On January 9, 2025, Gov. Kelly Ayotte delivered her inaugural address, outlining her vision for New Hampshire’s future. In a speech that highlighted her commitment to reducing state government, Ayotte introduced the Commission on Government Efficiency COGE, aimed at cutting waste and reducing spending in response to lower revenues.
She emphasized that her approach would prioritize streamlining government functions and preserving programs for vulnerable populations. Ayotte also acknowledged the challenge of expiring federal funding and pledged to balance the state’s budget with a focus on efficiency.
Housing was a central theme of her address. She vowed to work with local governments and developers to speed up housing projects, ensuring that state agency approvals would take no more than 60 days. Addressing the state’s housing crisis was a key part of her campaign, and she reiterated her commitment to tackling this issue.
On the topic of abortion, Ayotte reaffirmed her position, stating that she would veto any attempts to further restrict abortion access beyond the state’s current law. Additionally, she expressed support for banning “sanctuary policies” in New Hampshire, reflecting national political trends, and promised to combat Massachusetts-style policies that she argued had negatively impacted neighboring states’ budgets.
Ayotte also addressed education, advocating for expanded access to education freedom accounts, which allow families to use state funds for private education. She highlighted the importance of public schools but also supported career technical education and proposed a ban on cell phones in public schools.
On criminal justice reform, Ayotte reiterated her opposition to the 2018 bail reform law, calling for its full repeal and criticized recent adjustments to it.
In environmental matters, Ayotte vowed to block a proposed landfill project near Forest Lake, which had raised concerns about its environmental impact. She also committed to enforcing conservation measures for the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Forest, ensuring its preservation for both recreation and sustainable logging.
Finally, Ayotte called for expanded mental health services and greater access to care, stressing the importance of addressing mental health and substance abuse issues through collaboration with educational institutions and increased provider availability.