Vermont House of Representatives

     Windham 4

        District

   Putney and Dummerston

         

The 2024 legislative session is adjourned! Our work officially began on January 3rd, and we passed significant legislation these past months to benefit Vermonters in all 14 counties. This report provides the highlights of our legislative accomplishments.  We advanced critical policies in the areas of housing, land use modernization, flood recovery and resiliency, education, and climate action.  And we passed a balanced budget that meets the needs of Vermonters in each of our communities. Please reach out with questions and feedback.  I look forward to connecting about our shared goal to create a Vermont that works for all of us.

 

2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

 

The legislature tackled a wide range of concerns facing Vermonters in 2024. While none of these challenges can be solved in a single 18 week session, our priorities included:

 

●      Passing and maintaining a fiscally responsible, balanced state budget that reflects our values and priorities and supports Vermonters in all 14 counties.

●      Tackling the complex and interconnected challenges of housing and workforce development and supports.

●      Enacting forward-looking, inclusive strategies to combat climate change and transition to a sustainable way of life, as we help low and moderate income Vermonters transition away from fossil fuel reliance and implement a state plan to achieve emissions reduction requirements as outlined in the Global Warming Solutions Act.

●      Creating affordable housing stock for Vermont’s working families and combatting homelessness statewide by modernizing support systems and increasing funding for construction.

●      Supporting business stability and growth in all corners of Vermont, and increasing the capacity of our rural communities to access resources and plan for a vibrant future.

This is far from a comprehensive list. With 150 members and 13 standing committees, the House accomplished a lot during our five months in Montpelier. And in all of this work, we look toward the future to enact legislation that protects the most vulnerable, boosts vitality in all 14 counties, and leaves no Vermonter behind.

 

Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry 

 

Protecting Pollinators

 

Neonicotinoids are insecticides introduced in the 1990s that have proven to be extremely harmful to honey bees and other pollinators. The House and Senate passed H.706, which phases out the use of this class of insecticides. Neonicotinoids are primarily used as a coating on corn and soy seeds that grow into food for Vermont’s dairy cows. Farmers pay a premium for coated seeds, but hundreds of studies have shown that treating the seeds with the pesticide has little effect on seedling viability and provides no economic benefit. The bill would ban the use of seeds treated with “neonics” beginning in 2029, the same year that New York State is prohibiting their use.  In the event that a farmer can’t obtain an alternative seed, they will be able to apply for an exemption. In the meantime, spray application of these pesticides on vegetables and ornamental plants would be sharply reduced beginning in 2025. Restricted use will still be permitted after bloom in apple orchards, where no equally effective alternative exists, and on golf courses. The Governor vetoed this bill, and thankfully, both the House and Senate over rode those vetoes to out this law in place.

Bear’s Head Tooth: The New State Mushroom

 

Vermont has a new state symbol: the Bear’s Head Tooth mushroom. 

Bear’s Head Tooth was brought to the attention of the Legislature by elementary school students from Windham County. The students spent months considering candidates for the official fungi before settling on the Bear’s Head Tooth by majority vote. Then they immersed themselves in the legislative process: drafting a bill, visiting Montpelier to testify, and joining the Governor when the bill was signed into law in early May as Act 101. Bear’s Head Tooth is edible (delicious, some say) and has a unique appearance that won’t be mistaken for a poisonous imposter. It is native to Vermont and can be found throughout the state in early autumn, most often found growing from standing or fallen hardwood trees.

 

Reining in Timber Thieves

 

For decades, a persistent group of unscrupulous loggers have targeted unsuspecting landowners and stolen their standing timber. This activity can involve incursion across property lines, but just as often occurs when a home or landowner agrees to allow a limited amount of cutting and then discovers more trees have been removed and their property left in a mess.  The victims of this crime—often senior citizens—have had difficulty collecting payment or restitution, even as the perpetrators avoid any meaningful sanctions.

 

H.614 cracks down on these practices by creating a new crime of land improvement fraud and strengthening enforcement of existing laws on timber theft. Violators would have their names placed on a fraud registry maintained by the Attorney General and would need to post a $250,000 bond to continue operating a logging business. Repeat offenders would face escalating fines and jail time. Landowners can avoid becoming a victim by consulting with the county forester before agreeing to any harvesting of trees. 

Appropriations 

 

A Balanced Budget

 

On May 11 the House and Senate gave final approval to a balanced $8.57 billion budget. Our budget was only 0.46% greater than the Governor’s proposed budget, in part because we invested about $17M in flood and disaster relief for hard hit communities across the state. In H.883, we targeted our available dollars at the priorities we heard about over and over: housing, resilience, health care and public safety. Our goal is to make sure Vermont is a place where everyone can live, take care of themselves, and feel safe.

 

Housing

Housing has been a top priority for Vermonters across the state. Truly affordable housing requires governmental financial investment to reduce the price so that our nurses, mental health workers, teachers, trades people, and other working Vermonters can afford to rent or purchase housing.

 

FY25 housing investments are reflected in two bills: the FY25 Budget (H.883) and H.687. Together, these bills committed:

 

•  $19.2M to develop permanently affordable housing (VHCB)

•  $8M to renovate existing structures to create new rental units (VHIP)

•  $1M to support grants for First Generation Homeowners (VHFA)

•  Almost $4 million in eviction diversion pilots, with the understanding that it is far better and cheaper to enable a family with housing to stay in it

•  $1M to support manufactured housing updates or repairs

•  $3M for recovery housing, transitional housing for refugees, and community stabilization beds

•  $58M to expand and support emergency shelter and services for unhoused Vermonters (plus $30M in contingency funding in the likely event of FY24 surplus revenues)

 

The FY25 budget also appropriates an additional $55M to creating more affordable housing in the event that unobligated ARPA funding can be redirected for those purposes.

Access to Justice

One of the biggest challenges our court system currently faces is a backlog of cases, which predated the COVID pandemic. During the pandemic, fewer cases were filed but those that were filed were not being processed. After the courts fully reopened, a surge in filings left the courts falling further behind. In 2023, the courts experienced a number of judicial vacancies, which have only recently been filled. Working to address this backlog is critical to supporting public safety.

The Judiciary Committee and the Appropriations Committee worked to ensure that the budget included the resources necessary to enable cases to be heard in a timely fashion. An additional $8M is appropriated in the FY25 budget for the needed positions and required work. The Judiciary, State Attorneys, Defender General, Attorney General (Court Diversion), DOC (Community Justice Centers), and the Center for Crime Victims Services are receiving additional resources. These investments will help ensure individuals can be held accountable for their actions as soon as possible after offending – a key to ensuring public safety.

Public Health and Health Care

 

With double-digit increases in health care rates every year, high health care costs are squeezing every budget– from your family budget to school budgets and our state budget. To make Vermont affordable, the legislature is working to address health care costs.

 

Across Vermont, mental health needs have increased in recent years and it is crucial that we continue to invest and support access to mental health care. In response, the Legislature’s budget provides a 3% increase in rates to the State’s designated mental health agencies. We also gave the Green Mountain Care Board resources to tackle and regulate prescription drug prices (S.98) and we strengthened oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (H.233). We provided critical resources to local Emergency Medical Service providers (H.622), and we ensured reimbursement parity to telemedicine, which should help seniors check in without needing to drive (H.861). Additionally, we expanded eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs and invested in addressing our opiate epidemic.

 

Other significant appropriations include $4.1M from the Opioid Abatement Fund for substance use prevention and treatment. The FY25 budget also directs $1.2M from that fund to support recovery residences. We will continue to support health care affordability in the next biennium, so that Vermont is a place all people can live safely and take care of themselves.

 

By investing in Vermont and Vermonters, we support our economy, our communities, and our families. We build the budget in a way that steps up to solve problems, rather than kicking the can down the road. This is a responsible approach to good governance — one that carefully weighs costs and benefits, makes tough choices, and then delivers sufficient dollars to meet the needs of today while moving us toward a stronger future.

 

Commerce & Economic Development 

Protecting Your Data: States Take the Lead 

 

Every day we unknowingly share vast amounts of personal information. Beyond social media, data brokers, search engines, health trackers, and stores collect our names, addresses, Social Security numbers, shopping habits, health data, travel routes, and much more. This personal and biometric data belongs to us, yet it is harvested, packaged and sold by—and sometimes stolen from—these data brokers without our knowledge or permission.

 

With federal inaction on this issue, 17 states have enacted consumer privacy legislation to protect our personal identification and our children’s data. Building on the work done in other states, like Connecticut and California, the legislature passed H.121—a data privacy bill that works for Vermonters, is right-sized for Vermont businesses, and aligns with regional standards. This bill not only ensures comprehensive data privacy but also establishes a framework for ‘safety by design’ and ‘privacy by default’ for digital products and services used by children. It sets strict guidelines to prevent physical, financial, or emotional harm to young users and bans manipulative design practices like infinite scrolls and misleading notifications that promote addictive behaviors.

Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed this bill siding with the Big tech companies over protecting Vermonters. More unfortunate is that while the House did over ride the veto, the Senate did not. This will be a top priority as we generate our work list for next session.

 

Boosting Vermont’s Skilled Workforce

Vermont continues to experience a significant workforce shortage, especially when it comes to skilled workers. In recent years, the legislature has taken steps to upskill our current workforce and encourage skilled workers from other states to work and live in Vermont. We have significant ongoing needs in the areas of healthcare, construction and education. In response, the legislature recently created and funded a nurse preceptor grant program and several initiatives aimed at our teacher workforce. 

 

Workforce development remains a priority, and this year House Commerce & Economic Development crafted its latest workforce development bill, H.707. In order to better serve Vermonters, this bill creates a new system to improve statewide workforce training. The newly established Office of Workforce Strategy and Development will be led by an executive director who serves on the Governor’s cabinet. This office will provide central oversight to all the workforce programs across state government and will take a comprehensive look at the workforce training system. H.707 also extends the work of the Special Oversight Committee on Workforce Expansion and Development created last year.

 

In addition, the FY25 state budget invests in a number of key workforce development programs:

 

●      Provides funding for the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) 802 Opportunity program that provides free tuition to qualifying Vermonters at the Community College of Vermont (CCV)

●      Provides $1.3M to VSAC for the National Guard Tuition Benefit Program

●      Provides up to $1M to continue the Vermont Trades Scholarship Program

●      Authorizes the continuation of education loan repayment programs for health care professionals

 

Enhancing Financial Flexibility in Residential Developments

 

H.666 creates more flexibility in residential building project financing through changes to how escrow deposits can be used for those projects. This bill makes it possible for a developer to use deposits put on a residential unit by the future owner in the actual building projects, instead of staying in an individual escrow account. This change allows construction firms to use deposits for building projects as long as they are backed 100% by surety bonds. For example, if a developer wants to withdraw $50K in deposits for construction costs, the developer would be required to get a $50K surety bond. The goal is to maintain protections for the future residents while granting developers increased financial flexibility. This will most likely benefit large residential construction projects. It provides another method of financing for residential building projects and more flexibility in our much needed housing sector. The Governor signed this bill on April 29 and it is effective upon passage.

 

Corrections & Institutions 

 

Increasing Pre-Trial Supervision of Criminal Defendants

 

Vermont’s criminal justice system only allows individuals to be held without bail, or held with bail, in connection with certain violent crimes or if there is a high risk of flight. Most individuals are released pending trial, and Vermont rightly has a high bar for incarcerating defendants. Holding these defendants in prison is costly to taxpayers and it's often counterproductive. Pre-trial detention disrupts the lives of individuals, impacts employment, and can result in loss of income.

 

When a defendant is released awaiting trial, a judge often imposes conditions of release to mitigate a risk of flight or to protect the public. For example, a retail theft defendant would likely be barred from entering that store as a condition of release. Despite these conditions, retailers are reporting that the same individuals are returning to steal merchandise, only to be released on the same conditions, and returning again.

 

S.195 seeks to address the situation where defendants are violating their conditions of release. It expands the use of the state’s existing Home Detention program to include defendants who have allegedly violated conditions of release. It also creates a new pretrial supervision program for defendants who have five or more pending criminal dockets or have violated conditions.

 

The new pretrial supervision program employs Department of Corrections supervision officers to check in regularly with defendants on the phone or in person and to use ankle bracelets to monitor compliance with conditions. These officers provide both accountability to defendants in the community in ensuring their appearance in court and decrease the potential to re-offend while awaiting trial.

 

Enhancing Community Supports for Incarcerated Individuals

 

H.876, the Corrections Omnibus bill, addresses various aspects of our corrections system and reflects our commitment to compassion, rehabilitation, and community support. The bill ensures continuity of healthcare for formerly incarcerated individuals, providing them with necessary medication upon release until they can secure a new prescription. For those struggling with opioid use disorder, hands-on assistance will be offered to schedule appointments for specialized treatment, emphasizing our commitment to tackling the opioid crisis. We're also facilitating access to services post-release by offering state-issued ID cards to those exiting corrections, ensuring they can smoothly reintegrate into society.

 

Additionally, the bill sets in motion a study to explore extending earned-time benefits to parolees and inmates engaged in educational opportunities, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. Recognizing the importance of maintaining family connections during incarceration, we're evaluating ways to create a more welcoming environment for children visiting correctional facilities. Lastly, we're mapping out a plan to end contracts with private, for-profit out-of-state corporations by 2034, aligning with our values and ending a decades-old practice. Together, these measures represent significant steps towards a more humane, effective, and community-oriented corrections system in Vermont.

 

Education 

 

 The House Education Committee saw several bills clear the Legislature that will help address the cost of education in Vermont.

School Construction Aid: Taking the Next Steps

Vermont’s school buildings need more than $6 billion in investments statewide to bring them up to date, replace worn-out systems, achieve code compliance, and replace buildings that would be cheaper to rebuild than repair. Unfortunately, the state has not managed a program to assist school districts in paying for major capital projects since 2007, and some districts have struggled to pass bonds. A new school construction aid program will offer vital support to districts seeking to improve and modernize their facilities.

 

The legislature passed H.871 as a next step towards restarting Vermont’s state-level school construction program. This bill creates a legislative working group to prepare draft legislation for January 2025 that designs a new state construction aid program. This task force will build a program that incentivizes projects that address cost drivers in education such as number of schools, energy/heating costs, and replacing school buildings at the end of their lifespan. H.871 also creates a facilities master plan grant program which will help school districts assess their current needs and plan for future projects.

Cost-Sharing for Education Services

 

Act 46 of 2016 at first encouraged, and then required, school districts to unify as a way to better serve students and manage costs. Building on this progress, the legislature passed H.630 which allows school districts to establish Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) to collaborate on common needs such as specialized student services, joint supply procurement, professional development, or regional busing contracts. BOCES are common in other states, and are expected to be popular and useful here in Vermont. These entities could conceivably provide highly specialized services that some students must now access in other states. BOCES could also help school districts draw down more federal dollars by jointly hiring the skilled grant writers needed to navigate the federal grant process. The basic concept underlying this bill is strength and economy in numbers.

The Future of Public Education

This year school districts across the state saw unprecedented increases in education costs in their FY25 budgets, and this challenging year created urgency around establishing a modern vision for public education in Vermont. As a result, the House Education committee designed the Commission on the Future of Public Education, a significant part of the legislature’s work on this year’s Yield Bill. This Commission is charged with examining Vermont’s public school system: the structure, cost drivers, the size of the system, and the services provided in schools. After robust engagement with the education field as well as the public, the Commission will make recommendations about how Vermont can create a world class education system at a cost our communities can afford.

Environment & Energy 

 

Balancing Development and Conservation

 

Since 1970, our statewide land use law,  Act 250, has preserved Vermont's rural character, supporting compact development in downtowns and village centers while protecting forests and open lands. With limited housing supply and increasing threats from climate change, H.687 sets out strategies to make it easier to build in the right places and better protect natural resources.

The bill incorporates broad areas of agreement between environmentalists, developers, regional planners, and others on changes to Act 250, including a switch to a new location-based permitting process and improved board governance. It proposes three "tiers" covering downtowns and village centers (tiers 1a and 1b), rural areas (tier 2), and critical natural resource areas (tier 3). Projects in tier 1 that meet certain criteria would be exempt from Act 250 review. Towns will work with their regional planning commissions on a future land use map to identify areas for growth and conservation. The bill also simplifies the process for designating town and village centers through the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development and makes it easier for rural areas to access benefits like tax credits and support. In the Senate, many housing provisions were added to the bill (described elsewhere in this report) including several temporary housing exemptions to enable denser housing in the near term. 

 

Investing in Flood Safety

 

As Vermonters face increased flooding due to climate change, investing in prevention, planning, and infrastructure is more important than ever. Since rivers meander and don't respect town borders, reducing costly flood damage around the state calls for holistic statewide regulations to guide safer development.

 

The Flood Safety Act (S.213) builds on existing programs to bring more state resources to towns for managing development in river corridors and floodplains. Since naturally spongy areas (wetlands) provide effective, low-cost flood prevention, the Act also expands wetlands protections in the state.

 

Vermont has over a thousand dams with only a few built to control flooding. If dams are not well-maintained, they can create dangerous conditions downstream. To improve safety, the Flood Safety Act funds more state engineering staff to inspect dams, updates the Unsafe Dam Revolving Loan Fund to finance more dam removal and repair, and brings dam oversight under one agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation. The act also bans a type of foam (unencapsulated expanded polystyrene foam) used in floating products like buoys and docks because it breaks down into small beads that pollute shorelands and wetlands.

 

Renewable Energy Standard

 

Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard, an energy policy passed in 2015, put Vermont’s electric utilities on the path to cleaner electricity from renewable sources like hydro, solar, and wind. Since then, the state has committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels, joining the global call to action to reduce carbon emissions and protect our future. Now, with historic funding available for clean energy, Vermont is set to make major progress over the next decade. H.289 reflects a remarkable collaboration among electric utilities, environmental groups and legislators to bring more renewable energy into our grid faster. The updated Renewable Energy Standard raises electric utility requirements for renewable energy to 100% by 2030 for most utilities with a longer timeframe (2035) for smaller utilities. The bill doubles the amount of new renewable energy built in the state, creating good-paying clean energy jobs and better protection from rising fossil energy prices. To make sure all Vermonters have access to the benefits of renewable energy, the bill also includes a study on current and needed programs for affordable housing developments and customers with lower incomes. 

This is another bill vetoed by the Governor and we were able (both House and Senate to over ride the veto.

 

General & Housing Committee

 

Housing: Our Approach

 

The housing crisis is a complex and multi-faceted problem requiring multiple approaches, all at the same time. The work we accomplished this year to revise Act 250 — to allow more and faster homebuilding in specific areas — is critical, but not enough by itself. With high costs of labor and materials and a shrinking workforce, the cost of building has increased dramatically, to the point where a builder literally can’t build an affordable $300,000 house. This is where government subsidies, public money, and tax credits become critical. Responsible stewardship of scarce public dollars typically requires that the housing remain affordable in perpetuity, but that is being replaced with five- and 10-year agreements simply to create more units more quickly.

 

Add the need of specific groups for housing — including Vermonters with disabilities, seasonal farm workers, and people fleeing domestic violence, or recovering from substance use disorder — and the challenges continue to grow. On top of that, the General Assistance emergency housing benefit (the so-called “motel voucher program”) remains expensive despite new price caps, new limits on eligibility and duration of stay. And Vermonters are already struggling to get by. All of these and more factor into legislative deliberations; we strive to do the most good with limited options.

 

Housing: Our Investments

 

Vermont’s housing crisis is mirrored across the country, as states from California to Maine struggle with a wide swath of housing-related challenges. From March 2020 through June 2023, Vermont has invested over $1 billion — mostly federal stimulus funding — into expanding our affordable housing supply and providing emergency housing assistance and support. We’re making progress, but the work is challenging and costly.

 

Because Vermont can no longer count on generous federal funding, we dug deep this year to provide help to communities still reeling from the 2023 floods and continue our commitment to increasing Vermont’s affordable housing stock. FY25 housing investments are reflected in two bills: the FY25 Budget (H.883) and H.687. Together, these bills committed:

 

•  $58M to expand and support emergency shelter and services for unhoused Vermonters (plus $30M in contingency funding in the likely event of FY24 surplus revenues)

•  $19.2M to develop permanently affordable housing (VHCB)

•  $8M to renovate existing structures to create new rental units (VHIP)

•  $1M to support grants for First Generation Homeowners (VHFA)

•  Almost $4 million in eviction diversion pilots, with the understanding that it is far better and cheaper to enable a family with housing to stay in it

•  $1M to support manufactured housing updates or repairs

•  $3M for recovery housing, transitional housing for refugees, and community stabilization beds

 

The FY25 budget also appropriates an additional $55M to creating more affordable housing in the event that unobligated ARPA funding can be redirected for those purposes.

 

Housing for the Most Vulnerable

 

Though estimates differ, over ten years we need to build 7,500 homes and apartments of various types for our lowest-income and most vulnerable Vermonters, plus 300 shelter or other beds for people who are unhoused or at risk of becoming homeless. This year, the House passed a bill (H.829) to accomplish this goal.

 

H.829 included a policy plan and revenue to pay for it, primarily by creating a new tax bracket for Vermont’s wealthiest residents, those earning $500,000 a year or more. This proposal did not advance in the Senate and will not become law. But if we want to turn the corner on homelessness in Vermont, we must be willing to invest.

 

Improving Equity in the Workplace

 

In this session the legislature passed several bills to improve both equity and conditions for Vermont workers.

•   Proposal 3, an amendment to the Vermont Constitution, took the first steps of a five-year journey toward enactment when both the House and Senate approved it. The measure essentially guarantees the right of Vermonters to organize or form a union for collective bargaining purposes. Prop 3 must be approved again by both chambers in the next biennium and then go before the voters in November 2026 for statewide approval.

•   S.102 gives workers who have the right to organize a streamlined process called card check. The same law prohibits employers from requiring attendance at political or religious meetings, unless the business has a political or religious function, and creates a task force to investigate employment and organizing rights for agricultural workers.

•   We also broadened eligibility for PTSD treatment, required wage range disclosure in job advertisements, and expanded eligibility for survivor benefits for families of certain state workers, and updated how the Vermont Basic Needs budget is calculated.

 

Government Operations & Military Affairs 

 

Library Collection, Retention, and Privacy

 

A library isn’t just a place to find a good book — it’s a place to do research, learn how to crochet, find a good movie, connect with neighbors who share a common interest, or take your kids for story time and playgroups. It’s a community hub. S.220 helps to maintain the integrity of these important spaces and provide support to librarians, who do the work every day to support our communities.

 

First, the bill ensures that public libraries and school libraries in Vermont develop collection and retention policies that “reflect Vermont’s diverse people and history, including diversity of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, and political beliefs.” Book banning hasn’t been an issue in Vermont, but this will make sure it’s not.

 

The bill also provides confidentiality for young patrons, 12 years of age and older, regarding their book selection history. Most states don’t define an age for this privacy, but Vermont allows parents and guardians of teens ages 16 and under to access their child’s library records. Bringing the age down to 12 aligns libraries with other Vermont laws regarding vaccines and doctor appointments that give children privacy from age 12 and up.

 

Open Meeting Law Modernization

 

Open meeting laws are a critical function of our democracy — access to and freedom to participate in public meetings allow Vermonters and the press to freely observe the decision-making process of their local and state government, and give legislative bodies the protection to make decisions openly and in public. S.55 is an update to open meeting law that reflects changes that came about suddenly during the pandemic. With widespread availability to hold meetings remotely, but acknowledging the challenges with broadband, staff, and equipment that smaller towns face, the bill reaches a compromise to allow the most access possible without burdening smaller legislative bodies with impossible tasks.

 

The bill requires state-level bodies to hold their meetings in a hybrid fashion as well as provide a physical location for meetings. Local bodies with non-decision-making abilities (like a Conservation Commission or Cemetery Board) can meet fully remotely, but decision-making and quasi-judicial local bodies (City Council, Selectboard, Development Review Board, for example) are required to hold meetings with a physical location but provide some form of access, even if by landline, for those who give notice and can’t attend a physical meeting.

 

Flooding Assistance and Resilience

 

After last year’s flooding, some issues rose to the surface regarding Vermont’s emergency management planning and response. With the unfortunate realization in front of us that there’s a likelihood of future flooding or other disaster, the bill takes steps to make sure the state is responding the best way it can for Vermonters.

 

S.310 is a big bill with a lot of components; here are some of the highlights. First, it establishes the Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Fund. It allows the state to better organize the current grant-awarding system, requires a report back to the legislature to make sure things are going as planned, and allows the state treasurer’s office to increase the state’s credit facility up to 2.5%, with that money available to finance climate infrastructure and resilience projects.

 

The bill also puts into statute the Urban Search and Rescue team, which already exists but now has official support. It makes sure that language assistance services are being provided to individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind and to individuals with limited English proficiency for all emergency communications. It also removes language in the Governor’s emergency powers so that those powers are limited to what’s relevant in each statutory section–for instance, the Governor has to follow regular gift, grant, and loan acceptance procedures but it also allows the Governor to accept gifts, grants, and loans unilaterally if not accepting them during an all-hazards event would imminently cause bodily harm, loss of life, or significant property damage within the state.

 

Emergency Medical Services System Streamline and Update

 

H.622 is a response to challenges in the Emergency Medical Services system. EMS services are essential, and the financial, workforce, and governance challenges as it is a patchwork of providers with varying levels of professionalism, organization, and financial resources across Vermont. As a small step toward improving the financial situation for EMS, the bill requires the Agency of Human Services to reimburse EMS providers who cared for a Medicaid beneficiary who was not transported to a different location during the period of the emergency. The reimbursement shall be in an amount equal to the Medicare basic life support rate.

 

It also updates funding to the Emergency Services Special Fund, which was last changed in 2016, to provide an additional $300k annually in support of EMS training through an inflationary increase in an existing proportional assessment on insurance companies.

 

The bill also charges the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee to advise the Department of Health on a five-year plan for coordinating delivery of EMS to the state. The EMSAC is authorized to hire a project manager to assist with their work with support from AHS. This will report annually on their progress toward creating a statewide EMS program and all that entails–from provider training logistics to paying for services to coordination amongst a variety of systems that are already in existence.

 

Establishing a Division of Animal Welfare

 

Animals are a part of most Vermonters’ lives, from the family guinea pig to a large dairy farm. Unfortunately, situations arise where animals aren’t being treated properly, and though there are animal cruelty laws, they are sporadically enforced and the current system doesn’t give clear guidance as to who’s supposed to respond and how.

 

H.626 creates a Division of Animal Welfare within the Department of Public Safety. It requires that DPS hires a Director of Animal Welfare, and then that person needs to get to work. The bill charges that person with creating a report, within the first eight months of their tenure, to figure out which roles various people are filling regarding animal welfare–including animal control officers, the State Police, the sheriffs, local police, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Agency of Agriculture, and all the other people who respond to these calls. The director will figure out how much time, money, and effort is being spent on animal welfare response and will develop a state-wide plan to streamline the system, with the long-term goal of maximizing efficiency, developing stronger public safety and public health measures, and preventing animals from suffering.

 

Health Care 

 

H.766 - Reducing the Burden On Primary Care Providers

 

Vermont is experiencing a severe shortage of healthcare providers, and those dedicated professionals spend around 25% of their working time dealing with insurance companies that too often second-guess their medical expertise. H.766 will greatly relieve the red-tape burden on our providers, allowing them to spend more time treating patients. That translates to shorter wait times and better health outcomes for Vermonters.           

 

H.766 will eliminate the time-consuming practice known as “prior authorization” for all of our primary care providers: these are the physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners that we meet at local offices, clinics, and community health centers. Primary care provides the most preventative and least costly form of care in our healthcare system.

 

When your primary care provider decides that you need a test or referral, you’ll no longer need to wait for your health insurer to take a second look at their decisions. Not only will you get the treatment that you need more quickly, H.766 will allow your clinician to spend more time with patients, and less time on the phone with insurers or filling out paperwork.

 

While Blue Cross Blue Shield estimates H.766 would increase individual premium rates in 2025 by 1.8% and 1.9% for small group plans, these estimates do not include the significant cost savings to Vermont’s entire healthcare system. H.766 will reduce costly delayed care that often accompanies a denied prior authorization, will reduce the need for imaging to be done at the more expensive hospital setting and will allow providers to redirect their staff to more patient-focused care, leading to more access and better healthcare for Vermonters.

 

Medicare Savings Program: Keeping More Money In the Pockets of Older Vermonters

 

Too many low-income aging Vermonters face a benefits cliff when they reach the age of 65. In transitioning from Medicaid to Medicare, these folks see a sudden jump in costs due to premiums and copays for services and prescription drugs. When our state budget becomes law, nearly 10,000 eligible Vermonters can expect to keep $2,096 in their pockets per person, or $4,192 for married couples, per year, beginning on January 1, 2026. This means that these Vermonters will see an increase in their Social Security checks of almost $175 per month.

 

Increasing eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) allows this benefit to reach older Vermonters with incomes up to $29,367 or $39,858 for married couples. With an investment of $4.7 million state dollars, this proposal will also draw down significant federal support, resulting in nearly $50 million of benefits for Vermonters and the providers who care for them.

 

This will spare some of our most vulnerable neighbors the great economic hardships that often accompany aging and retirement, while providing our hospitals and providers with patients that can now afford to seek treatment. This bill will result in allowing close to 10,000 low-income Vermonters to focus on the care they need when they are sick, rather than on the financial stress of out-of-pocket costs. It will also allow an estimated 3,800 Vermonters access to a valuable prescription drug benefit for the first time at no cost to the state.

 

Strengthening Peer Support Programs

 

One of the House Democratic Policy Priorities this biennium was to increase access to health care, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment services and make them more affordable with a focus on prevention. H.847 was a key bill to advance this priority. It creates a pathway for certification for peer support providers and peer recovery support specialists working in mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.

 

The goal of peer support programs is to help people experiencing a mental health crisis or those who are navigating recovery to connect with peers who have lived experience of trauma, mental health, or substance use challenges. This type of peer support emphasizes a nonjudgmental approach to care that promotes multiple perspectives, helps people access community-based resources, proves employment supports, and workforce transitions.

 

Peer support programs are an integral part of our healthcare system. With the certification pathway found in this bill, the role of peer support providers and peer recovery support specialists is strengthened and will help them be more available to Vermonters.

 

 

 

Human Services 

 

Reducing Overdoses – H.72

 

H.72 focuses on establishing an overdose prevention center (OPC) in Vermont to address the growing opioid crisis. As opioid-related fatalities continue to rise alarmingly, the creation of these centers becomes imperative. Modeled after successful initiatives elsewhere and funded with the Opioid Abatement Settlement Fund, the OPC adopts a harm-reduction approach, aiming to prevent overdose deaths and mitigate public drug-related risks.

The primary functions of the OPC pilot include the provision of harm reduction supplies, emergency medical care, facilitation of access to addiction treatment and vital services, and dissemination of overdose prevention education. Individuals utilizing these services, staff members, and property owners associated with the center are granted immunity from legal liability. The Department of Health is directed to develop operational guidelines and approve an entity to manage the center, ensuring adherence to regulations and regular reporting on center activities. Furthermore, the legislation earmarks funding for a comprehensive study to assess the impact on overdose rates, community safety, and public health.

 

Supporting Recovery Residences – S.186

 

S.186 addresses the certification of recovery residences. Recovery residences are an essential tool for those with substance use disorder. Having a safe place to live, free from drugs and alcohol, is a critical part of recovery from substance use disorder. These homes are typically rental properties where a group in early recovery agrees to live in a setting emphasizing structure, accountability, employment, and community service. They are not treatment centers or medical facilities, and often partner with recovery centers that provide additional recovery coaching, group meetings, and peer support for individuals in recovery. 

Recovery residences offer the essential elements necessary for individuals to achieve sustained, long-term recovery.  Currently, 13 privately certified recovery residences operate in Vermont. The Department of Health is directed to work with community partners to develop the rules and regulations for a certification process for recovery housing in Vermont, aiming to increase the number of recovery residences. Housing is essential for successful recovery, and this bill seeks consistency and best practices to protect individuals and have the best chance of success.

 

Regulating forever chemicals (PFAS) – S.25

 

In 2021, the Vermont legislature passed Act 36, a step in restricting perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other chemicals of concern in consumer products. These substances, commonly known as PFAS, are used for waterproofing and in manufacturing consumer products, and their resistance to breakdown makes them forever chemicals. Studies have linked PFAS to adverse health effects on the liver, endocrine system, and immune system. They also pose risks to developing embryos or fetuses and increase the likelihood of cancer, underscoring the urgent need for action.

S.25 addresses some of the gaps in protecting Vermonters from harmful chemicals. It focuses on products we encounter almost daily, and by targeting cosmetics, personal care products, menstrual products, textiles, clothing, apparel, artificial turf, cookware, and products marketed to kids, we are prioritizing the health and safety of Vermonters.

This bill takes a measured approach, addressing a limited number of products, many of which were in line with the industry. It aligns with other states to assist the industry in not facing confusing, conflicting regulations in multiple states.

 

Judiciary 

 

Tackling Domestic and Sexual Violence

 

House Judiciary continued our work to implement laws that help victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We started with H.27, which adds “coercive controlling behavior” to the definition of abuse in the civil statute, making it something for which survivors may request a relief from abuse order. Current law requires seekers of relief from abuse orders to be physically harmed or in fear of imminent physical harm. The aim of this bill is to provide a pathway out of an abusive situation before physical violence occurs, and to simply recognize that abuse comes in many forms.

 

We also passed H.173, which is an act relating to prohibiting manipulating a child for the purpose of sexual contact. The House Judiciary Committee learned that a few changes to existing laws could strengthen the prosecution’s case when dealing with instances of what some call “grooming.” Awareness of the need for these changes arose from the diligent work of the Committee for Protecting Students from Sexual Exploitation. H.173 provides a useful tool for law enforcement and prosecutors to investigate and stop these abusive behaviors towards children.

 

Another bill we passed related to sexual violence was S.278, which eliminates the comparative negligence defense in civil negligence cases involving sexual assault. In Vermont, defendants in civil negligence cases can assert that, if they were negligent, they were only partly negligent and that the plaintiff was the other negligent party. In cases involving sexual assault, this amounts to saying that the victim is at least partially to blame for their assault, which is a hurtful and damaging claim that only serves to further cement rape culture and increase trauma for victims of sexual assault. We have to do everything possible legislatively to help dismantle the long-held and wrong-headed assumptions about rape and sexual assault.

 

Regulating Ghost Guns

 

At the intersection of drug laws and public safety, you will often find guns. House Judiciary worked at that intersection as we helped refine S.209, the Vermont Ghost Gun Act.

 

Vermont law enforcement officers have noted an increase in untraceable firearms – ghost guns – being used in the commission of various crimes, but mainly related to the drug trade. S.209 prohibits possession, sale, or transfer of firearms without a serial number. These guns can be assembled from parts (often sold in a kit) or printed using a 3D printer. Additionally troubling is the fact that folks can possess such a gun without undergoing a background check. Under S.209, a person can still make a firearm on their own, but must bring it to a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) to be serialized. They would also undergo a background check before the gun is returned to them. 

 

Our committee added a provision to this bill that bans firearms at polling places during elections and early voting. The Constitutionality of this law is well-established and the current political climate warrants increased protections of poll workers, candidates, and voters to ensure free and fair elections.

 

Proposition 4: Adding an Equal Rights Amendment

 

Proposition 4 is a Constitutional amendment that would allow Vermont to join with 22 other states that currently have equal rights clauses in their state constitution. Three others (in addition to Vermont) are actively pursuing the ratification of equal rights amendments.

 

The full text of the amendment is brief and speaks for itself:

 

That the people are guaranteed equal protection under the law. The State shall not deny equal treatment under the law on account of a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin. Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted or applied to prevent the adoption or implementation of measures intended to provide equality of treatment and opportunity for members of groups that have historically been subject to discrimination.

 

This amendment makes clear that all Vermonters shall be treated equally and that discrimination based on traits including race, sex, gender identity, and ethnicity is prohibited. If the proposed amendment passes both the House and Senate again next year, it will reach Vermont voters in November 2026. This is an important (and overdue) step in the direction of true equality.  

 

Supporting Public Safety

 

House Judiciary worked on a number of public safety-related bills this session. The legislature approved H.563, which is a bill designed to close gaps in existing statute, including that current law does not prohibit a person from entering another person’s car without consent. This bill is designed to encompass incidences of rummaging through someone’s car. However, accidental entry will not be criminalized.

 

H.563 also creates a criminal violation for driving someone else’s car when you “should have known” that you did not have permission to do so. Current law only covers those cases where a defendant knows they did not have consent of the owner (what we typically think of as auto theft), but there are instances when the person should have known that they didn’t have consent. These changes will create an easier standard for prosecutors to meet in court.

 

Our retail theft bill, H.534, as passed by the House and Senate establishes increasingly severe penalties for repeat offenses of retail theft. We heard from numerous retail shop owners and employees that the brazenness with which a small group of offenders repeatedly steal items from their stores was possibly due to the fact that there is little to no accountability for these thefts. This bill addresses that concern, but we know that the larger issue is the current court backlog.

 

A number of  vital entities contribute to the criminal justice process and must be fully-funded in order to reduce the court backlog. House Judiciary strongly advocated for proper funding of the Vermont Judiciary, the Office of the Defender General, the Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs, as well as the Center for Crime Victim Services.

 

To that end, House Judiciary also worked diligently with the above-named partners to craft a thoughtful new approach to restorative justice. H.645 creates a path – overseen by the Attorney General’s Office – to accountability before alleged offenders enter the criminal justice system. Called “pre-charge diversion,” this approach could lead to a reduction in the court backlog and, importantly, a higher sense of justice or closure for victims of crimes. Restorative justice centers victims' needs, standing in stark contrast to the traditional criminal justice system, which focuses more on the offender. The bill also sets up improved data collection and takes baby steps toward improved geographic justice.

 

Two additional public safety bills came over to us from the Senate. S.195 addresses conditions of release and establishes a pre-trial supervision program aimed at helping defendants who have violated conditions of release or have not fewer than five pending cases against them. This would be a new step in Vermont, but several other states currently operate a pre-trial supervision program.

 

The main purpose of imposing bail is to encourage folks to engage with the court process, thereby reducing the likelihood that the defendant would fail to appear. But bail can only be utilized under certain circumstances and presents obvious equity issues, as a person will remain in prison if they are unable to pay their bail. The pre-trial supervision program would offer various methods of monitoring (ranging from phone check-ins to electronic monitoring), as well as connection with pre-trial services, in an attempt to produce the same intended outcome as the imposition of bail without the financial incentive.

 

S.58 reads a lot like a miscellaneous bill, but its primary objective is to delay the implementation of Vermont‘s Raise the Age initiative. The Department for Children and Families (DCF) testified that they lack the workforce, IT infrastructure, and physical infrastructure (a secure juvenile facility) to properly implement the next phase of Raise the Age. The bill delays by one year raising the juvenile offender age limit to 19 years old.

 

There is still a strong desire and commitment at DCF to implement this change, but they want to be sure they can do so responsibly, in a way that best serves the children in their care, as well as DCF employees.

 

This bill also adds three offenses to the list of crimes for which charges against juveniles between the ages of 16 and 18 can start in criminal court (this list is called “the Big 12”), rather than family court. Other provisions in the bill include the addition of xylazine to the list of regulated drugs and the creation of a felony charge for selling xylazine. In addition, the bill eliminates the so-called ostrich defense (or willful blindness), which has allowed drug dealers to escape accountability by arguing that they did not know that the drugs they were selling contained fentanyl.

 

Transportation

 

Focusing on Transportation to Address Climate Change and Resiliency

 

Vermont’s July 2023 flooding reminds us that climate change is not a future problem but is affecting us today. We now face the dual challenge of reducing emissions while building community resilience. In Vermont, our transportation sector contributes nearly 40% of the state’s carbon emissions. House Democrats made both climate resiliency and carbon reductions the major focus in this year’s transportation bill (H.868).

 

Electrification of our transportation systems is a key strategy to reduce transportation’s contribution to climate change. We have continued the successful incentives programs that help income qualified Vermonter’s transition away from high-cost gasoline-powered vehicles. Additionally, with $21 million in federal funds, the state is building out a state-wide fast-charging infrastructure network for electric vehicles (EVs). House Democrats redirected state funding to invest in level 2 charging at multi-unit dwellings and workplaces. This will help Vermonters who live in apartments or condominiums transition into an EV.

 

The legislature continues to make critical investments to innovate public transportation and bike-ped infrastructure. This year’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Program will provide an additional $4 million funding to allow communities to plan, design, and construct infrastructure to improve safe roadway access for bicyclists and/or pedestrians. We also directed $3 million of federal carbon reduction funds for the Mobility and Transportation Innovations (MTI) grant program, a program that supports community innovative transportation strategies and projects. These grants help reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles and greenhouse gas emissions while increasing mobility for transit-dependent Vermonters.

 

Building more resilient transportation infrastructure enables all Vermonters to access jobs, walk safely to our schools, and age successfully in our communities, all while improving our health and reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Transportation Investments for Community Infrastructure and Connections

 

The transportation budget goes way beyond just funding the filling of potholes and plowing our highways. It helps reduce our carbon emissions, build resiliency into our infrastructure, and provides essential lower-cost transportation options to our most vulnerable community members. This year’s transportation bill also includes policies that increase local road funding, expand public transportation options, support carbon reduction programs,  and continue investment in Amtrak and rail while planning for future multi-modal transportation strategies.

This year’s Transportation Bill (H.868) invests close to $879M in projects and programs that reach communities in all corners of our state. Highlights include:

 

·      Increased town highway-aid funding and changes to the funding formula to keep up with inflation.

·      Increased town-structure funding so local towns can increase resiliency of bridges and stormwater systems.

·      Requirements for greater community engagement as the Agency of Transportation updates state road standards with an emphasis on Complete Streets principals.

·      Funding to support local town governments, non-profits, and businesses to electrify their transportation fleets.

·      Increased funding for public transportation for both fixed-route bussing and critical rural Medicaid and disability transportation support.

·      Funds MTI Grants which provide nonprofit mobility services scaled for Vermont communities.

·      Funds the Downtown Transportation Fund and the Better Connections Program. These programs help communities plan and develop infrastructure to align transportation with today’s smart growth policies.

 

Electric Vehicle Incentives in Vermont

 

Did you know that driving an electric vehicle (EV)is like paying $1.50 per gallon for gas at the pump? There are many reasons to drive an EV:

 

·      EVs save, on average, over $600 per year for fuel and maintenance costs.

·      You get increased convenience and efficiency by charging overnight at home.

·      EVs increase our energy independence and utilize Vermont’s existing renewable electricity.

·      EVs reduce noise pollution because they're incredibly quiet.

 

Several incentives are available to help Vermonters drive electric, including a federal tax credit, local electric utility rebates and Vermont’s state incentives. These can be combined to reduce the up-front price of your EV by up to $14,000. The Drive Electric website calculator tool helps Vermonters determine their incentive eligibility.

 

Small Improvements Save Vermonters Money

 

Our Legislators are always working to make our Agency of Transportation leaner and more efficient. Small changes can make big improvements.

·      We continue to invest in the DMV modernization program. These improvements save us and the DMV time and money by allowing online transactions that eliminate having to wait in line.

·      We’ve updated rules on annual vehicle inspections, including updating inspection criteria on brake rotor rust. This will significantly reduce inspection failures and save Vermonters unnecessary, costly maintenance.

·      Updates to our child car-restraint rules will simplify compliance for families while meeting the latest safety standards

·      We’re providing continued income-sensitive incentives for e-bikes when they are used for local transportation.

 

Incentives for Electric Vehicles and E-Bikes

 

A variety of incentives for electric vehicles and electric bikes are helping Vermonters transition away from gasoline-powered vehicles. There are up to $6,000 in incentives plus $7,500 in tax credits available. The driveelectricvt.com website is a great resource with details about the incentives, a tool to compare vehicles and information about electric vehicle charging.

 

Grant Opportunities for Communities

 

This year’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Program will provide an additional $4 million in funding for communities. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Program improves access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians through the planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects. This VTrans program opens for applications in the spring of each year.

 

 

Ways & Means 

 

Tax Sales

 

Tax sales are a municipality’s last resort in collecting property tax from a delinquent taxpayer. Tax sales are also among the more challenging and legally fraught activities for a municipality, and there has not been consistency in how they are handled from town to town. This year the Legislature took steps in H.629 to bring clarity to volunteer boards of abatement and other town officials and to better inform delinquent taxpayers on their options and procedures during a difficult time. H.629 also seeks to reduce the chances of a tax sale by prohibiting tax sales within a year of the initial delinquency. It makes changes to Vermont’s property tax abatement by allowing municipalities to hold a single abatement hearing for a class of properties. This will support citizens and towns alike after a natural disaster.  It also allows towns to abate charges for a variety of town services and allows abatement of de minimis amounts to allow a municipality to clean up its books. We worked to bring consistency and standards to abatement and tax sale procedures across the state.

 

Telecom Updates

 

Before this year, our telecommunications tax laws were all over the map, which makes sense if you think about it: some of the laws went all the way back to 1946. Just think how much has changed in the world of telecom since then! We approached updating these laws with the goal of treating different telecom providers equitably, no matter how the service is delivered.

 

We updated the way the Universal Service Fee is calculated in an effort to make sure that this important fund is adequately financed. The funds collected go to a number of critically important services, including our statewide E-911 system and LifeLine service to ensure that low-income Vermonters can afford phone service service, and we also added 988 (the suicide prevention line) as a beneficiary of the USF.

 

The bill also looks to require the Department of Taxes to conduct a study that would make recommendations for an updated tax structure for communications property. Additionally, the bill requires the Agency of Transportation to make recommendations about how we begin to tax telecommunications property that uses the state right of way. There has been a law on the books for quite some time that requires AOT to tax telecom companies for their use of the right of way but it’s been a challenge to implement this measure.

 

Tax Resources for Vermonters

 

This year, the Ways & Means Committee has had a theme of helping Vermonters understand the options available to help reduce their tax burden, and how to navigate challenges they may experience with the tax system in Vermont. Why file? Even if your income is below the threshold to file a return, you still should! There are credits and incentives available that can save a lot of money. First, if you are a homeowner you should file a homestead declaration. Two thirds of Vermonters are eligible for property tax relief and filing the homestead declaration is the way to receive that discount.

 

Also, you may be eligible for some tax credits. There are dozens of credits but two of our largest are: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). The EITC is meant to offset taxes paid by low-wage earners, and the CTC offers a per-child amount to families.

Need help filing taxes to receive these important benefits? Taxpayers can find free tax preparation help near them with a simple search: https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/. Both AARP and Vermont Income Tax Assistance are free resources for tax preparation.

Finally, Vermont’s Taxpayer Advocate is employed to help Vermonters navigate their tax challenges; reach out: (802) 828-6848 or tax.taxpayeradvocate@vermont.gov.

 

Property Transfer Tax Changes

 

This year, changes to the Property Transfer Tax (PTT) were considered as part of the Act 250 land use bill (H.687). As we worked through the final iteration of this tax, it was important that we positively impacted buyers on the lower end of the socio-economic scale. The PTT is paid by purchasers of property, and goes to fund the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund and the Municipal and Regional Planning Fund, both of which support the construction of new housing for Vermonters. Some of this funding also goes to the General Fund.

 

The bill increases the threshold value for the 1.25% PTT rate from $100,000 to $200,000 for principal residences, and from $110,000 to $250,000 for principal residences financed through VHFA, VHCTF, or USDA housing programs. The bill also increases the PTT rate on secondary residences from 1.25% to 3.4%. The impact is that people purchasing primary residences will pay less than they have in the past, and second home buyers will pay more.

 

The Act 250 bill makes structural changes to Vermont’s landmark land-planning legislation that both protects our natural resources and encourages development where it makes sense. Changes to the PTT further supports housing efforts in Vermont.

 

Funding Education via the Yield Bill

 

The yield bill (H.887) is the mechanism by which the legislature funds voter-approved budgets from across the state. Normally, it is a short administrative bill that gets very little attention. This year, however, things were different. In December, the administration issued the “December 1 letter” which estimates education property taxes for the coming year, and this year the estimate was a whopping average increase of 20%. Through some tough conversations, we were able to lower the average increase to 13%. We know this is still a significant increase for most people. It quickly became clear that we had some deep thinking to do in order to set property tax rates that would fund our school district obligations while setting rates that taxpayers could afford. It also became clear that it is time to look to the future by considering how we can make our education system more efficient while also considering a new funding formula that is simpler and better suited to our current education system.

 

To do this, we set in motion a yield bill that was much lengthier than in years past. In addition to setting tax rates significantly below initial projections, the bill did several things. It included additional revenue sources to help reduce tax increases and to protect income-sensitive Vermonters for this year. For 2026, it sets an excess-spending threshold, intended to hold spending down for higher-spending districts as a way to reduce disparities with the lower-spending districts. It also changes the way the current level of appraisal (CLA) is calculated, to reduce the more dramatic swings caused by the current CLA calculation

 

The bill also sets the stage for broader changes by setting up a Commission on the Future of Public Education. This commission will address a huge range of factors impacting our system. Importantly, the Commission will come back to the Legislature in January 2025 with draft legislation regarding changing the funding formula for public education. Additionally, it will look at important topics including possible consolidation of school buildings and districts, the delivery of special education services, the delivery of mental and emotional health services, and the public tuitioning system. Importantly, the Commission is required to conduct a robust public engagement process to ensure that all Vermonters have the ability to impact its work.

 

Outside of the yield bill, the legislature passed several bills that will impact the education system and its affordability, including:

 

-       To help offset increases in property taxes that may be passed on to renters, the legislature increased the Renter Tax Credit in the Miscellaneous Tax Bill (H.546).

-       Boards of Cooperative Education Services, or BOCES, which provides a framework for schools to engage in group purchasing of not only supplies, but also for services (including being able to group part-time teaching positions to create  more compelling job opportunities for much-needed staff.)

-       The legislature furthered its work on school construction with H.871, which advances planning for school construction projects that replace our aging school infrastructure with an emphasis on “newer and fewer” schools; and 

-       Advance the implementation of Community Schools, a model that supports students with profound social/emotional needs.

 

With all of this foundational work completed, it seems certain that the legislature will continue its focus on Vermont’s educational system when we return in January 2025.