By Michael Bielawski
House bills under committee review this week include promoting “car-free” transportation, attempts to address high education spending, expanding “Dr. Dynasaur” healthcare to adults, and more. Agendas published weekly on the Legislature’s website are subject to change.
A society without cars? – H. 693 (Wednesday, House Committee on Transportation) Sponsored by Rep. Sara Coffey – D, Guilford, and others.
This is the state’s 2024 transportation policy initiative “to improve infrastructure, increase resiliency, and reduce carbon emissions.”
It states the need to transition “away from gasoline-powered motor vehicles, providing car-free transportation options, and helping communities redesign and build more resilient transportation infrastructure enables Vermonters to access jobs, age successfully in our communities, and improve their health.”
Education financing – H. 850 (Monday, House Committee on Appropriations) Sponsored by the House Committee on Ways and Means.
This bill not only changes the way that school children are counted for tax purposes but it also allows for districts to have more time to consider their budgets for the next fiscal year.
It states, “This bill proposes to replace the transition mechanism from Act 127 of 2022 with a new mechanism to help school districts adapt to the new system for pupil weighting. This bill proposes to allow school districts to cancel a district vote on the fiscal year 2025 budget, amend the proposed budget, and hold a vote at a later date.”
Consumer privacy – H. 121 (Tuesday, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development) Sponsored by Rep. Michael Marcotte, R-Coventry, and others.
This bill seeks to enhance consumer privacy, including that Vermonters should be allowed to know when companies are seeking their data as well as they should allow for an option to opt out.
It states, “A consumer may request that all data brokers registered with the State of Vermont honor an opt-out request by filing the request with the Secretary of State.”
Truth and Reconciliation Commission discussion (Thursday, House Committee on General and Housing). The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Executive Director Faith Yacubian and their Commissioner Mia Schultz will talk about what work they are up to. The organization was recently in the news for asking lawmakers to allow them to have private meetings. Members of the media told the committee that they would be likely unlawful to allow a body working on public policy to have meetings in private.
Reparations for slavery – H. 432 (Thursday, House Committee on General and Housing) Sponsored by Rep. Brian Cina, P/D-Burlington.
The committee will discuss the possibility of having reparations paid by taxpayers to descendants of slaves. The committee was warned by a legislative counsel that legal chall may arise if this effort is taken up.
Executive director of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance Rev. Mark Hughes recently told the committee that he drew “a direct connection with a continuous line that crosses the arc of history that connects us right back to Chattel Slavery.”
Illegal immigrants in the workforce? – H. 606 (Wednesday, House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs) Sponsored by Rep. Esme Cole, D-Hartford, and others.
They will discuss the bill which would allow non-legal immigrants to obtain special work authorizations. It states, “This bill proposes to enable individuals who meet the requirements for professional licenses to be granted those licenses regardless of their immigration status or lack thereof.”
Expanding socialized healthcare – H. 721 (Thursday, House Committee on Health Care) Sponsored by Rep. Lori Houghton, D-Essex Junction, and others.
This act would expand access to socialized healthcare by allowing adults up to 26 years old to qualify for Dr. Dynasaur. This bill would also increase the income threshold for those wishing to qualify for adults seeking Medicaid. It would also allow mental health treatments to be given to children even without a diagnosis.
It would also include modify the appointments to and duties of the Clinical Utilization Review Board and increase the income eligibility thresholds for Medicare Savings Programs.
The Vermont Council on Housing and Homelessness discussion (Wednesday, House Committee on Human Services). Department for Children and Families Commissioner Chris Winters and Commissioner Alex Farrell of the Department of Housing and Community Development, will talk about housing and homelessness.
In his Feb. 9 newsletter Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman highlighted these pressing issues. He wrote, “In every corner of Vermont, housing has become a major issue. Many people cannot find housing, and if they can, it is often not affordable.”
Re-integrating ex-convicts discussion (Tuesday, House Committee on Corrections and Institutions). Department of Corrections Re-Entry Programs help those who were incarcerated find homes and jobs again via various supports. Kim Bushey, Program Services Director for the Department of Corrections, will speak.
One current initiative that may come up is the state’s transitional housing program. On the Vermont Department of Corrections website it states, “A number of individuals incarcerated by the State of Vermont, who are eligible for release, lack appropriate housing to return to the community and could benefit from services that support successful reintegration and provide links to permanent housing opportunities.”
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle