by Guy Page and Timothy Page

New name, new chamber, but same controversial content for S.5, the bill that chief architect Sen. Chris Bray admitted provoked “thousands” of phone calls and emails from Vermonters opposed to its artificially raising heating fuel prices to subsidize a transition to electric heat. 

Once known as the “Affordable Heating Act,” S.5 passed the Senate with a not-quite-veto proof margin of 18-10 and a hasty name change recommended by Bray (D-Addison), chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. “An act relating to affordably meeting the mandated greenhouse gas reductions for the thermal sector through efficiency, weatherization measures, electrification, and decarbonization” now goes up for review this morning by the House Environment and Energy Committee.

House E&E is chaired by another Addison County lawmaker with a track record for seeking transformative environmental legislation. Rep. Amy Sheldon (D-Middlebury) sponsored H126, which would require 50% of Vermont’s total land area be conserved from development by 2050 – in accordance with the United Nations-led “50 by 50” initiative. 

The version of S.5 facing the House features one other significant change from the S.5 introduced this year into the Senate: a two-year study/waiting period that will allow the State of Vermont to seek answers to questions like, ‘how much will it cost Vermonters?’ and ‘how much will S.5 actually reduce climate emissions?’ and “will the impact be equitable to poor and minorities as required by the Global Warming Solutions Act?” Many senators found the lack of agreed-upon conclusions troubling.

It remains to be seen if the House will agree with the Senate-led two-year study, or pass the original bill and then try to get their way in conference committee efforts to harmonize the two versions. 

Elsewhere in the Legislature, the ‘money’ committees like Appropriations and Ways and Means are considering the financial implications of bills that survived the crossover deadline and are thus eligible to move forward this year. These are:

H. 126 – Conserves 50% of Vermont land by 2050

H. 127 – Legalize sports betting

H. 165 – Requires public schools to serve free meals

H. 157 – Vermont basic needs budget

H. 66 – Mandated family and medical leave insurance

H. 205 – Provides State assistance in diversifying farm production

Other committees are reviewing bills that didn’t survive crossover but nonetheless warrant interest for review – and possible passage next year, the final year of the 2023-24 biennium.

Schedule for All Vermont Legislature Committees this week: Click on Committee name for Zoom links. Agenda listings top-line only, not inclusive. Click here to see the complete weekly schedule of all committees on one page. Click here for list of all committees and links to their bills, members and contact information. 

House Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

Small Farms Day

Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition

H. 81 – Ensure fair repair of agricultural equipment

House Appropriations

H. 126 – Conserves 50% of Vermont land by 2050

H. 127 – Legalize sports betting

H. 165 – Requires public schools to serve free meals

H. 157 – Vermont basic needs budget

H. 66 – Mandated family and medical leave insurance

H. 205 – Provides State assistance in diversifying farm production

FY24 Budget

House Commerce and Economic Development

Tourism and Marketing

H. 434 – Creates the Vermont Office of Film and Creative Media

H. 79 – Ensure rights to independent auto repair

H. 159 – Protects internet service provider data privacy

H. 367 – Supports rural economic development

H. 343 – Protects genetic and consumer health information privacy

H. 344 – Requires connected devices sold in Vermont meet minimum security standards

S. 95 – Various amendments to banking and insurance laws

House Corrections and Institutions

Governor’s Recommended FY24 – FY25 Capital Budget Proposal

House Education

H. 455 – Makes a civics test mandatory for high school graduation

H. 348 – Studies requiring licensed athletic trainers at all secondary school athletic events

H. 409 – Restricts the use of restraints and seclusion in schools

House Environment and Energy

S. 5 – “Affordable” Heat Act mandate

H. 126 – Conserves 50% of Vermont land by 2050

H. 158 – Expands the beverage container redemption system

Clean Heat Standard (H.715 – 2022)

House General and Housing

H. 260 – Increases resources for the Commission on Native American Affairs

H. 336 – Provides the Abenaki with access to, and use of, State lands

H. 239 – Designates “National Emblem” as the State March

H. 267 – Abolishes Daylight Savings Time in Vermont

H. 448 – Demands racial and social equity measures

H. 66 – Mandated family and medical leave insurance

H. 432 – Studies slavery reparation proposals

House Government Operations and Military Affairs

Governor’s FY2024 Proposed Budget

Medicare Advantage

Department  of Corrections

Lamoille County Dispatch Center

Multiple Town and Waste-Management-District charter amendments

House Health Care

Pharmacy Benefit Management

H. 428 – Authorizes prescribing by doctoral-level psychologists.

H. 263 – Expands funding and coverage of emergency medical services

Act No. 183 (2022) Report: Prior Authorizations; Administrative Cost Reduction

House Human Services

Department for Children and Families

Pre-K Development Grant

Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee

Office of the Child, Youth, and Family Advocate

Parent Child Center Network

Green Mountain Support Services

House Judiciary

H. 22 – Sexual exploitation by police

H. 250 – Allows obtaining of blood samples during DUI investigations

S. 14 – Justice expenditure reporting

House Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife

Not yet published

House Transportation

H. 4 – Removes pilings causing ice jams at Barre bridge

H. 9 – Exempt EVs from inspection for 40 months

H. 71 – Expanding DMV veteran designations

H. 108 – Update Vermont School Bus Manual and the CDL tests

H. 202 – Allows tickets for illegally passing a school bus, bus driver’s testimony

H. 133 – Reduces penalties for distracted driving

H. 203 – Report on distracted driving

H. 330 – Amends procedures regarding returns of electric vehicles

H. 479 – Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation

House Ways and Means

23-0991 – An act relating to enhancing workforce and economic development opportunities

H. 479 – Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation

H. 222 – Expands legal med-assisted treatment for opioid addiction

H. 10 – Creates VEGI oversight board

H. 31 – Aquatic nuisance control moratorium

H. 282 – Adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

H. 477 – Increases marriage license fee to $75.00

H. 276 – Creates a rental housing registry

Senate Agriculture

Organic Dairy Farm Crisis

Solar Power on Farms

Crop Damage Liability

Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition

Small Farms Day

Senate Appropriations

S. 4 – Violent crime reduction for juveniles through gun control

S. 124 – Creates a School Construction Aid Task Force

S. 133 – Miscellaneous changes to education laws and policy

S. 32 – Ranked-choice voting for presidential primary elections

S. 100 – Attempts to address severe housing shortages

FY24 Budget

Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs

S. 100 – Attempts to address severe housing shortages

Tourism Day

S. 105 – Legalizes and regulates sports betting

H. 157 – Vermont basic needs budget

Senate Education

S. 87 – Requires State-developed Holocaust education in public schools

S. 116 – Adds two voting faculty members to the UVM Board of Trustees

S. 117 – Amends funding methods for teen parent education programs

S. 120 – Requires colleges to establish new sexual misconduct measures

23-0991 – An act relating to enhancing workforce and economic development opportunities

S. 66 – New requirements for tuition to independent schools

Senate Finance

S. 56 – Public preschool and other childcare, education changes

S. 18 – Flavored-tobacco ban

S. 115 – Makes amendments to a variety of agricultural subjects

Senate Government Operations

This agenda has not yet been published.

Senate Health and Welfare

Draft Letter to Federal Delegation

H. 411 – Extends COVID-19 health care regulatory flexibility policies

S. 91 – Changes rules of legal competency, insanity defense

S. 89 – Establishes a forensic facility, allows involuntary psych treatment

H. 94 – Reach Up

H. 222 – Expands legal med-assisted treatment for opioid addiction

Gubernatorial Appointments

Senate Institutions

Appointment Confirmations

State House Expansion

Senate Judiciary

S. 91 – Changes rules of legal competency, insanity defense

S. 79 – Limits hospital liens on patients

H. 41 – Domestic-/sex-assault cases to community justice centers

H. 148 – Raises the marriageable age to 18

H. 28 – Expands expungement of court diversion cases

Senate Natural Resources and Energy

S. 100 – Attempts to address severe housing shortages

S. 115 – Makes amendments to a variety of agricultural subjects

H. 67 – Manufacturers pay for household hazardous products collection

Confirmation of Governor’s Appointment

Trapping Working Group Report

Senate Transportation

S. 99 – Makes miscellaneous changes to vehicle laws

School Bus Driver Licensing