Hope Damon
Historical Details
Position on Issues
Other| 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?
"I do not support the current version of the voucher program because there is no accountability, no separation of church and state, and no background checks to assure that children are safe. We need to continue to improve public education so that the majority of students thrive in their local community schools. That said, I do recognize that for a small number of students, their needs might be better met outside of public schools."
For| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2024
Voted to allow medical aid in dying (sometimes called physician-assisted suicide) in 2024 (HB 1283).
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"Abortion is a very personal, private decision that should remain between the woman and her provider. There is no room for government in medical decision making. We should do better a better job of education and making access to contraception easy and affordable so there are fewer unintended pregnancies. There are extremely few abortions after 24 weeks - they occur when the life of the mother is at risk or the fetus will not survive. These are heart-wrenching decisions that belong only with the family, not the legislature."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"Abortion is a very personal, private decision that should remain between the woman and her provider. There is no room for government in medical decision making. We should do better a better job of education and making access to contraception easy and affordable so there are fewer unintended pregnancies. There are extremely few abortions after 24 weeks - they occur when the life of the mother is at risk or the fetus will not survive. These are heart-wrenching decisions that belong only with the family, not the legislature."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?
"All education on any topic should always be age and developmentally appropriate. We don't help children by hiding reality from them. That said, at the k-3 level, most kids just see people as people and don't seek much explanation of sexual orientation or gender identity. We don't have to directly teach these topics, just represent them honestly and accurately in stories, art, language etc."
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"?
"We should be learning from history and making progress towards a welcoming, diverse society, not rewriting history to pretend that racism, sexism and oppression didn't exist. It does not in any way benefit our children or our culture to pretend these issues aren't real. They are real, present, and wrong. Time to move forward honestly!!!"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"NH is justifiably proud of our lack of income tax. We already have difficulty attracting and retaining residents that businesses need to provide services. Income tax would diminish our ability to attract growth."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"Sales taxes are regressive taxes that hurt middle and low income people while not effecting the wealthy significantly. This is not a good choice for NH."
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?
"For"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Taxing successful businesses is a reasonable approach to obtain some of the needed state revenue."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"A capital gains tax would generate a significant amount of needed revenue for the state while not adversely effecting low and middle income earners."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"NH is far behind our neighboring states in responding to climate change. It has and will continue to cost us dearly as our energy costs rise while we ignore utilizing a variety of clean energy sources. The severe road damages from repeated flooding, the adverse impact on our ski and lakes tourism industry, cyanobacteria episodes in so many lakes - these are all consequences of not addressing climate change. We can do much better!"
Undecided| 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?
"I value our existing free, fair and safe elections. The issue of fraudulent voter access has been hugely exaggerated. I could only support requiring documents for a ballot to count if the deadline was feasible in the context of how long it actual takes to receive those documents. The real issue here is voter suppression not fraudulent voting."
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?
"I need to learn more about this."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"I serve on the NH House Special Committee on Housing. Our critical shortage of housing throughout the state must be addressed with a careful balance of respecting local control while prudently increasing state housing incentives for ADUs, duplexes and small, attractive developments that fit well with the neighborhood where they are located. Legislation must include waivers to state level zoning if a project would exceed the local capacity for water, sewer, safety services, etc."
For| 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?
"We should be incentivizing residential, commercial, and municipal solar. Net metering expansion is essential to doing that. I have no expectation that solar will be our primary fuel source but it certainly could be providing much more than currently."
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?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"Abortion is a very personal, private decision that should remain between the woman and her provider. There is no room for government in medical decision making. We should do better a better job of education and making access to contraception easy and affordable so there are fewer unintended pregnancies. There are extremely few abortions after 24 weeks - they occur when the life of the mother is at risk or the fetus will not survive. These are heart-wrenching decisions that belong only with the family, not the legislature."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"Child care is a fundamental need for an economically thriving society. It keeps children safe and healthy, helps them develop skills for success in school which reduces future special education costs. Currently 16,500 parents in NH are not working because they are unable to access childcare. Meanwhile, skilled child care providers earn, on average, $13 hourly or $27,040 annually which is not a livable wage. Most child care providers do not make a livable wage to support their own families. We are watching the available child care slots decrease as providers leave for more sustainable work."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?
"Anything that increases legitimate voter participation is valuable."
Against| 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?
"We are long overdue to improve state funding of public education. The courts have repeatedly ruled that we are violating our state constitution by not adequately funding education. Despite considerable efforts to improve both the adequacy formula and the structure/funding of special education, the legislature did not appreciably improve education funding this session. It is critical to controlling local property taxes and to quality education that we increase state funding of education. NH is a woeful last in country for state education funding. Inadequate state funding of education means communities lack resources for other significant needs - roads for instance."
For| 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?
"All of our neighboring states allow recreational marijuana - we are sending revenue across our borders. There is no safety net in NH to assure a person is purchasing marijuana that is not contaminated. We should carefully legalize and regulate marijuana sales. Profits should be distributed to prevention of substance use disorder, increasing treatment options including supporting recovery houses and public education. The statute should include restriction on advertising, especially to young people. There should be a limit on the number of retail outlets in any community."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"All of our neighboring states allow recreational marijuana - we are sending revenue across our borders. There is no safety net in NH to assure a person is purchasing marijuana that is not contaminated. We should carefully legalize and regulate marijuana sales. Profits should be distributed to prevention of substance use disorder, increasing treatment options including supporting recovery houses and public education. The statute should include restriction on advertising, especially to young people. There should be a limit on the number of retail outlets in any community."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"All of our neighboring states allow recreational marijuana - we are sending revenue across our borders. There is no safety net in NH to assure a person is purchasing marijuana that is not contaminated. We should carefully legalize and regulate marijuana sales. Profits should be distributed to prevention of substance use disorder, increasing treatment options including supporting recovery houses and public education. The statute should include restriction on advertising, especially to young people. There should be a limit on the number of retail outlets in any community."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"It is essential to our civilized society that all adults are able to provide for their family's basic needs with an adequate income from full time work. NH minimum wage follows the federal requirement which has not changedsince 2009. At $7.25/hour, a full time employee earns just $15080 per year. You could easily need all of that or more just for housing and have nothing left for food, healthcare, transportation, child care etc. Not paying a livable wage to hard-working Granite Staters creates more expense for government, as people then turn to food assistance programs, lack health care (which ultimately costs more when medical crises happen). People earning minimum wage cannot afford childcare which leads to neglect or the person not working at all in order to care for their children."
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?
"Undecided"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?
"Against"
For| 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?
"The overturn of Roe v Wade and the subsequent restrictions on abortions in many states has created an environment that threatens health care providers. This will result in less pregnancy care as providers decide it isn't worth the risk to practice in states where their medical license could be at risk simply for providing life-saving care. It is completely unacceptable for women to have different legal access to healthcare contingent on their zip code. We should be protecting women who travel to NH for abortions and we should be protecting abortion providers."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"Abortion is a very personal, private decision that should remain between the woman and her provider. There is no room for government in medical decision making. We should do better a better job of education and making access to contraception easy and affordable so there are fewer unintended pregnancies. There are extremely few abortions after 24 weeks - they occur when the life of the mother is at risk or the fetus will not survive. These are heart-wrenching decisions that belong only with the family, not the legislature."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"Local law enforcement in most communities work very hard to be trusted and connected with the people they serve including with immigrant populations. It isn't the responsibility of local law enforcement to be adjunct federal immigration officials. We should be welcoming legal immigrants as our business community sorely needs their work. Unless you are native American, you are an immigrant or descended from one."
Against| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2024
Voted to against a right-to-work bill (HB 1377)
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"I strongly support Second Amendment rights AND I equally value the need for firearm safety. It isn't an either/or situation. We can have both reasonable firearm safety measures and also have gun ownership. The vast majority of citizens appreciate this. Suicide is the leading cause of death by firearm. Simply increasing the waiting period for gun ownership to 5 days and enforcing it in all sales or transfers of firearms would greatly reduce these tragedies."
Voting Record
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 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 1419 (2024)
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 1248 (2024)
Changes the state limit on abortion after 24 weeks gestation to 15 days gestation.
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 1377 (2024)
Right-to-work bill that prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union.
CACR 23 (2024)
Constitutional amendment creating a right to abortion, including a ban on any restrictions on abortion prior to 24 weeks.
HB 1656 (2024)
Greatly increases the per-pupil state education funding for each student receiving special education services. The House amended the bill to establish three weighted categories for special education differentiated aid, with more funding going to students who need more services.
HB 1283 (2024)
Establishes a procedure for an individual with terminal illness to receive medical assistance in dying through the self administration of medication (sometimes called physician-assisted suicide). The bill establishes criteria for the prescription of such medication and establishes reporting requirements and penalties for misuse or noncompliance.
HB 1145 (2024)
Prohibits new solid waste landfill permits in the state for facilities owned by any person other than the state of New Hampshire or a political subdivision thereof.
HB 1649 (2024)
Restricts the use of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products. For example, this bill bans the sale of cosmetics, food packing, carpets, and more products with added PFAS starting July 1, 2028. The House changed that date to January 1, 2027.
The Senate amended the bill to also state that settlement funds from PFAS lawsuits will be deposited in the drinking water and groundwater trust fund and used to fund public water systems impacted by PFAS.
HB 1322 (2024)
Gradually increases the minimum wage to $17 per hour by 2029. This bill then allows future increases best on the Northeast Consumer Price Index. This bill also increases the tipped minimum wage from 45% to 50% of the regular minimum wage.
HB 1291 (2024)
Increases the number of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) allowed by right from one to two. This bill also increases the maximum square footage from 750 square feet to 1,000 square feet (and 850 square feet for a second unit). The bill then sets other regulations municipalities can and cannot require for ADUs. For example, the bill states that municipalities may require a property to have at least one half acre to have more than one ADU.
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 470 (2023)
Exempts some drug checking equipment from the definition of drug paraphernalia, and allows the use of drug checking equipment, such as fentanyl test strips, for harm reduction.
HB 1400 (2024)
Prohibits zoning and planning regulations that set maximum residential parking spaces above one parking space per unit.
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.
HB 1711 (2024)
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.
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 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.
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"
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 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 59 (2023)
Requires commercial sales and transfers of firearms to take place through licensed dealers. Those dealers are required to perform background checks.
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 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.
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 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 224 (2023)
Repeals the civil and criminal penalties for health care providers who violate the state's ban on abortion after 24 weeks.
HB 624 (2023)
Requires state and local law enforcement to notify the public before an immigration checkpoint.
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.
