Walter Spilsbury
Completed our 2026 State Candidate Survey
Position on Issues
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
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?
"Yes, the 'Education Freedom Account' program has successfully created options that were previously not available to many families and students. Given the freedom to do so, and some financial assistance from the state, families make education-related choices for many idiosyncratic reasons, and we should allow them the freedom to make choices that fit the needs of their student age children best. Allowing 'the per-pupil share of state school funding' to follow the student and, in turn, alleviate the burden on the local district to fund the balance of that student's education costs makes sense on balance."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination law allow segregation based on biological sex in some settings, such as bathrooms and locker rooms?
"Though this is a very strangely worded question, I interpret it to ask whether NH law can distinguish between men and women in regard to bathroom and locker room access, notwithstanding 'anti-discrimination law', and the answer to that question is, of course, yes."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"I believe that the abortion issue is fundamentally a debate about the tension between two distinct and genuine sets of rights, those of a fetus to life and those of a woman to self-determination, both of which are valid. I believe the current law, allowing abortion up to 24 weeks, and banning it thereafter (subject to limited exceptions), finds an appropriate balance between these two legitimate sets of rights. Therefore, I would not support further tinkering with our current balanced law on this subject."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"I believe that the abortion issue is fundamentally a debate about the tension between two distinct and genuine sets of rights, those of a fetus to life and those of a woman to self-determination, both of which are valid. I believe the current law, allowing abortion up to 24 weeks, and banning it thereafter (subject to limited exceptions), finds an appropriate balance between these two legitimate sets of rights. Therefore, I would not support further tinkering with our current balanced law on this subject."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"Income is already taxed at the federal level. By taxing something more, you get less of it, including the personal motivation and effort required to generate income and economic activity in this state. No income taxation is the 'NH Advantage'. Better options exist."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Our business tax rates, both BPT and BET, have been lowered repeatedly in recent years and seem to be in a good place at the present, so I see no need to change them again anytime soon. We need the income these taxes generate, and our rates are now competitive with other states."Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Generally, I have been opposed to many of the bills recently proposed to curtail local planning and zoning authority, quite a few of which have passed over my nay vote. I do not believe that the primary 'barriers to housing development' have derived from municipal zoning ordinances and actions, nor would I agree that any such barriers have been applied or experienced uniformly across the state. As a representative of three small communities in a mostly rural county, I find that many of the proposals have been driven by an urban perspective with a one-size-fits-all mindset. That approach is not constructive in small communities with unique characteristics, where locally elected officials best understand the local circumstances and needs. Yes, there may be more that the state could do to 'encourage' fewer barriers, but way too many of these proposals constitute overreach by the state."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire do more to encourage the development of nuclear power, including small modular reactors (SMR), in the state?
"There have been many developments in available nuclear technology in recent decades, so it is time to give nuclear power a new generational life. Enabling this sector to wake up and become active is also the only viable way to stimulate further innovation and development both in terms of efficiency and safety."Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
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?
"I would need to study any specific proposed bill and the committee recommendations when it reached the House floor for vote."Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire restore funding for the Office of the Child Advocate?
"Is it effective? What does it accomplish?"Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"I believe that the abortion issue is fundamentally a debate about the tension between two distinct and genuine sets of rights, those of a fetus to life and those of a woman to self-determination, both of which are valid. I believe the current law, allowing abortion up to 24 weeks, and banning it thereafter (subject to limited exceptions), finds an appropriate balance between these two legitimate sets of rights. Therefore, I would not support further tinkering with our current balanced law on this subject."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire reinstate the interest and dividends tax?
"This was just another form of income tax, disproportionally levied on retirees with investments and independent business owners."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?
"No, it is bad tax policy to tax any one source too heavily. Real property taxes have a sound place in the mix of revenue sources but asking them to fund the bulk of municipal government services, county government services, and public-school funding is bad policy. It is especially destructive in towns that are relatively property poor, such as the ones I represent, and thereby suffer under insanely high tax rates on assessed valuation. First, we need to diversify the sources of education funding. Second, if we're going to continue to lean heavily on real property taxes, then a greater portion of that source needs to be assessed, collected, and re-distributed by the state, requiring major changes to the Statewide Education Property Tax ('SWEPT')."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?
"A realist's approach to the marijuana topic is to accept that it is pervasively sold in an unregulated marketplace despite being illegal and, instead, legalize it in a way that enables the state to take an active role in eliminating the black market, providing regulatory supervision, assuring against adulterated product, and generating state revenues in the process (which could be dedicated to the Education Trust Fund)."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"A realist's approach to the marijuana topic is to accept that it is pervasively sold in an unregulated marketplace despite being illegal and, instead, legalize it in a way that enables the state to take an active role in eliminating the black market, providing regulatory supervision, assuring against adulterated product, and generating state revenues in the process (which could be dedicated to the Education Trust Fund)."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"A realist's approach to the marijuana topic is to accept that it is pervasively sold in an unregulated marketplace despite being illegal and, instead, legalize it in a way that enables the state to take an active role in eliminating the black market, providing regulatory supervision, assuring against adulterated product, and generating state revenues in the process (which could be dedicated to the Education Trust Fund)."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire require new voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering to vote?
"Why not???"Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire allow at least 10% of students in each school district to enroll in a different public school, regardless of where they live?
"Open enrollment is a delicate issue for various reasons including the fixed assets and expenses that school districts have committed to on behalf of their taxpayers. That said, there are strong reasons to allow open enrollment and offer more choice to families to determine the best arrangements for their children's education. Therefore, I want to be supportive of open enrollment options but "with limits" and the question is how to fashion those limits so that choice is available without excess harm to our districts. I don't know that "at least 10% of students" contributes constructively to finding that balance."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"I believe that the abortion issue is fundamentally a debate about the tension between two distinct and genuine sets of rights, those of a fetus to life and those of a woman to self-determination, both of which are valid. I believe the current law, allowing abortion up to 24 weeks, and banning it thereafter (subject to limited exceptions), finds an appropriate balance between these two legitimate sets of rights. Therefore, I would not support further tinkering with our current balanced law on this subject."Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should state law cap how much local school districts can increase their budget each year?
"To clarify, I support the recently enacted state law allowing local voters to determine whether to 'cap how much local school districts can increase their budget each year'. This is not the same as to say that state law should mandate a uniform state-wide cap, which I would oppose."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"I am generally opposed to further limitations on Second Amendment rights, but every proposal must be evaluated on its own scope and merits."
