House to hear the latest on federal funding for election, civil rights, disaster relief
By Guy Page
The Vermont Senate wants President Donald Trump to drop all tariffs on Canada, the state’s largest foreign trading partner.
On Friday morning, April 18, the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee will review Senate Resolution 11 “supporting warm and cooperative relations on the part of both the United States and the State of Vermont with Canada and urging President Trump to remove all tariffs that he has imposed against Canadian imports and to refrain from subsequently imposing any new tariffs against Canadian imports.”
Canada is Vermont’s largest foreign trading partner. In 2023 we imported $2.5 billion and exported $683 million of goods, according to an ACCD report.
The resolution was signed by all 30 senators except. Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex) and Rutland County Republican senators Dave Weeks and Terry Williams.
Federal funding update for elections, disaster aid, etc. – The status of federal funding for disaster aid, elections, and civil rights will be on the table this week in House Appropriations.
Spokespersons for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the VT Secretary of State’s Office and the Vermont Attorney General are scheduled to address the committee Tuesday on the subject of federal funding.
An executive order from the Trump administration says states without voter ID will lose federal election funding. Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas condemned the EO in a recent statement but stopped short of saying her office recommends defying it.
The Vermont Community Foundation, the state’s largest umbrella organization for making grants and loans to non-profits, will testify to Approps about federal funding on Friday.
Ceremonial signing to honor veterans – Governor Phil Scott will hold a ceremonial bill signing of H.154, An act relating to designating November as the Vermont Month of the Veteran, Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at noon in the Governor’s State House Office in the State House.
Saving the Bennington Battle Monument – On Thursday, House Corrections and Institutions will hear an update on the effort to raise the $40 million needed to restore the Bennington Battle Monument.
Climate change bill adds more scrutiny of small home contracting jobs – H.181, a House bill that would transform Efficiency Vermont into a force for greenhouse gas reduction, also would place added regulatory burdens on contractors doing small home construction jobs priced as low as $2,000.
A recent Legislature required that contractors register with the state Office of Professional Regulation for jobs of $10,000 or more of labor and materials. H.181 would drop the threshold to $2,000 – which covers all but the very smallest home improvement jobs. Also, insurance would be required for jobs of $10K or more.
Junkyard oversight – A bill introduced by Rep. Larry Satcowitz (D-Randolph) would authorize municipalities to adopt an ordinance that extends State and local enforcement authority concerning scrapyards to any premises within the municipality that constitutes a public nuisance due to the accumulation of rubbish, scrap, junk, or abandoned vehicles. H.72 gets a hearing at 1 PM in House General and Housing.
Hearing on collective bargaining constitutional amendment – The Vermont House Committee on Housing and General Affairs will hold a public hearing on 1 PM Tuesday, April 22, in Room 10 of the State House on Proposition 3, Declaration of Rights; right to collectively bargain.
Anyone interested in testifying about the proposed constitutional amendment must sign up in advance of the hearing through the following online form no later than 5 PM Sunday, April 20, 2025.