In New Hampshire, there are 24 state senators who serve in the state Senate, which is one of two chambers of the Legislative Branch. Every resident is represented by one state senator. State senators draft, debate, and vote on legislation – around 1,000 bills a year. They are elected every two years, in even-numbered years, along with the 400 state representatives, 5 Executive Council members, and the Governor. This fall, New Hampshire residents will have the next opportunity to vote for their state senator.
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and, in turn, the loss of the federal constitutional right to an abortion, the future of abortion access in New Hampshire now depends on the state legislature. Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (“PPNHAF”) compiled five key state Senate votes on bills, all of which would have positively impacted abortion rights and/or access in New Hampshire - and all of which were defeated in the NH Senate on party lines.
Scorecard
2024 Senate Scorecard (alphabetical order)
2024 Senate Scorecard (listed by district)
Find your state senator here.
Scorecard Highlights
- In 2023-2024, every scored reproductive rights vote failed on party lines. Every Senate Democrat voted in support of reproductive rights; every Senate Republican voted against.
- In the previous biennium, the Access to Abortion-care Act (codifying the right to abortion in state law) failed in a 12-12 bipartisan vote. In 2023, after HB 88 passed the House in a 199-185 bipartisan vote, NH Senate Republicans defeated it, 14-10.
- All five bills on the 2023-2024 Senate Scorecard were proactive, positive measures; however, all received "Inexpedient to Legislate" committee reports with all 14 Senate Republicans voting to stop each one.
Scoring Methodology
PPNHAF calculates a state senator’s score by dividing the number of pro-reproductive rights and health votes during the most recent biennium by the total number of votes taken, excluding all absences. Senators who scored 100%, for example, voted with PPNHAF on every vote they participated in. Any recorded votes by the full New Hampshire Senate are eligible to be scored. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
This scorecard is for informational purposes only and therefore should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any candidate. In the upcoming weeks, PPNHAF PAC* will issue endorsements in state Senate races. This page will be updated to reflect those endorsements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the information on the scorecard about each bill mean?
- Here is a key to help explain the first vote on the scorecard:
- SB 181: Bill number. "SB" stands for "Senate Bill"
- Add right to abortion before 24 weeks to NH law: Bill summary
- ITL: The motion senators voted on, which is scored on this scorecard; "ITL" stands for "Inexpedient to Legislate"
- Vote: 14-10: Final vote on this motion: 14 senators voted in support of the ITL motion. 10 voted against.
- 3/9/23: Date of the vote
- Nay=PP: Voting "Nay" on this motion is in support of reproductive rights and health care and PPNHAF's position
- Here is a key to help explain the first vote on the scorecard:
- How do I find out who my state senator is?
- On the General Court website, use the dropdown menu to select your town. The page will update to show your state senator. Every Granite Stater has one state senator.
- Where is the information on this scorecard from?
- All roll call votes can be found on the General Court’s website. You first search by year of the vote, then you can search by bill number, state senator’s name, or session date.
- Why are the votes on the Senate Scorecard different from the votes on the House Scorecard?
- Each chamber votes for bills separately. After the House passes a House bill (“HB”) over to the Senate, a Senate committee holds a public hearing, which is when members of the public can share their thoughts on the bill. Then, the Senate committee can amend a bill and will make a recommendation for the full Senate to act on. Finally, the full Senate votes on that recommendation. Senate bills (“SB”) begin in the Senate, and for the House to vote on a Senate bill, the full Senate would need to pass it first and the process is identical in the House: public hearing; committee recommendation; and a full House vote.
- What does “ITL” mean?
- “ITL” stands for “Inexpedient to Legislate.” This is a motion made with the intent to defeat a bill.
- I heard about other bills this session. Why aren’t they on here?
- While every bill in New Hampshire receives a vote, not every bill has a roll call vote in the legislature.
- While PPNHAF did not score lawmakers on their votes on the bills listed below, they may be useful to you in considering how your state senator voted during the last biennium:
- HB 396: anti-LGBTQ+ bill; allows businesses and schools to discriminate against transgender individuals in the bathroom they use. Passed the Senate: 14-10.
- HB 619: anti-LGBTQ+ bill; bans specific health care for transgender patients under 18 and also bans referrals for that health care - even with parental consent. Passed the Senate: 13-10.
- HB 1205: anti-LGBTQ+ bill; bans 5th-12th grade transgender girls from playing on girls' teams. Requires birth certificate for all girls to participate or "other evidence," which could include genital inspections. Passed the Senate: 13-10.
- HB 1312: anti-LGBTQ+ bill; requires teachers to give 2-weeks' notice on any course material related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Adds them to the "objectionable material" law. Passed the Senate: 13-10.
- HB 1569: anti-voting rights bill; denies eligible voters the right to register to vote unless they have documents proving identity, age, domicile (address) and citizenship. To prove citizenship, voters would have to provide either a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers. Passed the Senate: 13-11.
- SB 272: anti-LGBTQ+ bill; so-called "parental bill of rights." Requires schools to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their parents before they are ready. Passed the Senate: 14-10.
- SB 375: anti-LGBTQ+ bill; bans transgender girls in middle school, high school, and college from playing on girls' athletic teams. Passed the Senate: 14-10.
- Why are some votes listed as “excused”?
- An “excused” absence is granted by the Senate President in advance of session.
- Why did my state senator vote a certain way?
- The only way to know why a state senator voted a certain way is to ask that person! You can find their contact information on the General Court’s website.
- How do I find out if my state senator is running for re-election in November 2024?
- You can check the Secretary of State’s 2024 Election page to see who has filed to run.
- I see my state senator was supportive but isn’t running for re-election as a state senator. How do I learn more about who is running in my district?
- First, thank your senator for their commitment to public service and to reproductive health and rights! Being a New Hampshire state senator is a lot of work for almost no money ($100 per year). Find their contact information and say thanks.
- To learn more about who IS running in your district, check out the NH Secretary of State’s website and try finding them on social media to learn more about their campaign.
- I see my state senator wasn’t supportive and is running for re-election. How do I learn more about who is running against them in my district?
- First, reach out to them and let them know you are disappointed in their votes. They need to hear from their constituents.
- To learn more about who IS running in your district, check out the NH Secretary of State’s website and try finding them on social media to learn more about their campaign.
- Why aren’t state representatives listed on this scorecard?
- This scorecard focuses exclusively on the New Hampshire Senate; for the PPNHAF House Scorecard, please click here.
- Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
- Email any additional questions to [email protected] with the subject “2024 Senate Scorecard.”
* Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. The Action Fund makes independent expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to targeted candidates for public office. PPNHAF maintains a separate, segregated political committee and fund to make direct campaign contributions to endorsed candidates (the PAC). The Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund PAC is nonpartisan and makes endorsements and direct campaign contributions to candidates running for elected office in New Hampshire.