A bill giving a property tax break to homeowners providing housing to refugees has cleared the Vermont House and is now in the Senate.
Refugee housing tax break considered
‘Criminal threatening’ bill gives politicians, gov workers more protection than general public
A ‘criminal threatening’ bill doubles the maximum sentence if the victim is a politician or government worker. S265 passed the Senate and is now in House Judiciary.
Strong stand against Homeland Security free speech crackdown
Rep. Vicki Strong is Vermont Strong on standing up to federal government encroachment on the Right to Free Speech. So far – with one cautious exception – she’s standing up alone.
Governor noncommittal about anti-hunting bills
Like a patient hunter, Gov. Phil Scott is taking his time before deciding whether to take aim at three controversial hunting bills.
Scott doesn’t back legal prostitution
The legalization of prostitution, now being pushed mostly by Progressives, is not “what Vermont needs at this point,” Gov. Phil Scott says.
Statewide prostitution repeal looms after today’s Burlington vote
Legislation pushed by Burlington lawmakers would repeal state prostitution laws, regardless of the outcome of today’s Burlington City Meeting vote.
Governor Scott vetoes 16 and 17-year old voting
The Legislature shouldn’t lower the age of voting while raising the age of criminal accountability, Gov. Scott said in his veto of teenage voting in Brattleboro.
Samantha Lefebvre shows other legislators how informing constituents is done
Every week, a freshman lawmaker tells her constituents how she voted on every bill that comes up on the House floor. Her report is a treasure trove of up-to-date information.
Act 250 bill might slow housing development, Chamber says
A bill intended to streamline the housing regulatory process might actually make it longer.
Clean Heat Standard clears House energy committee
A bill making fuel dealers pay for the transition to non-fossil fuel heating cleared the House energy committee.
Bill creating racial statistics bureaucracy goes to House floor
A bill creating a new Racial Statistics division of state government and a new advisory will soon be voted on by Vermont House of Representatives.
House approves Burlington eviction restrictions
By a 2-1 margin the Vermont House approved a Burlington charter change limiting eviction of tenants by landlords. Critics say it could worsen Vermont’s rental housing shortage.
Blittersdorf’s Barre rail study revived
A House bill sponsored by 60 lawmakers would fund a ‘feasibility study’ of commuter rail between Barre and Montpelier, require employers to reduce employee commuter mileage, and create a fuel efficiency fee on vehicle purchases.
Race, drug bills get committee review this week
For the second straight week, race-related legislation is getting plenty of attention in House committees.
Housing registry veto votes postponed
Two separate bills creating new state registries face an uphill battle overcoming vetos.
By 28-2 vote, Senate OKs ‘Criminal threatening’ bill
Only two senators voted against a bill allowing prison sentence of up to two years for threatening public officials.
Senate Finance chair eyes fed $$ to keep jails and prisons funded and safe
The chair of the Senate budget committee would earmark millions of federal Covid relief money to fund the state’s jails and prisons.
House Speaker postpones contractor registration veto vote until April 22
Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski appears to be at least one vote shy of overriding Gov. Scott’s veto of a contractor registration bill.
VT Senate approves popular vote presidential election
Every Republican in the Vermont Senate voted no, but it wasn’t enough to stop a 22-7 approval of Vermont participating in a national ‘popular vote’ presidential election.
$100 mil ticketed for rural internet
The Vermont Legislature is poised to spend $100 million of federal money to spread internet service statewide.
Three new race-related state bureaucracies considered by lawmakers
Bills under discussion by House committees would create three separate race-related bureaucracies and fund transition to non-fossil fuel heat in state, local and private buildings.
House to take up Scott veto of contractor registration
Gov. Scott says creating a state contractor registry will harm small businesses. The House will consider his veto of H157 tomorrow.
Ram demands ban on police ‘no knock’ warrant
A state senator running for Congress wants to take away the court-approved ability of Vermont police to execute ‘no knock’ arrest warrants.
Legislature gives non-taxpaying Brattleboro teens power to tax adults
The Legislature is poised to give Brattleboro teens the right to vote, run for office and levy taxes. The voting margins appear veto-proof.
Threats over mask mandate carry three-year prison sentence
The Senate is considering a law giving three years in prison for threats made during mask arguments in stores – among other situations.
Senate presses pause on police lawsuit bill
It’s not about systemic racism, Sen. Joe Benning told fellow senators during discussion of a bill to allow the public to sue police officers.
Judiciary bill downplays drug-dealer amount of cocaine, heroin as ‘personal use’
30 grams is a lot of coke. But the Vermont House Judiciary Committee wants to treat it as a ‘personal use’ misdemeanor. Not so fast, law enforcement officials say.
Finnie: Public hearing bills part of plan to end hunting and trapping in Vermont
The senators pushing three bills at Thursday’s public hearing are trying to slowly but surely stop hunting and fishing in Vermont.
Under ‘Clean Heat Standard,’ Vermonters in old homes will pay extra to stay warm
Many low to moderate income Vermonters – especially those living in older homes – will find it very difficult to pay for the higher cost of heating fuel.
Teen marriage a ‘human rights abuse,’ Legislature told
Is a 16 or 17 year old marrying an adult a human rights abuse? Supporters of a bill scheduled for a committee vote Wednesday say it is.
Senate committee would expand right to sue police
A bill receiving extensive, prolonged attention from the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee would remove legal protections for police from lawsuits brought by perps, ‘social justice’ groups, and everyone else.
Green lobby targets Act 250 housing loophole
Most of the new housing built without stifling Act 250 review were tiny projects of just a handful of homes. Now an influential slow-growth lobby is criticizing that loophole.
Coyote, leghold, governance bills meant to disrupt and reduce hunting, VT Traditions says
A supporter of three hunting & trapping bills up for public hearing next week says Vermonters are moving beyond a ‘dominance mindset.’ A critic says the bills would disrupt and reduce hunting.
Senate bill: up to 5 years in prison for threats to public officials
A Senate committee is taking a long look at a bill to expand criminal penalties to Vermonters who threaten school boards and other government officials. The ACLU says it could chill political speech.
Water withdrawal registry bill passes house
A bill to create a registry for anyone withdrawing 5000 gallons a water of day from Vermont surface waters has passed the House. The Senate’s been busy, too.
Small explains birth certificate gender change bill
A Winooski lawmaker who identifies as transgender explains getting into politics and the bill to changing gender ID on birth certificates.
Baby Turtle Time: Bills advance in committee
Like baby turtles marching to the sea, bills introduced into the Vermont Legislature have a poor survival rate. This week, several bills took steps to becoming law.
Prog bill wants transgender therapy without parental consent
A bill sponsored by two Progressives would allow minors to seek transgender therapy without parental consent.
Bill bans tracking coyotes with dogs
A bill sponsored by the entire Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee would prohibit tracking coyotes with dogs.
Slavery reparations, Abenaki land bills advance to committee discussion
Bills promoting slavery reparations and Abenaki land access and ownership will be reviewed this week by a Vermont House committee.
Mascot wars move to Vermont Legislature
It was okay when the Rutland School Board abandoned ‘Red Raiders’ for ‘Ravens.’ But when it went back to ‘Red Raiders,’ the culture referees in the Vermont Legislature cried foul.
New bill: multi-lingual state government
A new bill would require state agencies serving “substantial” numbers of non-English speakers to provide translated documents and interpreters.
Home school experts to scrutinize ‘simplification’ bill
Two experts in Vermont legislation and home schooling will analyze the proposed home study ‘simplification’ bill this afternoon via Zoom.
Speak out tonight against legal prostitution
Vermonters can speak out tonight against the push to legalize prostitution in Burlington and Vermont.
Bill increases daily board/commission pay from $50 to $125
A new House bill would raise the per diem pay for the growing number of state boards and commissions from $50 to $125.
Career Day, next year?
Career Day at Vermont schools could have a whole new look.
Senate bill seeks vision, road test for drivers 75 and older
A new Senate bill would require drivers 75 and older to pass vision and road tests before having their licenses renewed.
Conserve 50% of all land in Vermont, Natural Resources chair says
The Global Deal for Nature would conserve half of the globe’s total land and sea area from development. A bill by the chair of the Vermont Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife Committee would ensure that Vermont does its part. The committee will review the bill Thursday morning.
Embattled Northeast Kingdom has its day at the State House
NEK Day at the Statehouse is a chance for residents of Vermont’s most rural region to connect with their representatives in Montpelier.
House committee to review Homeless Bill of Rights, $48 million fuel switching program, Prop 5, City of Essex Junction
The creation of the City of Essex Junction is just one bill before Vermont House committees this week. Also up for review are the Homeless Bill of Rights and the Unborn Bill of No Rights – a/k/a Prop 5.
Raising marriage age to 18 proposed
Vermont lawmakers want to raise the legal age of marriage to 18. Good idea – or not?
Prostitution legalization bill introduced
A new bill proposing decriminalization of prostitution has been introduced into the Vermont House.
Bill would change gender identity on birth certificate
A new bill would allow gender identity changes to be listed on Vermont birth certificates.
Senate bill requires insurance coverage for transgender fertility treatment
A new Senate bill would require all Vermont health care insurers – including Medicaid – to cover extensive fertility treatments for both transgender and non-transgender insureds.
Transportation bill punishes low MPG with ‘feebates’
A bill co-sponsored by 61 Vermont House members (but no Republicans) would levy steep fees on vehicles with poor miles-per-gallon performance.
Cows dying from eating broadband debris
Cows are dying from eating broadband wire. The Artificial Intelligence Commissioner founder is trying to give it new life. And racial equity in landownership will get another look in House committees this week.
Dame: trying to stop the Democratic Gerrymander
Why did House Democrats ask a tri-partisan Reapportionment Board its opinion if they were going to ignore it and take the party line?
Barre City legislators deny voters’ will on City Hall Park flag charter change
Little did Barre City voters know, when they voted almost 2-1 on a City Hall Park flag-flying ordinance, that their own legislators would quietly eliminate it months later.
‘Environmental justice’ bill would create another unelected board
Congress Candidate Ram pushes ‘environmental justice’ bill at noon today.
Housing challenge facing Legislature: $300K home now costs $400K
Vermont officials are ready to spend big on creating new housing. Problem: a house that once cost $300K now costs about $400K, thanks to labor, supplies, land, etc.
GOP bill: no ‘safe spaces’ discrimination at government meetings
A Senate bill would end the practice of excluding participation at government meetings on the basis of race.
Bills introduced this year, last year eliminate vax religious exemption for minors
A bill striking the religious exemption from school vaccinations was introduced last January and is still pending review by the House Judiciary Committee.
Krowinski priorities: spend fed $$, fight climate change, enshrine abortion in Constitution, dismantle systemic racism “in every policy area”
Krowinski believes VT needs to focus on climate change, racism, and Covid recovery.
Statewide mask mandate bill proposed
A group of lawmakers who last year wanted Gov. Scott to impose a mask mandate in high transmission areas now have introduced a bill to accomplish the same goal.
Balint promises big spending of federal $$, suing cops, unlimited abortion, Town Meeting changes
Sueing police and getting unlimited abortion into the state Constitution are part of Senate leader Becca Balint’s 2022 legislative agenda.
New bills would make hard drug possession a misdemeanor, establish Health Care Freedom of Conscience Act
The Chair of the House Judiciary Committee wants a misdemeanor ‘personal use’ defense for people caught with hard drugs.
Legislature opens in person tomorrow, will meet remotely for two weeks
The Legislature – including Rep. Vicki Strong, she hopes – will meet in person tomorrow, then go to remote meeting for two weeks.
National marijuana legalization founders pushing legal prostitution in VT
The founders of the influential legal-pot Marijuana Policy Project are directing the political and IT efforts of a national prostitution legalization group funding Vermont organizations.
CFV looks back at 2021 Legislature, looks ahead
Campaign for Vermont sees pension reform, water quality, and tourism, workforce and broadband development as crucial areas of improvement in 2022.
Top News of `21: House OKs firearms relinquishment, gender ID victim protection, non-citizen voting
Vermont Daily Chronicle publishes first Readable House Journal – a blow by blow account of legislation moving through the House of Representatives, one day at a time.
Decriminalization of prostitution – “the choice of the choiceless” – approved by Burlington council, goes to voters
If the Legislature approves a Burlington charter change backed by the city council AND decriminalizes prostitution, the door will be open to unfettered, legal prostitution in Vermont’s largest city.
Top News of `21: Vax refusal bill introduced (Feb. 19)
H.283, providing the right to refuse any unwanted test, treatment, or vaccine, was introduced yesterday into the Vermont House. Sponsored by four Republicans, a Democrat, and an independent, it would specifically prevent employers and state government from requiring vaccination in exchange for jobs, travel, childcare and other benefits.
Prostitution vote tonight could lead to full decrim
A Burlington City Council vote could pave the way for the Queen City to be a legal sanctuary for prostitution.
Burlington prostitution ordinance language offensive, subcommittee says
All that talk about “houses of ill fame” and “to punish common prostitutes” has to go from city ordinances, Burlington Progressives say. But what will take its place?
State’s marijuana warning labels too weak, doctors say
Vermont’s legal pot industry oversight board has disregarded Vermont physicians’ recommendation to limit the harm of retail sales – again.
Climate plan will hurt poor, rural VTers, DCF commish says
Let them eat kale! The state welfare office commissioner says the Climate Action plan will hurt poor, rural Vermonters. The Climate Council passed it anyway.
Scott signs municipal mask mandate bill, predicts it won’t work
The municipal mask mandate is now law, after Gov. Phil Scott signed it this morning. But, he predicted hours later, it won’t work.
Legislature passes municipal mask mandate
With approval from the House of Representatives Monday afternoon, the Vermont Legislature passed a municipal mask mandate bill in special session. The bill now goes to Gov. Phil Scott for his consideration.
Senate passes Municipal Mask Mandate
Despite challenges from Progressives and Republicans, the Vermont Senate voted 17-10 in favor of a temporary Municipal Mask Mandate.
Special Session: Senators stake out positions during SOE resolution vote
Senate passes SOE resolution in preamble to mask mandate bill discussion.
Special Session: Text of draft bill #21-1038, Temporary Municipal Mask Mandate
See the entire text of the draft of the bill to be introduced into the Vermont Senate today gives municipalities the power to “make and enforce rules” to wear masks in indoor public spaces.
Special Session: schedule (so far) for Municipal Mask Mandate Monday
The Vermont Senate will discuss a municipal mask mandate Monday in Special Session. Proposed amendments to Gov. Scott’s draft bill are under discussion.
Questions about enforcement, liability surround Municipal Mask Mandate bill
Health Choice Vermont asks questions and provides legislator contact assistance for Monday’s Special Session of the Vermont Legislature, which will consider a municipal mask mandate.
Municipal mask mandate either not enough or goes too far, lawmakers say
A Democrat and physicians says a municipal mask mandate isn’t enough. Two GOP lawmakers from the Northeast Kingdom say it’s too much.
Redistricting would split Winooski in two House districts
A board tasked with redistricting the Vermont House voted 4-3 on a proposed map, splitting Winooski into two districts.
Single-member House districts recommended to Legislature
Vermonters spoke in favor of single-member districts for the VT House of Representatives, and today a state advisory board agreed. But will the Legislature?
Convicted sex traffickers would support Montpelier legalization of prostitution, critic says
100% of convicted sex traffickers wish prostitution was legal, a researcher told the Montpelier City Council last night.
City of Montpelier ponders legalizing prostitution and public drinking
The City of Montpelier will review a report recommending legalizing prostitution and public drinking.
House Speaker, Senate Prez to deliver eugenics public apology on State House Steps
The leaders of Vermont’s two legislative bodies October 16 will stand on the State House steps and offer a public apology for the Vermont Legislature’s zealous pursuit of eugenics.
Scott still opposes TCI carbon tax – but doubts he can stop it
Gov. Scott still thinks the TCI is a bad deal for Vermont. He also doubts he can stop it.
Non-citizen ‘local’ voting affects statewide education funding
What happens in Winooski stays in Winooski? Not when it comes to local elections affecting statewide policy.
GOP sues Winooski, Montpelier for non-citizen voting
Vermont and national Republicans are suing Montpelier and Winooski for letting non-citizens vote in municipal elections.
Leftist Vermont union rejects carbon tax, gun control
The VT AFL-CIO voted Sunday to oppose gun control laws and carbon taxation. But don’t think they’ve gone all reactionary.
Sanders bill shifts power over military from president to Congress
A bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders would shift power over the U.S. military from the president to Congress.
Leahy wants new, $27 million ‘rapid response’ strike force for next ‘insurrection’
Sen. Pat Leahy has introduced a bill to spend billions on U.S. Capitol security, including a brand-new, $27 million U.S. Capitol Protection Task Force, a rapid response team to deal with future threats.
Billado: Shutting down the power play
S79 would have created 6.5 new bureaucratic positions in state government, with an annual appropriation of $850,000 for pay and benefits. That works out to $130,000 per bureaucrat–an insult to every Vermonter.
Guv vetoes rental registry bill
Gov. Phil Scott today vetoed S79, the rental registry bill passed June 24 during the veto session.
Montpelier considers allowing homeless camps
The City of Montpelier is considering taking making an official policy of its laissez-faire approach to homeless encampments.
Race-based bills, initiatives listed
Vermont’s Legislature has embraced a panoply of race-based bills during the 2021-22 session.
Senate OKS rental, contractor registries, overrides veto of non-citizen voting
The Vermont Senate today agreed with the House on bills to create statewide registries of all rental housing and building trades contractors.
