Check Out AARP NH's 2025 Legislative Agenda & Get Involved!

AARP NH is a strong advocate for Granite Staters 50-plus and their families. We work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support legislation and issues that make our state a great place to live for people of all ages.

Our priorities for the 2025 legislative session include advocating for policies that help prevent fraud, provide support for family caregivers, improve access to affordable housing options, and address the rising costs of prescription drugs.

We’ll be monitoring for any legislation that would reduce access to high-quality, affordable health care, hinder the affordability of prescription drugs, or reduce access to home- and community-based services

AARP NH is committed to safeguarding consumers from the rising threats of fraud, which can have devastating effects on individuals and communities alike. We call on lawmakers to actively track scams and fraud trends while strengthening and implementing preventive measures. We advocates for enhanced protections against fraud and real estate transactions. These initiatives are designed to curb fraud and ensure the safety of consumers, particularly older adults. By tackling these challenges, we strive to foster a safer financial landscape for all.

New Hampshire’s 168,000 unpaid family caregivers provide an estimated 157 million hours of care yearly. They assist their older parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, and other loved ones every day, enabling them to live independently in their homes – where they want to be. We are prioritizing efforts to protect and strengthen the NH Family Caregiver Program and ServiceLink, ensuring that long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs not only protect but also expand services that support and supplement caregiving by relatives, friends, and neighbors, making it more feasible for individuals to receive care at home. These programs provide respite services for family members caring for someone with dementia (NH Family Caregiver Program) and ensure that family caregivers have access to information and resources in the state through a toll-free number (ServiceLink). By securing these vital programs, we can help ensure that caregivers have the resources they need to continue their essential work and that individuals can age with dignity in their own homes.

AARP NH is advocating for legislative action to ensure that prescription drug prices are reasonable, justified, and accessible to all consumers. A key part of this advocacy is supporting New Hampshire’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), which is tasked with ensuring that medications remain affordable for patients, employers, and taxpayers. The PDAB’s role is to recommend strategies that prevent patients from having to choose between affording their medications and meeting other basic needs, such as food or housing. By promoting transparency and accountability, the PDAB aims to address the factors driving high drug costs and reduce the financial burden on consumers. This effort is especially important for the Granite State's aging population, many of whom rely on medications to manage chronic health conditions.

AARP NH is urging lawmakers to focus on housing solutions that enable older adults to live safely and independently within their communities. Expanding affordable housing options, addressing the cost of staying in one's home, and encouraging innovative approaches like accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are critical steps toward ensuring that New Hampshire remains livable for people of all ages. Housing stability is a top priority for older Granite Staters. The vast majority (85%) of adults age 45+ in New Hampshire say it is extremely or very important to stay in their own homes as they age. However, nearly two-thirds express concern about their ability to afford to remain in their homes long-term.

To address these challenges, policies that increase housing affordability and flexibility are essential. One promising solution is to give Granite Staters more flexibility in creating ADUs on their property. These smaller, secondary housing units provide a practical option for older adults to age in place, live near family caregivers, or generate rental income to offset housing costs. By supporting innovative housing policies like ADUs, New Hampshire can help older residents maintain their independence and strengthen communities across the state.

AARP NH advocates on issues such as Social Security, caregiving, financial security, independent living, health care, utilities and internet access, age discrimination, prescription drug prices and more. We can’t do it without people just like you who share an aspiration to make a difference and improve the quality of life for residents of all ages. Join a team where you can make an impact in your community.

Here are two ways to get involved:

• If you are interested in participating in AARP NH’s advocacy work or have any questions, please contact Mike Padmore, AARP NH’s Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach at mpadmore@aarp.org.
• Text JOIN to 22777 to subscribe to recurring text messages from AARP to stay up-to-date with advocacy information and alerts.