Karen E. Calabro
Historical Details
Position on Issues
Against| 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?
"Charter schools and public schools should be funded as they are legally defined as public schools, and subject to the Constitutional requirements mandated within for adequate funding. Religious institutions should remain exempt from public funds."
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)?
"Medicine was a discipline it took 18 years of education and several more years of 'residency,' to learn, and we call it 'practicing' because few become masters. To boil it down to saving lives is a dog whistle. When I lost my pregnancy at 16 weeks, it was devastating. That abortion saved my life. If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer medical decisions remain in the hands of folks who know medicine, and not hand bodily autonomy to public servants who have few, if any knowledge about obstetrics, because lives depend on it."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"Medicine was a discipline it took 18 years of education and several more years of 'residency,' to learn, and we call it 'practicing' because few become masters. To boil it down to saving lives is a dog whistle. When I lost my pregnancy at 16 weeks, it was devastating. That abortion saved my life. If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer medical decisions remain in the hands of folks who know medicine, and not hand bodily autonomy to public servants who have few, if any knowledge about obstetrics, because lives depend on it."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?
"It can be done age appropriately, but only as a brief description as actually is genetically established by scientific consensus to be true: some people feel they are one gender and others another, and rarely some folks are uncertain. Same with who folks are attracted to or love. See how simple that is? Don’t want that? Opt out."Other| 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"?
"Also worded badly. No one would wantonly propose propaganda in the classroom, and to suggest they have been is ludicrous. I know of NO teachers who do anything remotely like this. All subjects can be opted out as well. Don’t feed into the wedge issues"Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"Not in New Hampshire, and not on my watch."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"'Sin' or 'luxury' goods should be to incentivize lessening use, and existing business taxes, however in practice, I have voted down all of these."
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?
"Lower the barriers to supporting the educational investment of their employees"For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Drawing investors and incentivizing entrepreneurs who wish to invest in NH should be an ADMINISTRATIVE policy priority, and if it is not, the General Court may need to preserve this, but only then."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"We have sufficient laws in place already, and therefor can have no need to augment them."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"We can incentivize, do studies to learn more about, and create the atmosphere of innovation and capture what remains of a new energy market."
For| 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?
"In the wake of a post-Covid world and issues of access to small town clerk office hours, as they are not often open daily, ensuring a person's right to vote should be preserved."
Against| 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?
"They paid for the privilege of having a lower carbon footprint vehicle. Don’t penalize them for trying to help with climate change."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Urban planning is hardly discussed in a small town, but the concept of a denser population in the centers of towns or on the perimeter of industrial zones has to be considered. We have attracted the attention of the Nation, and can't afford to be complacent about the planning of the flood of people coming to live here. We aren't the only people who recognize what a great state this is in which to live."
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?
"For"
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?
"We have to start somewhere"For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"Medicine was a discipline it took 18 years of education and several more years of 'residency,' to learn, and we call it 'practicing' because few become masters. To boil it down to saving lives is a dog whistle. When I lost my pregnancy at 16 weeks, it was devastating. That abortion saved my life. If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer medical decisions remain in the hands of folks who know medicine, and not hand bodily autonomy to public servants who have few, if any knowledge about obstetrics, because lives depend on it."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"Expanding our workforce will increase our state's productivity, tax base, expands the personal wealth and stability of the employed, and create a generation of youth who had stabile childhoods, more resilient to the temptations of addiction. Childcare costs remains high and availability low, and until that dynamic shifts, I'm afraid the General Court of NH must get involved in some way"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?
"Expansion of voting and reducing barriers to every legal citizen should be the focus of any civilized government."For| 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?
"No changes"
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?
"The House tried and succeeded to pass this legislation, however Chairman Hunt and house Republican Senators insisted on a state-run system of taxicab medallions for which there is a limited number of stores, and owned by government selected staff who are ignorant about this market. House members on both sides fought and lost this battle after it was found that Governor Sununu's administration would not support a private sector solution. This created two issues: without meeting the market demand of an estimated 35-55 stores, in no way would this model work to suppress the black market. And increasing the size of government is not a viable option for fiscal conservatives. I maintain that legalization is needed to suppress a black market known to be infiltrated by additional drugs, to reduce the incarceration of people unable to stop their dependence on matijuana, and therefor reduce family instability and prison expenses for which we are now looking at a 500M price tag for a new state prison."
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?
"The House tried and succeeded to pass this legislation, however Chairman Hunt and house Republican Senators insisted on a state-run system of taxicab medallions for which there is a limited number of stores, and owned by government selected staff who are ignorant about this market. House members on both sides fought and lost this battle after it was found that Governor Sununu's administration would not support a private sector solution. This created two issues: without meeting the market demand of an estimated 35-55 stores, in no way would this model work to suppress the black market. And increasing the size of government is not a viable option for fiscal conservatives. I maintain that legalization is needed to suppress a black market known to be infiltrated by additional drugs, to reduce the incarceration of people unable to stop their dependence on matijuana, and therefor reduce family instability and prison expenses for which we are now looking at a 500M price tag for a new state prison."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"The House tried and succeeded to pass this legislation, however Chairman Hunt and house Republican Senators insisted on a state-run system of taxicab medallions for which there is a limited number of stores, and owned by government selected staff who are ignorant about this market. House members on both sides fought and lost this battle after it was found that Governor Sununu's administration would not support a private sector solution. This created two issues: without meeting the market demand of an estimated 35-55 stores, in no way would this model work to suppress the black market. And increasing the size of government is not a viable option for fiscal conservatives. I maintain that legalization is needed to suppress a black market known to be infiltrated by additional drugs, to reduce the incarceration of people unable to stop their dependence on matijuana, and therefor reduce family instability and prison expenses for which we are now looking at a 500M price tag for a new state prison."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"The Free Market already determines this rate, and it is holding over $12/hour within the population most apt to work for this: recently incarcerated, stabilized from addiction or mental healthcare crisis, and the disabled. We could change the laws, if this was needed, but few people work for less than $15/hr. I will add that inflation has had a tremendous impact on small businesses, who would potentially lose market shares with higher costs, incurred to cover increase wages."
For| 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?
"Communities have been barely subsisting for a decade, and are badly in need of any investment of their main streets, infrastructure, parks, and community buildings. Find me one selectman in my district who believes otherwise."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?
"For"
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?
"Bodily autonomy is a constitutional right. Gender medicine is another of these subjects few are educated about. Reach me directly for details."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"Medicine was a discipline it took 18 years of education and several more years of 'residency,' to learn, and we call it 'practicing' because few become masters. To boil it down to saving lives is a dog whistle. When I lost my pregnancy at 16 weeks, it was devastating. That abortion saved my life. If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer medical decisions remain in the hands of folks who know medicine, and not hand bodily autonomy to public servants who have few, if any knowledge about obstetrics, because lives depend on it."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"There should be no tolerance for illegal immigration. Local police should reach out for National resources, however to review anything that might have international consequences. They are not trained ICE personnel and should be dedicated to municipal duties."
Against| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2024
Voted to against a right-to-work bill (HB 1377)
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"Against"
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 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 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 1400 (2024)
Prohibits zoning and planning regulations that set maximum residential parking spaces above one parking space per unit.
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 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 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.
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 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.
