is also known as a "red flag law."
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 208 (2023)
Establishes greenhouse gas emission reduction goals for the state, to net zero by 2050. This bill also requires the Department of Environmental Services to develop a climate action plan by July 1, 2024, that includes evaluation of best available information, considers inclusion of strategies, programs and compliance mechanisms with measurable goals and targets, considers opportunities to encourage investment in low/moderate income, rural and minority communities, makes recommendations on retraining and apprenticeship opportunities, and coordinates with other state agencies.
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 523 (2023)
Increases the maximum electric generating capacity to participate in net energy metering, from one to five megawatts. This bill also modifies the transition of tariffs applicable to some customer-generators.
HB 557 (2023)
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.
HB 567 (2023)
Requires at least 30 days written notice for a rent increase. Large, multi-unit rental owners must provide at least 60 days notice. If the rent increase is over 15%, large multi-unit landlords must provide at least 6 months notice.
HB 57 (2023)
Gradually raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next three years, with future adjustments based on the consumer price index. This bill also raises the tipped minimum wage from 45% to 50% of the regular minimum wage. Lastly, this bill allows a minimum wage of $8 per hour for youth under age 18 for the first six months of employment.
HB 59 (2023)
Requires commercial sales and transfers of firearms to take place through licensed dealers. Those dealers are required to perform background checks.
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 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"
Completed our 2022 State Candidate Survey
Position on Issues
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"A sales tax is regressive by nature. Our not having a sales tax provides an advantage to New Hampshire relative to our neighboring states."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"An income tax could be designed as a progressive tax, but tax revenues would fall during difficult economic times, and it is not clear that other taxes would decrease if an income tax were enacted."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Business taxes have been lowered in the last several years. Let's see how this plays out before thinking about lowering them once again."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?
"Removing interest and dividends taxes favors the wealthy while providing little benefit to lower-income residents."
For| 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?
"A small tax credit to help offset student loan repayment would help those who took out student loans. With the upcoming possibility of the federal government providing relief, this issue may become moot at the state level."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"It is hard--very hard--to live on the minimum wage. It should be increased to give folks a fighting chance."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Here in the Upper Valley, we see some municipalities doing more than their fair share to provide housing, while others are content to limit housing."
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 see the numbers on this question before I can provide an opinion."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the state’s current system of public school funding, with each district’s total funding primarily dependent on local property tax revenue?
"Public school funding through local property taxes has two major problems. First, it hits homeowners on fixed incomes, especially seniors, hard. Second, there are major disparities among towns and cities for how much residents have to pay, due to differing property valuations and quality of school systems."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
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 am STRONGLY against Education Freedom Accounts. Public money should not go to private schools, and especially not to religious schools. From Article 6 of the Bill of Rights in the New Hampshire State Constitution: 'But no person shall ever be compelled to pay towards the support of the schools of any sect or denomination.'"
Against| 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"?
"The fact is that people MAY BE inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive. This can be taught without imposing guilt on students."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?
"Children in schools come from a variety of homes. Some will have two fathers or two mothers. Can this not be discussed?"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"Reproductive rights are a matter between a woman and her physician. The state should have absolutely no say."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"Reproductive rights are a matter between a woman and her physician. The state should have absolutely no say."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"Reproductive rights are a matter between a woman and her physician. The state should have absolutely no say."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"Reproductive rights are a matter between a woman and her physician. The state should have absolutely no say."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?
"I can see both sides of this issue. I lived in Santa Cruz during the 1970s and 1980s, so I saw what heavy marijuana use could do to a community, and it was not always pretty. On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with occasional marijuana use."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"I can see both sides of this issue. I lived in Santa Cruz during the 1970s and 1980s, so I saw what heavy marijuana use could do to a community, and it was not always pretty. On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with occasional marijuana use."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"I can see both sides of this issue. I lived in Santa Cruz during the 1970s and 1980s, so I saw what heavy marijuana use could do to a community, and it was not always pretty. On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with occasional marijuana use."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"We need thorough background checks. And there is no reason for anyone outside of the military or law enforcement to own a weapon that is capable of killing many people quickly."
For| 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?
"I am strongly for renewable and sustainable energy. Prices from these sources will continue to decline. We owe a clean environment to future generations."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"Those who deny climate change, or who deny that humans are causing it, have their heads in the sand. We are seeing the effects of climate change routinely. New Hampshire cannot solve climate change for the world, but we should do our part."
For| 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?
"I hope to own an EV some day. EVs will cause wear on the roads, especially with their heavy battery packs. (Though research may produce lighter-weight batteries within a few years.) The cost of electric infrastructure can be handled at the point of charging, so that any surcharge for EVs should go only toward road maintenance."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?
"For"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
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?
"Such provisional ballots are no longer secret ballots. It should always be up to the voter to decide whom to tell how they voted"
