James Newsom

Votes by issue

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 Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

• ›Education & families125 with · 0 against125 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools.

    Dec 17, 2025 · Failed 181–170 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    (New Title) modifying the procedures for withdrawal from a cooperative school district and the discontinuance of elementary and high schools and requiring the review of school district operating documents by school boards.

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All education & families votes
• ›Rights & public safety115 with · 4 against119 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    repealing the refugee resettlement program in the department of health and human services and prohibiting expenditure of state funds on refugee resettlement.

    Ends the state refugee resettlement program in the health and human services department, requires its contracts to be terminated, and bars state agencies from accepting or spending money on refugee resettlement, including payments to towns or nonprofit groups.

    Mar 11, 2026 · Passed 170–164 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances and establishing that certain biological sex distinctions do not qualify as discrimination.

    Lets public and private entities separate people by biological sex in shared bathrooms and locker rooms, certain sports, and prisons and similar secure facilities without it counting as discrimination; government buildings that do so must also offer a single-occupancy bathroom open to all.

    Mar 11, 2026 · Failed 156–171 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    limiting the use of certain facilities on the basis of sex and redefining the term "gender identity."

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All rights & public safety votes
• ›Jobs & cost of living96 with · 2 against98 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    relative to eligibility for public assistance, including the New Hampshire employment program, family assistance program, and SNAP.

    Bars the health department from seeking SNAP work-requirement waivers without legislative approval or loosening eligibility standards unless federal law requires, mandates regular data checks of recipients' income, incarceration, lottery winnings, and citizenship, and removes out-of-state-only users found nonresident or unresponsive.

    Mar 11, 2026 · Passed 172–161 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    enabling counties to change the dates of their biennial budgets.

    Lets counties, if commissioners agree and a majority of county voters approve, move their two-year budget to years without a state election, and revises how towns adopt, rescind and elect budget committees and how first cooperative school budget committee members are appointed.

    May 14, 2026 · Passed 164–145 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All jobs & cost of living votes
• ›Health & care70 with · 3 against73 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    prohibits certain government regulations regarding pregnancy resource centers in connection with abortion and contraception service offerings.

    Mar 12, 2026 · Passed 179–161 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    limiting times vaccine clinics may operate at schools and requiring parents or legal guardians to be present with their child during the administration of vaccinations at such a clinic.

    As introduced, bars public and charter schools from holding vaccination clinics during school hours and requires a parent or guardian to be present whenever a child is vaccinated at a school clinic; school nurses' existing duties are unaffected.

    Mar 11, 2026 · Passed 172–154 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All health & care votes
• ›Climate & energy37 with · 0 against37 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    (New Title) allowing alternative compliance payments to the renewable energy fund to be refunded to ratepayers on a per kilowatt hour basis.

    Mar 26, 2026 · Passed 189–162 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    relative to the phasing out of the minimum electric renewable portfolio standard.

    Mar 13, 2025 · Passed 189–173 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    (New Title) relative to relative to the participation of large customer-generators in net metering and relative to energy storage in connection with net metering.

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All climate & energy votes
• ›Housing & rent19 with · 2 against21 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    relative to expanding the housing finance authority's community heroes program and makes an appropriation therefor.

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    (New Title) relative to regulated conditional deposits.

    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.

    May 21, 2026 · Passed 180–162 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All housing & rent votes
• ›Transportation19 with · 0 against19 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All transportation votes
• ›Foreign affairs & defense3 with · 0 against3 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    urging the United States to reject compliance with the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    prohibiting nationals of the People's Republic of China from attending state institutions of higher education.

    Bars nationals of the People's Republic of China from enrolling in master's or doctoral programs, taking part in research, or holding full-time jobs at New Hampshire's public colleges and universities, with penalties for individuals and institutions that violate the ban.

    Mar 11, 2026 · Failed 157–173 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    relative to requiring an official declaration of war for the activation of the New Hampshire national guard in a foreign state.

    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 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All foreign affairs & defense votes
• ›Technology & privacy3 with · 0 against3 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    establishing consumer protections for digital access transaction kiosks.

    Apr 23, 2026 · Passed 214–140 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All technology & privacy votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 10 of 522 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Rights & public safety (4), Housing & rent (3), Health & care (3)

• relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.

  What it does: 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 ab…

  Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 116–49, Republicans 0–197

  Apr 10, 2025Official record ↗

• relative to legalizing certain quantities of cannabis and establishing penalties for the smoking or vaping of cannabis in public.

  What it does: 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…

  Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 135–10, Republicans 72–115

  Mar 26, 2025Official record ↗

• relative to penalties for criminal violations of the therapeutic use of cannabis.

  What it does: On the version voted May 8, 2025: 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; selle…

  Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–154, Republicans 141–45

  Mar 26, 2025Official record ↗

• relative to the homestead right.

  What it does: Raises the homestead protection from creditors to $1,000,000, from $120,000 for a single person or $240,000 for a married couple, covers mobile homes, housing cooperatives and condominiums, and requires the home to ha…

  Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 20–140, Republicans 194–6

  Mar 6, 2025Official record ↗

• legalizing cannabis for persons 21 years of age or older.

  What it does: On the version voted Apr 17, 2025: Legalizes possession and use of cannabis for adults 21 and older without creating retail sales or taxes, removes cannabis from the state's controlled drug laws, makes public use and…

  Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 29–123, Republicans 137–66

  Feb 20, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

• No

  repealing the refugee resettlement program in the department of health and human services and prohibiting expenditure of state funds on refugee resettlement.

  With most of their party · Passed 170–164 · Yes 170–No 164 · Democrats 0–156, Republicans 169–8

  Mar 11, 2026Official record ↗

• Yes

  permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances and establishing that certain biological sex distinctions do not qualify as discrimination.

  With most of their party · Failed 156–171 · Yes 156–No 171 · Democrats 154–1, Republicans 2–169

  Mar 11, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  relative to eligibility for public assistance, including the New Hampshire employment program, family assistance program, and SNAP.

  With most of their party · Passed 172–161 · Yes 172–No 161 · Democrats 0–155, Republicans 171–6

  Mar 11, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  enabling counties to change the dates of their biennial budgets.

  With most of their party · Passed 164–145 · Yes 164–No 145 · Democrats 0–144, Republicans 163–1

  May 14, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  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 ↗

• No

  relative to expanding the housing finance authority's community heroes program and makes an appropriation therefor.

  With most of their party · Passed 179–166 · Yes 179–No 166 · Democrats 0–160, Republicans 178–6

  Feb 5, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  limiting the use of certain facilities on the basis of sex and redefining the term "gender identity."

  With most of their party · Passed 181–164 · Yes 181–No 164 · Democrats 0–160, Republicans 180–4

  Mar 5, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  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 ↗