Both bills now move over to the Vermont House and the lower-chamber’s Judiciary Committee, which at present is split 5-5 Democrat/Republican.

Bill to include current use in land conservation goals may get hearing in House Environment Committee.

Data center restrictions/ Arrest warrant for court no-shows/ Chronic student absenteeism/ Eliminating “women’s” sports

Vermont is committed by law to having 50% of total land area conserved by 2050, thanks to a  bill introduced and shepherded into law several years ago by House Environment Chair Amy Sheldon. The law closely follows a U.N. based 50 x 50 initiative.

Knowing that 20 lawmakers and Lt. Gov. John Rodgers support (in concept anyway) a three year property tax freeze, VDC asked Gov. Phil Scott at his press conference what he thinks. Answer: eh, not so much. But he likes the idea of a spending cap.

Bills of note in committees this week, ranging from taxes to Legislative health benefits.

The bill proposes to exempt from the homestead property tax long-term residents who are 65 years of age or older. It would phase in the exemption over a four-year period, with eligible persons fully exempt from the homestead property tax beginning fiscal year 2030.

“Instead of throwing more money at the problem, we need to address the root causes and fix the system,” Governor Scott stated during the briefing.

Critics of the two bills say state law cannot override federal law or restrain federal law enforcement.

At a Capitol Ministries mixer Tuesday afternoon, elected officials as disparate in their views as Progressive Rep. Brian Cina of Burlington and Republican Rep. Mary Morrissey of Bennington could be seen sitting down peacefully over the ice cream served up by the State House ministry overseen by Rev. Aaron Clark of Montpelier.

“There’s a lot of people in the [State House] building that don’t like to arrest and incarcerate people,” Burditt said. “There’s a lot of people in the building who would just as soon close prisons, because they don’t look at them as being compassionate.”

North made quite a splash when he wore a green sequined coat into the Vermont State House today.

“Any money I don’t spend on myself helps the budget, even if it’s a small piece. We should all do our part in some way.”

Brian Pearl, a Grand Isle County resident and father, has been concerned about inadequate public and private school security ever since last August, when a Minnesota person shot through school windows from outside, killing two school children and injuring 18.  His solution: install bullet-proof glass, or window shutters that can be deployed at a moment’s notice.

As reported yesterday by VDC, Galfetti has proposed equal cuts across every state agency in order to give voters zero increase in property taxes while the State of Vermont implements systemic education funding reform.

Galfetti said those costs would be spread evenly across all General Fund budget items, rather than targeting specific programs.

Harrison expressed gratitude to district residents for their support and to his wife for being “by my side for the entire journey,” from campaign work to reviewing his weekly columns in local newspaper.

Through town halls, digital outreach, and community events, the group is urging Vermonters to contact lawmakers, sign up for action alerts, and volunteer. Burgin said AFP is also recognizing legislative leaders who champion fiscal responsibility while challenging those whose policies “burden hardworking families.”

An unusually high number of senators chose to explain their votes.

With governor out of state, action Delayed on big school transformation bill – for now.

Whatever Montpelier decides about school funding this month, it won’t affect property taxes next year or the year after.

“Thank You, and So Long – I have received an excellent job offer in Canada, and will begin working July 7th,” Cordes wrote.

Rather than let a minority of Democrats and every Republican pass the Senate Education bill, Senate leaders scrapped it and successfully pushed a more House-friendly version. 

A former Senate leader who took up painting during Covid now has an art show in the State House cafeteria.

Phil Scott waves his veto pen over two bills still in the Legislature.

Democrat leaders of the energy and environment committees this year have declined to consider other climate change repeal legislation. 

But even among supporters, there is an acknowledgment that much of the proposal includes placeholder language likely to require substantial revision—either in a forthcoming Committee of Conference or in future legislative sessions.

Somewhat paradoxically, having an effective veto means he has less reason to veto. “They have to come to the table,” he said.

$1.5 million in added funding for this session of the Legislature is for 1) two added weeks, probably running through May, 2) a veto session in June, if needed, and 3) a late summer/fall session to address catastrophic federal spending cuts, if needed.

The $9 billion Senate budget tops the House budget by $20 million and the governor’s budget by $50 million.

Senate holds roll call on considering Clean Heat Standard Repeal bill ‘on the merits.’ Rejected on party line.

North explained that voters urged him to repeal the unpopular Clean Heat Standard, which incentivizes home heat electrification at the expense of homeowners who burn fossil fuels. He promised he would try.

“I also speak as a reminder that some cannot speak for themselves and that not all decisions are in our jurisdiction,” Rep. Tom Charlton explained his no vote.

The next discarded syringe you see in a park or in the street may have been paid for by Vermont taxpayers in the name of infectious disease and overdose protection.

Also, the Senate on Friday, April 11 approved a resolution congratulating Kathleen Lynch of Burlington as the 2025 Mother of the Year. 

The resolution was signed by all 30 senators except. Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex) and Rutland County Republican senators Dave Weeks and Terry Williams. 

“I’d like to do something a little unusual, which is begin with an apology. And that is an apology to Canada and to Canadians and to Trudeau, a political figure that I value,” Baruth said.

Tariffs, school reform, and Parents Rights’ at the State House this morning.

The bill would require the Green Mountain Care Board to make public all materials in the record of a rate review proceeding.

Barre Rep. Wazazek: “The market picks winners and losers. And it’s the job of the Government to right size that. So yes we are picking winners and losers, because the market is already starting that dynamic for us, and it’s our job to make sure the right people are winning.”

The Burlington charter change banning guns in bars, S.131, got an initial run-through in Senate Government Operations today

Quick, brief overview of bills and topics under review this week by Vermont Legislature committees.

Also, VT Senate on March 19 adopted a S.R.10, a resolution opposing Gov. Phil Scott’s proposed reorganization of the Department of Public Safety into an Agency.

No ideology – not Mari Cordes’, not mine, not Donald Trump’s, not Bernie Sanders’ – is so sacred that it may be allowed to suppress anyone’s right to speak and be heard. 

Outright Vermont, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, developed the “Full Spectrum Educator’s Guide to Implementing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Sex Ed,” which is currently being implemented widely in Vermont public schools through the Vermont Agency of Education.

“This is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing. Vermont needs stronger ethics oversight for all three branches of government, not weaker.”

Poleway and two of his uniformed officers were standing in the corridor outside while Kessler delivered her ultimatum. They had not been asked by Kessler to remove the disruptive protesters, he said. 

The Clean Heat Standard rally at noon Wednesday, March 12 isn’t the only grassroots gathering at the State House this week.

Senate Transportation heard from people “traumatized” by roadside noise and truckers worried that the new law could reduce road safety.

A recent Pay Act provides a 6.4% state employee pay increase this year and a 5.2% increase next year, Vyhovsky said.

Will the House budget (just to cite one example) continue to allocate Title X family planning money to Planned Parenthood? Planned Parenthood of New England certainly hopes so – there was a request at the governor’s budget public hearing last week from PPNE for an increase in Medicaid for family planning for $85k state funds and a 90% federal fund match, which would bring the total up by $850k.

Raising Minimum Wage (S.67) to deal with higher livable wage and inflation also introduced.

House Bill 98, if enacted, would streamline adoption of children born through assisted reproduction, including intrauterine insemination, gamete donation, embryo donation, in vitro fertilization, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

70% of all Vermont inmates take substance abuse treatment meds in jail. Yet recidivism is high. The Scott admin wants more treatment options – including paying inmates for sobriety.

Rep. Headrick also has sponsored a bill requiring high-capacity, gender-neutral school bathrooms.

“The election never should have been certified,” Busa said.

People living in Vermont’s motels often lack the storage and cooking facilities to adequately prepare good meals, the committee was told. 

The mid-year allocation extends funding through June, the end of the fiscal year.

Ehlers has been nothing if not multifaceted in his more than two decades of Vermont political and policy involvement.

In recent years, for example, House Democrats have bemoaned the State’s failure to complete a flood control dam safety checklist as required by state law. 

Vermont is 75% forest (4.46 million acres.) In fact, trees consume half of Vermont’s total C02 emissions,

Will Medicaid for immigrants and transgender treatment imperil federal Medicaid funding for Vermont? Candidate Bruce Busa weighs in on the Battle of Bennington-1.

“There are far too many people with hundreds of law enforcement encounters, dozens of arrests and many active criminal court cases. Yet they’re still walking free,” Scott told the Legislature.

“The younger demographic is choosing not to drink, not to drink as much. And so those are some trends that are impacting the consumption and the sale of alcohol.”

“Affordability is about getting by,” Sen. Rebecca White said in her nominating tribute to Sen. Phil Baruth.

In a scenario that will play out across the Legislature’s committees, the administration leaders will offer a brief education on their agencies and departments under committee jurisdiction.  Lawmakers will listen and ask questions. Both will put names to faces and build rapport, the better to get their work done.

After presiding over the Governor’s swearing-in as well as the Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General, Rodgers remarked that “I haven’t heard this much swearin’ since I was back on the farm.”

Lt. Gov. (for one more day) David Zuckerman told VDC he will be a regular host on WDEV’s Vermont Viewpoint, the station’s 9-11 AM public affairs call-in show.

Harvey is a 5th generation Vermonter born and raised in the Green Mountain State. Over a decade-long career in financial services, he held various roles at the New York Stock Exchange and its parent, Intercontinental Exchange, a Fortune 500 technology and data services company.

“This is a regressive bill. It will punish working class and poor Vermonters to make millionaires even richer,” Rodgers said.

Gov. Phil Scott appointed a Democrat to fill the seat vacated by Progressive Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, who was elected mayor of Burlington.

Bills with legs usually have a dozen or so legislators proudly standing in support at press conferences. Then, there’s S.258.

By a 105-37 roll call vote, the House made the pandemic-era state emergency housing program (sometimes known as the ‘homeless hotel’ program) permanent in statute, and expanded its services.

The legislative pay hike, Fish & Wildlife Board changes, controlling sheriffs, and above all school funding all have fallen or will likely do so because the Supermajority wants to stay the Supermajority.

A frustrated – or just rude – state senator interrupts the testimony of a Vermont Family Alliance advocate. See brief YouTube clip.

In a recent interview, Representative Anne Donahue’s wisdom and moral compass shines through. So does her love of ice cream.