Biography | Sylvia Larsen for NH Senate

About Senator Sylvia B. Larsen

Senator Sylvia B. Larsen is serving her seventh term representing District 15.

Senator Larsen is currently serving as the President of the Senate.

She is a member of the Finance Committee and Joint Fiscal Committee

During her 14 years in the Senate, Larsen has been the prime sponsor of a first-in-the-nation college tuition savings plan, the Unique Plan, a new ethics law for legislators, state departments and employees, a new law regulating sexual harassment in the Statehouse, and an identity-theft fraud law to protect New Hampshire citizens as well as many other initiatives.

Her legislative priorities include funding education, to include kindergarten; promoting job growth; expanding workforce housing; establishing affordable health care; safeguarding our environment; and advancing property-tax relief.

Larsen served as the Senate's representative for 10 years to the New Hampshire Children's Trust Fund and the Healthy Kids Corporation. In addition, she was chairwoman of the New Hampshire College Tuition Savings Plan Commission for many years, a member of the Land and Community Heritage Commission and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium Commission. She continues to serve on the New Hampshire Workforce Opportunity Council, and the New Hampshire Youth Council.

In 2003, Larsen was chosen to receive the Woman of Achievement Award by the Business and Professional Women's Association of Concord, as well as the Dunfey-Kanteres Award for exemplary service to the people of New Hampshire. Other honors include being named a 2003 New Hampshire Athena Award nominee; the 2002 Legislator of the Year by the New Hampshire Grange; a 2002 New Hampshire Leader for the 21st Century by Business NH Magazine and a 2007 Woman of Distinction Award for New Hampshire Remarkable Women.

Larsen served the city of Concord as a councilor-at-large from 1989 to 1998. In that capacity, she was a member of the Economic Development, the Solid Waste and the Fiscal Goals committees, and was chairwoman of the Community Development Advisory Committee, the Merrimack River Study Committee for Scenic and Recreational Designation and the Fourth of July Fireworks Committee.

In addition to her responsibilities in the Senate, Larsen was co-chairwoman of the Capitol Center for the Arts capital campaign drive and the Concord Boys and Girls Club Teen Center drive. She is a member of the board of directors of the Concord Regional Development Corporation, and is an incorporator of the Merrimack County Savings Bank. Larsen is chairwoman of the board of directors of Families in Transition-Concord. Past participation on boards includes service as a trustee of Concord Hospital and as president of Bancroft Products Inc.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Larsen worked for seven years in the Wisconsin state Senate. In New Hampshire, she served as the legislative liaison for Gov. Hugh Gallen. Past professional experience includes positions with the New Hampshire Historical Society, the New Hampshire Disability Council and the New Hampshire Council on World Affairs.