Denise Ricciardi is a Republican state senator for New Hampshire Senate District 9 who took office on December 2, 2020, and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2]Matthew McLaughlin, a Democrat, is also on the District 9 general-election ballot.[1][2]
Ricciardi earned a high school diploma from Humble High School.[1]Ricciardi's career experience includes owning a business, and Ricciardi founded Bedford Cares.[1]
Ricciardi succeeded Jeanne Dietsch (D) in the District 9 seat.[1]In the 2025-2026 session, Ricciardi chairs the Senate Transportation Committee and is vice chair of the Commerce Committee.[1]In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey, Ricciardi listed key campaign messages of more affordable health care and property tax relief through meals and rooms tax revenue sharing, and increasing opportunities for business without a sales or income tax.[3]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
As amended by the House, requires each school district to adopt an open enrollment policy letting parents apply to any public school, subject to district-set capacity and limited denial grounds; the state pays aid to receiving schools, and no tuition is charged.
Jan 29, 2026 · Passed 14–10 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Dec 17, 2025: Lets school district voters decide by majority ballot vote to elect school district officers in partisan elections run under town partisan election rules, and to return to nonpartisan elections by the same kind of vote.
May 15, 2025 · Failed 10–13 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Jan 7, 2026: Replaces the bill's original drug-death mandatory minimum with a hard-labor sentencing option: juries in capital murder and aggravated felonious sexual assault cases against children under 13 may impose life at hard labor without parole by at least 9 of 12 votes, with medical exemptions.
Repeals the separate criminal penalty for medical cannabis patients or caregivers who sell cannabis to non-patients and removes language calling such diversion a class B felony; sellers would still lose their registry cards and may face other penalties for illegal cannabis sales.
On the version voted Jun 26, 2025: Doubles the two-year cap on total critical-injury benefits for first responders to $1 million, and also revises how state education adequacy grants are calculated and makes several changes to public employee retirement benefits and contributions.
On the version voted Jun 26, 2025: Makes the law, fee and program changes that carry out the state budget for fiscal 2026 and 2027, including allowing video lottery terminals, adding Medicaid premiums for enrollees above set income levels, barring diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public entities, and changing education aid.
Lets towns adopt, by a three-fifths vote, a budget cap limiting yearly spending to the prior year's per-resident amount times population, adjusted by a set percentage or inflation index; exceeding the cap requires a three-fifths ballot vote.
Lets registered therapeutic cannabis patients or their designated caregivers grow cannabis at a home location reported to the state, in a locked, enclosed space not open to public view, within a 50-square-foot canopy (100 if shared), with caregivers growing for only one patient.
Apr 17, 2025 · Failed 12–12 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As introduced, raises the amount of therapeutic cannabis a registered patient or caregiver may possess, and the amount a patient may obtain in a 10-day period, from 2 ounces to 4 ounces.
Repeals the separate criminal penalty for medical cannabis patients or caregivers who sell cannabis to non-patients and removes language calling such diversion a class B felony; sellers would still lose their registry cards and may face other penalties for illegal cannabis sales.
Creates a seven-member state committee to approve or deny sites for new solid waste facilities taking over 100,000 tons a year, gives state environmental regulators sole approval over landfill expansions, and pauses state permits for new capacity at other large disposal facilities until July 1, 2027.
Jan 7, 2026 · Failed 12–12 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Sets separate rules for animal cruelty cases involving livestock: officers may confiscate livestock only when someone is charged, or its life is in imminent danger, and the investigating officer must be accompanied by the state veterinarian, a designee, or a licensed veterinarian.
Aug 19, 2026 · Failed 11–13 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As introduced, allows landlords to evict tenants when a lease or tenancy of six months or longer expires, if the landlord gives at least 60 days' written notice that the lease will not be renewed.
Bars towns from requiring single-family lots larger than 88,000 square feet on most single-family land, 44,000 with public water and 22,000 with public sewer unless the town shows those systems lack capacity, starting July 1, 2026.
Mar 20, 2025 · Passed 13–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As amended, allows data centers in commercial and industrial zoning districts, subject to local land use regulations, and lets planning boards adopt regulations with local legislative body approval.
Voted against most of their party on 10 of 154 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Climate & energy (4), Education & families (3), Rights & public safety (2)
relative to cruelty to livestock.
What it does: Sets separate rules for animal cruelty cases involving livestock: officers may confiscate livestock only when someone is charged, or its life is in imminent danger, and the investigating officer must be accompanied by…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–8, Republicans 11–5
relative to work requirements under the state Medicaid program.
What it does: Requires applicants and enrollees in the state's expanded Medicaid program who are subject to federal work requirements to prove compliance with documents, including for the month before applying, checked at least qua…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–8, Republicans 15–1
(New Title) authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state and creating a limited exemption from parental consent required for certain recordings under the parental bill of rights.
What it does: As amended by the House, requires each school district to adopt an open enrollment policy letting parents apply to any public school, subject to district-set capacity and limited denial grounds; the state pays aid to…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–8, Republicans 14–2
(New Title) authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state and creating a limited exemption from parental consent required for certain recordings under the parental bill of rights.
What it does: As amended by the House, requires each school district to adopt an open enrollment policy letting parents apply to any public school, subject to district-set capacity and limited denial grounds; the state pays aid to…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–8, Republicans 14–2
(Second New Title) establishing a solid waste site evaluation committee.
What it does: Creates a seven-member state committee to approve or deny sites for new solid waste facilities taking over 100,000 tons a year, gives state environmental regulators sole approval over landfill expansions, and pauses s…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 8–0, Republicans 4–12
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
SB 552 · NH SENATE
permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.
YesVOTED
Motion: VETO MESSAGE - Roll Call Required
Provides that classifying people by biological sex, defined as male and female, is not unlawful discrimination in multi-user restrooms and locker rooms, sports where strength, speed or endurance favors biological males, and prisons and involuntary-commitment facilities. Does not require entities to separate by sex.
relative to regulation of public school materials.
YesVOTED
Motion: VETO MESSAGE - Roll Call Required
Requires school boards to adopt a policy by November 1, 2026 for parent complaints about material that is obscene and harmful to minors, and a complaint procedure by November 1, 2027 with set deadlines for investigation, decision, written response and appeal to the school board.
relative to enabling alternative treatment centers to operate a greenhouse cultivation location.
NoVOTED
Motion: VETO MESSAGE - Roll Call Required
Lets registered alternative treatment centers request state authorization to run a greenhouse cultivation location, with department rules on location and security, a plan to cut energy costs and patient prices, local zoning compliance, and local input.
Repeals and reenacts the law on pooled risk management programs for local governments: lets the secretary of state require abatement of insufficient assets or seek receivership, requires pro rata member assessments for deficiencies, sets contingency reserve standards, and requires public disclosures.
Removes the 3-year deadline for new-trial petitions by people with felony or class A misdemeanor convictions who are serving or affected by the sentence and allege innocence from newly discovered evidence; adds prima facie review and victim services. Effective January 1, 2027.
Sets separate rules for animal cruelty cases involving livestock: officers may confiscate livestock only when someone is charged, or its life is in imminent danger, and the investigating officer must be accompanied by the state veterinarian, a designee, or a licensed veterinarian.
(New Title) relative to the practice of pharmacy, the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.
relative to the general court's authority over the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, and other matter pertaining to firearms, stun guns, Tasers, pepper spray devices, knives and other self-defense tools.
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: Conference Committee Report
As amended by conference committee, extends the local-rule bar to stun guns, Tasers, pepper spray and other self-defense tools, allows damages suits (actual or $1,000, if greater) by aggrieved people, and limits state agency rules to expressly authorized ones, lapsing July 1, 2029 unless renewed.
