Scott vetoed his third bill this week Thursday, denying the Vermont State Employees’ Union exclusive access to solicit corrections officers’ membership in prison parking lots. He also signed into law the state transportation spending bill, the ‘yield’ bill setting a seven percent statewide property tax hike, and the education reform bill encouraging but not requiring school district mergers. 

After his veto of a hospital cost control bill, the Vermont NEA went all scorched earth on the Affordability Governor.

Governor Phil Scott on June 16 signed a slew of bills into law but vetoed a bill meant to impose price controls on hospitals. 

Gov. Phil Scott this week signed into law bills continuing state-only authority for renewable power projects, postponing required testing for PCBs in public schools, and giving unaccompanied teens more access to state services. 

If S.208 had become law, Vermont anti-ICE demonstrators and the government officials in active or tacit support of them would have another weapon at their disposal – as seen in New Jersey.

During his tenure, Harvey became a leading Republican voice on public safety issues and a frequent defender of law enforcement during Judiciary Committee debates.

Lt. Gov. John Rodgers is not a fan of S.325, the Act 181 reform bill, as it emerged from the conference committee. That could spell trouble for the bill if the Senate is deadlocked on the bill today.

The long-awaited school reform bill emerged from a House and Senate conference and goes to the Senate floor today. 

“The gambit is: let’s repeal the CHS and put it into something the governor doesn’t like,” Cota said. “I think most Vermonters can see through that.”

With the help of dozens of Republicans and with the grudging acceptance of progressive Democrats, S.208. the House Thursday removed ICE from the mandatory police masking bill.

S.325 in second day of conference committee talks

Adjournment won’t happen until conference committees can connect on the tax (H933), budget (H951) and homestead property tax (H949).

One ‘No’ vote says Vermont needs to follow the Bible

Abenaki celebration on State House lawn today; Shout out to VDC from…. John Walters?

The House bill calls for a seven percent property tax increase.

Vermont’s legislative week of reckoning

As the era of abundant pandemic-era federal funding ends, the state is grappling with a $9.3 billion budget and shrinking revenues, as federal cuts and an aging tax base create immense mounting pressure. 

Beverage redemption, voting by phone, as well as youth flying and youth fishing.

Scott allows anti-ICE lawsuit bill to become law

“We are far from repealed. We haven’t seen any updated legislation,” North told VDC in the State House cafeteria this AM. “I asked that question and did not get a definite answer. Which is concerning.” 

The fuel dealers registry bill and the Miles Based User Fee are both moving through the Vermont Senate. Also: Anti-ICE bill passes Senate.

An effort to repeal the Act 181 Road Rule will be attempted in committee this week, Republican House members say.

“Repeal the road rule and repeal Tier 3 this session. Trust has been broken,” Neil Ryan says.

Also, security checks on visitors every day through the rest of the session, and mental health agencies seek Medicaid increase.

Rep. Chris Taylor (R-Milton) has resigned from the Legislature due to work conflicts. 

The Vermont House gave preliminary approval Thursday to H.949, the education finance Yield Bill and its proposed 7% property tax increase, but not before three Republican amendments to cut taxes failed.

Pay attention to THIS, House Dems say. No, pay attention to THAT, GOP says.

House to consider $9.3 billion state budget, 7% property tax hike.

Get tough on youthful offenders, ban paraquat, address truancy and recidivism

Some senators want to repeal the road rule. Others seek to delay implementation until 2030.

Act 181 reform goes to floor next week/ School reform now ‘Act 46 2.0’?/ Local highway $$ redirected to statewide reappraisal

In the week after the Crossover deadline, the Vermont House has been busy passing bills. Below are all of the bills passed in the House and sent to the Senate this week.

Rep. Mike Tagliavia (R-Corinth) will promote H.89, the statewide school choice bill he introduced last year, at a press conference at 1 PM today, Tuesday March 17 in the Cedar Creek Room. 

With crossover week fully behind us, lawmakers begin the work of finalizing the bills that passed successfully from policy committees by the deadline.

All but three House Democrats signed a letter calling on Hooper, a Vietnam veteran and lawmaker representing North Burlington since 2019, to resign his seat in the Legislature

It’s Friday of Crossover Week, and the Vermont House has a very full agenda of legislation up for action today. 

Krowinski commended the complainant, who is not named in the letter, for “an extraordinarily courageous action.” 

The Vermont House Tuesday morning gave preliminary approval to H.545, the vaccine bill rejecting the federal vaccine guidelines proposed by AHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy. It also voted against the bill’s proposed [Rep. Greg of Cabot] Burtt amendment, requiring more parental information about child vaccination.

Vermont’s lawmakers are all back from their Town Meeting break and bracing for Crossover Week, when bills (with a few exceptions) must be voted out of committee in order to proceed to passage this year. Here are just a handful of developments as of this morning. 

This week is the last opportunity for new bills to pass between chambers, so this means that time is limited and committees often work long hours with few breaks. However, this excludes “must-pass” bills, like the budgets, which are given extra time. 

To help recruit and retain members, many volunteer departments now provide a minimum-wage stipend for time spent responding to calls.

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.