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2022 PPNHAF Senate Scorecard

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 eight key state Senate votes on five critical bills impacting reproductive rights, including the 14-10 Senate vote that added an abortion ban and mandatory ultrasounds to New Hampshire’s state budget, which was then signed into law by the governor.

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.

Scorecard

The 2022 Senate Scorecard can be viewed by district or alphabetized by last name. Find your state senator here

Scorecard, by district 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 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 “OTP” mean and “OTP/A” mean?
    • “OTP” stands for “Ought to Pass.” This is a motion made with the intent to pass the bill. “OTP/A” stands for “Ought to Pass as Amended.” This is a motion made with the intent to pass an amended version of the bill. All amendments for a bill – whether passed or not – can be found on the bill’s docket on the General Court’s website.
  • What does “ITL” mean?
    • “ITL” stands for “Inexpedient to Legislate.” This is a motion made with the intent to defeat a bill.
  • What does “Refer to Interim Study” mean?
    • “Refer to Interim Study” is a motion made with the intent to study the bill, but not pass or defeat it. Committees can meet in the non-session months (July – December) to review bills that receive a “Refer to Interim Study” bill and will issue a report for legislators who are considering reintroducing the legislation in the next session.
  • I heard about other bills this session. Why aren’t they on here?
    • Most bills are introduced in the House (“HB”), so if the House defeats a bill, the Senate will not vote on it.
    • One bill that PPNHAF did not score lawmakers on, but may be useful to you in considering how your state senator voted during the last biennium, is HB 1431: “establishing the parental bill of rights.”
  • Why are some votes listed as “Absent”?
    • An absence can have a variety of explanations, but simply means the legislator was not present during the vote.
  • 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.
  • 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 – and learn more about their new race, if they are running for another office!
    • 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 “2022 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.

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