By Guy Page and Tim Page
A Senate bill introduced Feb. 3 would require non-fossil fuel stoves, space heaters and hot-water heaters in all state-owned buildings when current systems are replaced.
S59, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Perchlik (D/P, Washington) and 16 other Democratic or Progressive senators, but no Republicans, would “install in any building owned or controlled by the State: (1) a renewable space or water heating system when any space heating system is replaced or when a new space or water heating system is installed, and (2) a non-fossil fuel cooking appliance when any fossil fuel cooking appliance is replaced.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Institutions.
Government-ordered replacement of gas-powered stoves was first raised by the Biden administration last month. The administration has since backed off, in part due to grassroots and Congressional pushback – including from an influential Democratic senator.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led two bipartisan efforts to prevent the Biden Administration from banning gas stoves in households across West Virginia and America, his office reported Feb. 2. In January, Senator Manchin released a statement in opposition to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC’s) consideration of a gas stove ban.
Senators Manchin and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, which would block the CPSC from banning gas stoves. The legislation would also prevent CPSC from using federal funds to impose regulations that would substantially increase their costs and make them unaffordable for millions of American families.
Other recent Senate bill introductions would:
Establish public pre-K schooling and offer financial child-care assistance for non-citizens. S56 would establish the public prekindergarten education program, designate a second Deputy Secretary within the Agency of Education, establish a property tax exemption for child care providers, reorganize the Department for Children and Families and establish the Department of Economic Empowerment, increase family eligibility and provider payments in the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, establish the Noncitizen Child Care Assistance Program, and provide child care workforce retention grants.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ruth Hardy (D-Addison) and 16 other senators, and sent to the Health & Welfare Committee.
Toughen sentencing for repeated dealing of hard drugs. S58, sponsored by Sen. Richard Sears (D-Bennington), would require drug dealers convicted of second and third offenses, and offenses with death resulting, serve the full term of at least the minimum jail sentence for the offense. Sears is the only sponsor. Other bills under consideration would reduce sentences for possession and other ‘user’ drug crimes. The bill was sent to Senate Judiciary, which Sears chairs.
Create the Vermont Climate Corps. S53, sponsored by Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale and sent to the Economic Development Committee (which she chairs), would allocate $5 million to “create the Vermont Climate Corps to implement a work program that would provide employment [for youth 18 and older] doing climate resilience and adaptation work.”
All bills introduced into the 2023-24 session to date. Current through February 3, 2023. For more information see http://www.legislature.vermont.gov
| Bill # | Introduced | Title | Lead Sponsor | Sponsor party | Committee |
| S.59 | 2/3/2023 | Requires renewable heating systems in all current state buildings | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Institutions |
| S.58 | 2/2/2023 | Increases penalties for repeat drug trafficking, death resulting | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.57 | 2/2/2023 | Allows towns and cities to limit firearm use at gun clubs | Clarkson | Democrat | Government Operations |
| S.56 | 2/1/2023 | Expands public pre-K education | Lyons/ Hardy | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.55 | 2/1/2023 | Allows government bodies to meet online, no physical location necessary | Clarkson | Democrat | Government Operations |
| S.54 | 2/1/2023 | Maintains separation of insurance markets in VT Health Connect | Cummings | Democrat | Finance |
| S.53 | 2/1/2023 | Creates a Vermont Climate Corps work program | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.52 | 1/31/2023 | Ensures State health insurance eligibility regardless immigration status | Hardy | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.51 | 1/31/2023 | Amends authority to investigate claims of abuse of vulnerable adults | Lyons | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.50 | 1/31/2023 | Protects patient access to, payment for health care | Cummings | Democrat | Finance |
| S.49 | 1/31/2023 | Genetic and consumer health information privacy | Lyons | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.48 | 1/31/2023 | Regulates sale of catalytic converters to scrap metal processors | Chittenden | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.47 | 1/27/2023 | Transport of individuals to psychiatric care | Lyons/ Sears | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.46 | 1/27/2023 | Ensure rights to independent auto repair | Gulick | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.45 | 1/27/2023 | Establishes elective income tax on pass-through businesses | Chittenden | Dem./ Rep. | Finance |
| S.44 | 1/27/2023 | Manufacturers pay for household hazardous products collection | Bray | Democrat | Natural Resources |
| S.43 | 1/26/2023 | Legal representation in the child protection system | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.42 | 1/26/2023 | Prohibits State retirement systems from investing in fossil fuels | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Government Operations |
| S.41 | 1/26/2023 | Eliminates life without parole | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.40 | 1/26/2023 | Regulates firearm usage, storage, and purchase | Clarkson/ Hardy | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.39 | 1/26/2023 | Legislators’ pay and benefits | Clarkson/ Hardy | Democrat | Government Operations |
| S.38 | 1/26/2023 | Municipal planning permits | McCormack | Democrat | Natural Resources |
| S.37 | 1/25/2023 | Access to abortion and gender-reassignment | Lyons/ Hardy/ Clarkson/ Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.36 | 1/25/2023 | Permits arrest without a warrant | Sears/ Lyons | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.35 | 1/25/2023 | Hartford’s infrastructure financing | White | Democrat | Finance |
| S.34 | 1/25/2023 | Kindergarten enrollment age | Chittenden | Democrat | Education |
| S.33 | 1/25/2023 | Miscellaneous judiciary procedures | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.32 | 1/25/2023 | Ranked-choice voting for presidential primary elections | Ram Hinsdale/ Hardy | Democrat | Government Operations |
| S.31 | 1/24/2023 | Open carry and self-defense with firearms | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.30 | 1/24/2023 | Sister State Program | Hardy | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.29 | 1/24/2023 | Military protection orders | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.28 | 1/24/2023 | Restrict litigation against abuse survivors | White | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.27 | 1/24/2023 | Reducing usage of cash bails | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.26 | 1/20/2023 | Removing residency requirement from assisted suicide | Lyons | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.25 | 1/20/2023 | Banning certain harmful chemicals from cosmetic, health products | Lyons | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.24 | 1/19/2023 | Implementing the Clean Fuels Program | White | Democrat | Natural Resources |
| S.23 | 1/19/2023 | Prohibiting certain forms of discrimination | Hardy | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.22 | 1/18/2023 | Posting of land, hunting/ fishing | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Natural Resources |
| S.21 | 1/18/2023 | Safety zones | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Natural Resources |
| S.20 | 1/18/2023 | Basic Needs Budget and minimum wage calculation | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.19 | 1/18/2023 | Tobacco prohibitions | Ram Hinsdale/ Lyons | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.18 | 1/18/2023 | Flavored-tobacco ban | Lyons | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.17 | 1/17/2023 | Sheriff reforms | Sears/ Hardy | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.16 | 1/12/2023 | Exceptions for clergy | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.15 | 1/12/2023 | Presumptive probation | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.14 | 1/12/2023 | Justice expendature reporting | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.13 | 1/11/2023 | Referral of cases to community justice centers | Hashim | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.12 | 1/11/2023 | Union elections | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.11 | 1/10/2023 | Persons prohibited from firearms | Baruth | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.10 | 1/10/2023 | Water filling stations in schools | Chittenden | Democrat | Education |
| S.9 | 1/10/2023 | State Auditor examining State contractor records | Bray | Democrat | Government Operations |
| S.8 | 1/6/2023 | Counsel for the legally insane | Hashim | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.7 | 1/6/2023 | Public defender expanded access | Hashim | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.6 | 1/6/2023 | Police interrogation of juveniles | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.5 | 1/6/2023 | Affordable Heat Act mandate | Bray | Democrat | Natural Resources |
| S.4 | 1/6/2023 | Violent crime reduction for juveniles through gun control | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.3 | 1/6/2023 | Prohibiting paramilitary training camps | Baruth | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.2 | 1/6/2023 | Payment, case management for developmental disability services | Lyons | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.1 | 1/6/2023 | Act 250 and aircraft hangars | Sears | Democrat | Natural Resources |
In the Toolbox to Follow and Influence the Vermont Legislature, VDC also publishes:
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2023 VDC Vermont Legislative Directory, listing on one page the pertinent party, committee, town, district and email contact information for all 180 legislators.
How to Watch the Legislature at Home, a guide to accessing House, Senate and committee meetings via livestream and recorded Zoom links.
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