Matthew S. Hicks
Running for: NH House Merrimack County District 24
Completed our 2024 State Candidate Survey
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?
"In order to have a strong state, we must have excellent public schools. As a graduate of the Concord public schools (CHS '92), I know how important public schools are for New Hampshire's future. The EFA program - vouchers - is not necessary or beneficial for New Hampshire. This program should be repealed. If people want to send their kids to private schools, they will find ways to pay the tuition. If they want to educate their children at home, they will make this work, too. These have always been options in New Hampshire without vouchers."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"I fully support women's reproductive rights."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"I fully support women's reproductive rights."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"Against"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Generally, I believe we should keep business taxes as low as necessary to encourage business growth in New Hampshire."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"Against"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"New Hampshire's biggest advantage is the natural environment. As an avid hiker and outdoors person, I have watched our environment change dramatically in the last few decades. What happened to our winters? We need to do much more to protect our environment, including supporting alternative forms of energy, lowering pollution, and protecting our waterways."
Against| 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?
"Voters who sign the affidavit at the polls under the penalty of perjury seems to work just fine. We have not learned about widespread fraud or other problems that would require this system to 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?
"I have been working on this issue in my House committee, Municipal and County Government, at the planning board in Concord, through discussions at CNHRPC, and with business leaders through the Concord Chamber of Commerce. This must happen to encourage more housing, of all kinds, but especially starter homes and workforce housing. Some zoning changes, like allowing employers to build housing for their workers, will help businesses and employees and ensure New Hampshire's economy continues to thrive."
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?
"If we are to encourage people to invest in alternative forms of energy, we must make it worth their while. My family just invested in solar at our house. Without net metering, it would have been a hard sell to get us to do so. Now, we are producing clean energy for our use and for others. I would love to see solar panels on every room in New Hampshire."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"I fully support women's reproductive rights."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"Having been around childcare for more than 40 years, I keenly understand the difficult balance between what centers charge families, most of them younger families just starting out, and the need to pay child care teachers higher wages. Without state funding to help child care centers, we will continue to have high prices for families and lower than deserved pay for hard working child care teachers. Without quality and affordable child care, our employers struggle to find employees, because families cannot afford to live in New Hampshire."
Other| 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?
"Generally, I believe school funding should come from the state level to ease the burden on local taxpayers. Communities with a significant amount of untaxable land, including Concord, face high local property tax rates, while other communities, especially those on the lakes and seacoast with many second homes, have lower local tax rates. Other sources of funding must be pursued. We will not have a sales or income tax, so spreading the tax burden for schools across the state versus at the local level is the most equitable option."
Undecided| 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?
"I generally approve of legalizing recreational use of marijuana. I am not yet decided on how to structure this, as I support small businesses but would rather not have stores on "every corner," as we see in our neighboring states. If the state liquor store model works well for alcohol, this may be the best option."
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?
"I generally approve of legalizing recreational use of marijuana. I am not yet decided on how to structure this, as I support small businesses but would rather not have stores on "every corner," as we see in our neighboring states. If the state liquor store model works well for alcohol, this may be the best option."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"I generally approve of legalizing recreational use of marijuana. I am not yet decided on how to structure this, as I support small businesses but would rather not have stores on "every corner," as we see in our neighboring states. If the state liquor store model works well for alcohol, this may be the best option."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"New Hampshire's current minimum wage is disgraceful. It should be at least double that amount, and we should seriously consider setting it equal to the federal minimum wage."
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?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"I fully support women's reproductive rights."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"Local law enforcement has been clear on this. While testifying in front of my House committee, law enforcement leaders objected to requiring their officers to enforce these federal laws. I support our local police officers, who already have a difficult job, by not requiring them to act on behalf of federal agencies unless specifically asked to do so. This is already the agreement, so let's keep it as is."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"New Hampshire should take reasonable steps to limit weapons of war and sales to people struggling with mental illness. I support people's right to own guns, but measures, like waiting periods and banning some types of weapons is logical. This is common sense."
