By Guy Page
Whiffleball season has begun in the Vermont State House.
While rank and filers amuse themselves with impromptu, bi-partisan games outdoors in good weather, indoors the many conference committees will try to resolve House and Senate differences over the merely big and the truly huge bills. Adjournment won’t happen until conference committees can connect on the tax (H933), budget (H951) and homestead property tax (H949).
Of particular interest among conference committee bills is s.325, the Act 250 reform bill. The House passage of s.325 was celebrated as a grassroots victory by concerned rural Vermonters. However, the Senate fast-tracked the bill to a conference committee led by two committee chairs who were strong, early backers of the Road Rule and other Act 250 regulations repealed by the House.
H.660 – fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund appropriations
Rep. Theresa Wood
Rep. Eric Maguire
Rep. Tiffany Bluemle
The Senate will likely appoint conferees today. Maguire says he’s a ‘no’ on spending the $1.1 million for a Burlington Safe Injection Site.
H.0816 – regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services (established May 15, Senate hasn’t appointed committee yet).
Rep. Daisy Berbeco
Rep. Brian Cina
Rep. Valorie Taylor
H.0933 – miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws (established May 7) – i.e. the Tax Bill. The stickiest wicket is how to spend the Local Option Tax reserve – for local road construction, or other state priorities?
Rep. Emilie Kornheiser
Rep. William Canfield
Rep. Charles Kimbell
Sen. Ann Cummings
Sen. Ruth Hardy
Sen. Christopher Mattos
H.0949 – homestead property tax yields, the nonhomestead property tax rate, and technical changes to education finance (established May 6).
Rep. Emilie Kornheiser
Rep. Charles Kimbell
Rep. Martha Feltus
Sen. Ann Cummings
Sen. Thomas Chittenden
Sen. Scott Beck
From newsletter published by State House lobbyist Maggie Lenz: “The Yield Bill, which sets statewide property tax rates, passed the Senate at a projected 3.8 percent average increase against a 6.7 percent figure in the House version. That gap has to close before anyone goes home.”
H.951 – state budget bill – making appropriations for the support of the government (created April 30)
Rep. Robin Scheu
Rep. Martha Feltus
Rep. Tiffany Bluemle
Sen. Andrew Perchlik
Sen. Virginia Lyons
Sen. Richard Westman
H.952 – capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment (created May 13)
Rep. Alice Emmons
Rep. Mary Morrissey
Rep. Brian Minier
Sen. Wendy Harrison
Sen. Robert Plunkett
Sen. John Benson
S.223 – water quality of the waters of Vermont
Rep. Amy Sheldon
Rep. Larry Labor
Rep. Lawrence Satcowitz
Sen. Anne Watson
Sen. Seth Bongartz
Sen. Terry Williams
S.325 regional planning and Act 250 Tier jurisdiction
Rep. Amy Sheldon
Rep. Larry Labor
Rep. Ela Chapin
Sen. Anne Watson
Sen. Seth Bongartz
Sen. Terry Williams