Howard Pearl is a Republican state senator from New Hampshire who has represented District 17 since December 2022 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2]A business owner, his career experience includes owning Pearl & Sons Farm LLC.[1]
Pearl served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives for Merrimack 26 from 2016 to 2022 before assuming office in the State Senate on December 7, 2022.[1]In the 2025-2026 session he chairs the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee, is vice chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and serves on the Senate Finance Committee.[1]
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
On the version voted Dec 17, 2025: Makes school district transportation for half-day kindergarten students optional rather than required, while districts must still transport full-day students in kindergarten through grade 8 who live more than two miles from school.
Creates a 10-member commission to study the efficiency and structure of school administrative units, including options for consolidation and property tax relief, with a report due November 1, 2026.
Requires credentialed public school educators to answer parents' written requests for information about their child honestly and completely within 10 business days, unless barred by law or a response would risk abuse or neglect. Takes effect January 1, 2027.
As introduced, legalizes possession of up to 2 ounces of cannabis, 10 grams of concentrate, or products with up to 2,000 mg of THC by adults 21 and older, and sets a fine of up to $100 for first-offense public smoking or vaping.
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 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
As introduced, legalizes possession of up to 2 ounces of cannabis, 10 grams of concentrate, or products with up to 2,000 mg of THC by adults 21 and older, and sets a fine of up to $100 for first-offense public smoking or vaping.
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 ↗
Legalizes drug checking equipment such as fentanyl and xylazine test strips by removing it from the definition of drug paraphernalia, shields people who use or distribute it from arrest, and bars using test results as criminal evidence.
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.
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 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Aug 19, 2026: 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.
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.
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 2 of 177 party-divided votes on file.
establishing the paint product stewardship program.
What it does: On the version voted Apr 9, 2026: Requires paint manufacturers to set up and fund a state-approved program to collect and recycle leftover paint, paid for by a per-container fee built into paint prices, with voluntary…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 8–0, Republicans 5–11
relative to zoning procedures concerning residential housing.
What it does: 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…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 7–1, Republicans 6–9
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.
YesVOTED
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.
YesVOTED
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.
