By Michael Bielawski
A bill to increase the age limit of Vermont’s popular, but expensive health insurance for lower and middle-income children will be reviewed in a key committee of the Vermont House of Representatives this week.
H. 721 (Tuesday, House Committee on Health Care) sponsored by Committee Chair Rep. Lori Houghton of Essex Junction and 79 others would make the public health program intended for youth known as Dr. Dynasaur eligible to young adults as much as 26 years old.
The bill would also change the eligibility for Medicare for adults to be the same income threshold as for Dr. Dynasaur and would require increased reimbursement rates to providers for delivering primary care, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, long-term care, and dental services to Medicaid beneficiaries. It allocates $250,000 for a study but otherwise does not assess the financial impact of the bill’s passage. If approved, H721 would almost certainly go to the House Appropriations and Ways and Means committees to study how much it would cost and how it would be paid for.
Dozens of other bills and issues are scheduled for review by House and Senate committees this week. In the House:
Education taxes – (Tuesday, joint hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Education Committee) State lawmakers on Tuesday are going to look at how to fund the state’s education system that keeps going up in cost even as they lose students.
This is a sensitive subject for lawmakers especially this year as it’s been predicted by state offices that the education tax (property taxes) will go up 18.5% this year.
Mental health in schools – (Tuesday, House Education Committee) Lawmakers will discuss mental health in schools. Erica McGlaughlin who is the assistant executive director for the Vermont Principals’ Association will speak, more speakers are invited. According to a 2021 survey, 22% of middle school students and 35% of high school students say they’ve experienced “poor mental health” within the past year.
Homeless Bill of Rights – H. 132 (Thursday, House Committee on General and Housing) sponsored by Rep. Thomas Stevens of Waterbury and others, is to establish “a homeless bill of rights and prohibiting discrimination against persons without homes.”
In the language it says that unless there is a municipal law stating otherwise, “no individual shall be subject to civil or criminal sanctions for soliciting, sharing, accepting, or offering food, drink, money, or other donations in a public place.”
Strengthening penalties for car thefts – H. 563 (Tuesday, House Committee on Judiciary) sponsored by Rep. Thomas Burditt of West Rutland and others will look at “to establish a five-year felony for attempted auto theft.”
Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad is among several invited speakers. According to the chief’s 2023 crimes report, Grand Larceny was at a new record high of 1,626 incidents. The previous high was 2022 with 1,550 incidents and 1,106 incidents in 2021.
Retail theft – H. 534 (Thursday, House Committee on Judiciary) sponsored by Rep. Thomas LaLonde of South Burlington and others will look at a bill to allow prosecuters to consider the aggregate of stolen goods spanning multiple store visits when considering charges. Currently, there is a $900 threshold for a felony charge, and repeat offenders seem to operate with that limit in mind.
Funding more EV charging – H. 693 (Wednesday, House Committee on Transportation) sponsored by Rep. Sara Coffey of Guilford and others is asking that the Agency of Transportation produce a written plan for how to fund the state’s electric vehicle supply equipment which is “necessary for Vermont to meet the plug-in electric vehicle goals in the Comprehensive Energy Plan and the Vermont Climate Action Plan.”
A study published on Monday by Green Car Reports reveals that 50% of non-EV owners cite charging them as a primary concern, this includes the range that they can go and the time it takes to charge them.
Sister State – S.30 (Wednesday, 9 AM in House Commerce and Economic Development) sponsored by Sen. Ruth Hardy and others establishes “sister state” relationships between Vermont and states in up to five other countries to promote understanding and collaboration between residents, governments, businesses, and community organizations, create opportunities for cultural exchanges and joint programs for educational, recreational, artistic, humanitarian, and economic purposes, and peace, human rights, and environmental sustainability. The bill has no stated appropriation for funding.
Bring back Corrections work crews – H. 690 (Friday in House Corrections) sponsored by Rep. Martin LaLonde would restore the use of work crews as a sentencing alternative. Work crews were phased out during the Covid era.
College requirement to assist homeless/foster care students – H. 717 (Wednesday, House Education) sponsored by Rep. Jubilee McGill would require postsecondary schools in Vermont to designate an official liaison to students experiencing homelessness and students exiting the foster care system, as well as develop policies requiring priority housing and class enrollment options and fee waivers for such students.
Approval process for independent schools (Friday, House Committee on Education) Emily Simmons who is general counsel for the Agency of Education will talk about “Independent School Approval and Quality Assurance Process.”
There has been much pressure over recent years for independent schools to be held to the same requirements as larger and more funded public schools as it relates to, for example, serving students with special needs. Independent schools have also been pressured to adopt diversity statements. These matters could come up during this discussion.
Tomorrow: this week in Senate committees.
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle