Photo: storage.googleapis.comNH · Officeholder
RState Representative · District Cheshire 12
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: New Hampshire House Cheshire 12
Dick Thackston is a Republican state representative from Cheshire 12 who has served in the House since 2022 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] Thackston is a realtor and Troy selectman who has served on local and regional school boards.[1][3]
Dick Thackston was born in Morristown, New Jersey, and earned a bachelor's degree from George Mason University in 1982.[1] His career experience includes working as a realtor.[1]
In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, Thackston described himself as a resident of Troy for more than 30 years and said he served on the Monadnock Regional School Board from 1996 to 2013, as Troy town moderator from 2014 to 2018, and as a Troy selectman from 2018.[3] He said he chaired the Monadnock Regional School Board from 2010 to 2013 and the Troy Board of Selectmen from 2018 to 2023.[3]
In the same survey, Thackston named taxation, education, rule of law and due process, parental rights, and individual liberty and responsibility as policy areas he is passionate about.[3] He wrote that local control of planning and zoning should be preserved and that market forces should primarily address housing availability.[3]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Dick Thackston is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for New Hampshire House Cheshire 12 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
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
Most contested
relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools.
Dec 17, 2025 · Failed 181–170 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
relative to prohibiting obscene or harmful sexual materials in schools.
Bars schools from giving minor students material harmful to minors, requires school boards to adopt a parent complaint and appeal process, and lets aggrieved persons, the attorney general, or the education department sue schools not following it, for at least $1,000 per violation.
Dec 17, 2025 · Failed 183–167 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Lets a withdrawing district's voters alone decide, by a 3/5 vote, to leave a cooperative school district, requires voters in all towns a school serves to approve closing it unless the host town keeps it open by agreement, and has boards review governing documents every three years.
Jun 4, 2026 · Passed 179–161 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Defines female and male by biology, requires bathrooms and locker rooms in public schools and town-owned buildings to be used by sex, lets businesses open to the public do the same, houses inmates by sex, and bars citing gender identity to access single-sex spaces.
Mar 5, 2026 · Passed 181–164 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As introduced, bars public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of firearms and non-lethal weapons on campus, and lets people harmed by such rules sue the school for damages and court orders.
Feb 5, 2026 · Passed 188–165 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Aug 19, 2026: 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.
May 14, 2026 · Passed 179–159 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
relative to the reductions from the default budget for official ballot town meetings.
Changes how towns with official-ballot meetings calculate their default budget, reducing it for salaries and benefits of eliminated positions and of positions vacant since before the prior year's budget, and basing pay on actual salaries of filled positions.
Dec 17, 2025 · Failed 178–175 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
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.
Apr 10, 2025 · Failed 177–185 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
allowing a reimbursement anticipation note to be used as collateral in certain circumstances.
Lets school districts borrow against expected state reimbursements and count the borrowed money as revenue when tax rates are set, after a public hearing, if it is spent only for the same purpose; the borrowing is exempt from debt limits.
Mar 5, 2026 · Passed 185–162 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
relative to exemption from immunization requirements on the basis of religious belief.
Lets a parent or guardian claim a religious exemption from childhood vaccination requirements with only a signed written statement that the child has not been immunized because of religious belief, replacing the reference to a required form.
Dec 17, 2025 · Failed 176–175 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
repealing the New Hampshire vaccine association.
Repeals the state law that establishes the New Hampshire Vaccine Association, eliminating the association's chapter of state law entirely.
Mar 6, 2025 · Passed 189–181 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
modifying the requirements of suicide prevention education policies in schools.
As introduced, changes school suicide prevention training so staff complete it within 30 days of being hired and every two years after, instead of at least two hours every year.
Mar 5, 2026 · Passed 183–167 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
relative to the phasing out of the minimum electric renewable portfolio standard.
Mar 13, 2025 · Passed 189–173 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires electric utilities to offer alternative net metering tariffs under a 2017 utility commission order, sets terms for industrial customer-generators between 1 and 5 megawatts, and allows energy storage with net metering under Department of Energy installation rules.
Apr 23, 2026 · Passed 181–158 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As introduced, appropriates $15 million in each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Department of Environmental Services for wastewater projects approved by June 30, 2026, with unspent money carrying over.
Jan 7, 2026 · Passed 175–156 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
As introduced, requires the housing finance authority to run a homebuying assistance program for essential workers such as health care workers, first responders, educators, and service members, appropriating $750,000 for fiscal 2027 and $1.5 million a year starting July 2028.
Feb 5, 2026 · Passed 179–166 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
repealing the state housing champion designation and grant program.
As introduced, repeals the state's housing champion designation and grant program, along with its dedicated fund and related reporting requirements.
Feb 5, 2026 · Passed 185–166 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
relative to the housing finance authority's affordable housing guarantee program.
Creates a Housing Finance Authority program guaranteeing 80 percent of principal on approved lenders' affordable housing loans, capped at $30 million per lender a year and $300 million outstanding, backed by the state's full faith and credit.
Feb 5, 2026 · Passed 186–162 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
relative to department of safety and department of motor vehicle training and testing materials.
Requires driver's license exams and related materials to be in English only, with American Sign Language allowed, bars translators and translation devices during exams, and stops the motor vehicle division from acquiring or distributing other-language materials, starting January 1, 2026.
Mar 26, 2025 · Passed 187–159 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
relative to electric-vehicle charging station funding.
Lets towns use revolving funds to install and maintain electric-vehicle charging stations, and bars parking in signed charging spaces unless the vehicle is charging, with a minimum $62 fine.
May 22, 2025 · Passed 195–163 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
relative to the issuance of drivers' licenses for aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire.
Tightens rules for driver's licenses issued to noncitizens living in the state temporarily, bars renewals for noncitizens without proof of permanent residency, bars licenses for asylees until permanent residency is granted, and requires a distinct marking on such licenses.
Mar 13, 2025 · Passed 198–162 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
preventing the dissemination of deepfake materials of political candidates before an election.
As introduced, bars distributing deepfakes of candidates, election officials or parties within 90 days of an election unless labeled as manipulated, and lets depicted candidates and officials sue. Exempts news reports, satire, parody and platforms hosting others' content.
Mar 20, 2025 · Passed 201–169 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
prohibiting the sale of location and other sensitive data regarding children.
As introduced, bars businesses covered by the state's consumer data privacy law from selling location data and other sensitive data about children, starting January 1, 2027.
Feb 12, 2026 · Passed 214–145 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
establishing consumer protections for digital access transaction kiosks.
Apr 23, 2026 · Passed 214–140 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Urges the federal government to reject compliance with the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and asks other state legislatures to join in that request.
Feb 13, 2025 · Passed 204–163 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Bars releasing New Hampshire National Guard members from the state into active-duty combat unless Congress has declared war or formally called out the Guard under the U.S. Constitution, and requires the governor to comply.
Jan 8, 2026 · Failed 159–182 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 27 of 377 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Health & care (6), Rights & public safety (5), Climate & energy (4)
relative to the practice of optometry and authorization to perform ophthalmic laser procedures.
What it does: Lets optometrists certified by the state optometry board perform three eye laser procedures (capsulotomy, trabeculoplasty and peripheral iridotomy) after approved training and a set number of supervised procedures, wi…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 31–122, Republicans 114–83
Apr 9, 2026Official record ↗
establishing an employee assistance program for small town and volunteer first responders and making an appropriation therefor.
What it does: Creates a fund run by the health department to enroll volunteer first responders, and full-time responders from towns with five or fewer paid first responders, in the state employee assistance program, and appropriate…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 160–0, Republicans 33–154
Feb 19, 2026Official record ↗
limiting the authority of a municipality, county, or school district to issue bonds.
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 159–0, Republicans 75–111
Feb 19, 2026Official record ↗
establishing a funding source for maintaining state owned dams.
What it does: On the version voted Mar 26, 2026: Creates a $100 yearly fee on waterfront property, and a $50 fee on property with deeded water access, on water bodies formed by state-owned dams, with proceeds going to dam maintenan…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 159–1, Republicans 49–144
Feb 12, 2026Official record ↗
prohibiting the use of federal, state, or local funds for lobbying activities.
What it does: Bars recipients of state or local public funds from using them to lobby, letting towns and cities allow it by ballot vote, requires lobbying recipients to keep public funds physically separate, and lets towns pay Muni…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 3–157, Republicans 149–40
Jan 8, 2026Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools.
With most of their party · Failed 181–170 · Yes 181–No 170 · Democrats 0–163, Republicans 180–7
Dec 17, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 179–166 · Yes 179–No 166 · Democrats 0–160, Republicans 178–6
Feb 5, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 181–164 · Yes 181–No 164 · Democrats 0–160, Republicans 180–4
Mar 5, 2026Official record ↗
relative to the reductions from the default budget for official ballot town meetings.
With most of their party · Failed 178–175 · Yes 178–No 175 · Democrats 0–163, Republicans 177–12
Dec 17, 2025Official record ↗
relative to prohibiting obscene or harmful sexual materials in schools.
With most of their party · Failed 183–167 · Yes 183–No 167 · Democrats 0–162, Republicans 182–5
Dec 17, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 179–161 · Yes 179–No 161 · Democrats 0–156, Republicans 179–4
Jun 4, 2026Official record ↗
repealing the state housing champion designation and grant program.
With most of their party · Passed 185–166 · Yes 185–No 166 · Democrats 0–162, Republicans 184–4
Feb 5, 2026Official record ↗
relative to exemption from immunization requirements on the basis of religious belief.
With most of their party · Failed 176–175 · Yes 176–No 175 · Democrats 1–162, Republicans 174–13
Dec 17, 2025Official record ↗
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.
Motion: Veto Override
Motion: Veto Override
Motion: Veto Override
Requires health care institutions to notify employees who provide abortion services each year that they may request an accommodation for religious or moral objections to directly participating in abortions and may complain to the attorney general, who must report substantiated complaints annually.
Motion: Veto Override
Motion: Veto Override
Requires the labor commissioner to give employers at least 30 days' notice before a visit or inspection and at least 30 days to answer document or interview demands, with exceptions for recent violators, imminent safety risks, likely evidence destruction, certain safety inspections and owner consent.
Motion: Veto Override
Motion: Veto Override
Motion: Veto Override
Lets public bodies issue emergency no-trespass orders for public property lasting up to 35 days, with longer orders needing a roll call vote, a one-year maximum, and a right to a hearing and appeal to superior court.
Motion: Veto Override
Requires school boards and charter school trustees to adopt a policy barring non-school persons, and school-employed attorneys, paralegals or law enforcement, from questioning a minor student without written parental permission, and to ask adult students whether to notify parents; child-welfare inquiries excepted.
Motion: Veto Override
Lets landlords accept an extra deposit of up to one month's rent from applicants who fail disclosed screening criteria such as credit score, income, prior evictions, unpaid judgments or references, with written notice and a right to re-screening; also says advance rent need not be escrowed.
Showing 10 of 571 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.