Governor Ayotte: “The State of Our State is Strong”

CONCORD, NH - In her State of the State Address today, Governor Kelly Ayotte highlighted how she has kept her promises to ensure New Hampshire remains safe, prosperous and free and laid out the work still to be done to deliver a brighter future for the Granite State.

"The State of our State is strong, our shared prospects for tomorrow are bright, and our work is making New Hampshire even stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before."
- Gov. Kelly Ayotte

Accomplishments from First Year in Office:

Keeping New Hampshire Safe:

• Fixed the broken bail system to get dangerous criminals off our streets, signed new protections for crime victims, and strengthened coordination across public safety agencies.
• Backed law enforcement by reversing cuts to first responder retirement benefits, fully funding the Northern Border Alliance, and improving coordination between state agencies on public safety.
• Strengthened and expanded efforts to stop deadly drugs from entering our communities, and banned sanctuary cities.
• Reversed cuts to first responder retirement benefits, fully funded the Northern Border Alliance, and delivered statewide active-shooter training to support law enforcement.

Fighting for a More Prosperous Future:

• Supported New Hampshire's best-in-class education system:
  • Bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools
  • Record per-pupil funding
  • Historic investment in special education
  • Support for workforce training
• Most ambitious year for housing legislation in state history:
  • Cut red tape to speed up housing construction
  • Expanded opportunities for building accessory dwelling units
  • Enabled conversion of empty office space into workforce housing to help families stay in New Hampshire
• Protected our most vulnerable citizens by strengthening mental health and developmental disability services, supporting addiction recovery programs, and protecting Medicaid eligibility.
• Fought for a more affordable New Hampshire for families:
  • Expanding childcare scholarships
  • Securing the largest rural health grant award in New England
  • Pushing big utilities to lower electricity bills for Granite Staters

Defending the Freest State in the Nation:

• Passed and signed a responsible, balanced budget with no new taxes.
• Opposed toll hikes and a new sales tax.
• Expanded parents' freedom to choose the best education setting for their child.
• Fought burdensome federal regulations on New Hampshire's historic lobster industry.
• Secured an agreement to protect timber, recreation, and tourism in the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters.
• Banned foreign adversaries from buying land in New Hampshire.

While the Granite State leads the country in so many areas, there is more to be done to deliver for our next generation, protect our most vulnerable citizens, and ensure an even brighter future for all of New Hampshire.

Delivering for Our Next Generation:

• Protect our New Hampshire advantage of no income tax and no sales tax - ever.
• Expand access to affordable, innovative health care in our rural communities and grow our workforce of rural health providers by removing barriers to entry.
• Market New Hampshire as the beacon of economic opportunity in New England.
• Continuing to recruit businesses from Massachusetts, Canada, and beyond.
• Drive economic development by ensuring new housing laws are working as they should, continuing investments in workforce training programs, and expanding access to affordable childcare.
• Keep New Hampshire the safest state in the nation by protecting victims, supporting law enforcement, and improving highway safety standards, including increased penalties for DUI test refusal.
• Defend the natural beauty and character of our state with a moratorium on new landfills and an improved site evaluation process.
• Lower energy costs by replacing the PUC Chairman with a champion for ratepayers.
• Create a pathway to build the next generation of nuclear power in New Hampshire.
• Continue to support our public schools and work to improve fundamental skills in reading and math.