By Rep. Jim Harrison (R-Chittenden)

Depending on one’s perspective we might look at various issues as making progress or going in the wrong direction, just like the proverbial the glass is half full or half empty. 

As an example, Governor Scott issued his first veto of the 2025 session on the annual mid-year Budget Adjustment Act over concerns of increased spending and extending the winter hotel voucher rules into early summer. Legislators that supported the BAA are disappointed, while opponents are hopeful with the veto.

There will likely be a vote in the House this week to override the Governor’s veto, but it will likely fail, given the new political makeup of the Chamber. However, on a more positive note, Democratic leaders met with the Governor Friday afternoon after the veto in the hope of finding an agreeable path forward. At this point, we are not sure if a compromise has been reached, but I am optimistic it will happen. The glass is half full.

On another issue, there have been bills to repeal the state’s Clean Heat Standard (Act 18) in both the House and Senate since early in the session. I am the lead sponsor of the House version (H.16) and Terry Williams of Rutland County is the sponsor in the Senate (S.68). 

While the Clean Heat law doesn’t fully take effect unless the legislature adopts the proposed rules, it is estimated to increase heating fuel prices eventually by as much as 58 cents per gallon. 

The repeal bills have been languishing in the respective House and Senate committees with no apparent movement. However, on Friday, the Senate Natural Resources Committee attached the Clean Heat repeal to a bill changing the scope of work of Efficiency Vermont on a 4-1 vote. While the repeal has a long way to go, it fits in another half full glass from my perspective as it appears it will be addressed.

Other issues of interest:

The House passed a two-year delay of the Raise the Age law, which increases the age at which adults are treated as juveniles. Without the delay passing in the next few weeks, 19-year-olds will be charged as minors for most criminal offenses. Vermont is only one of two states that currently treats 18-year-olds as minors. Increasing that to 19 and eventually 21 will make Vermont a further outlier. Scott had proposed repealing the law, so the delay is seen as a compromise.

To address rising health care costs in Vermont, both the House and Senate Health Care Committees advanced bills to expand the authority of the Green Mountain Care Board over hospital costs. UVM Medical Center has been under scrutiny for their higher-than-average administrative costs and subsequent pricing.

The House General & Housing Committee advanced its omnibus housing bill with some changes to municipal zoning appeals, tax credits for first generation homebuyers and more funding for affordable housing and infrastructure projects.

Half empty on public safety, bail reform

In the half empty category, one of the Governor’s public safety initiatives for bail reform for repeat offenders, did not advance by Friday’s crossover deadline. However, one might say half full as House Judiciary took testimony this past Friday on the bill, which could potentially lead to an amendment of the proposal to another bill later in the session?

Some believe education reform efforts are going too slow and may extend the 2025 session into June, while others believe slow and deliberate makes for a better outcome. The reform legislation has been granted an extension from the legislative crossover deadline. Consolidation of school districts, minimum class sizes, school choice options, changes in financing and more are all being discussed. It is unclear whether a ban on cell phones in schools will be considered this session.

The House Appropriations Committee has its work cut out this week. There are an estimated $300 million in spending requests over and above the Governor’s budget proposal from various advocacy organizations and independently elected state officers like Treasurer, Attorney General and Sec of State, as well as from other House committees. Appropriation members will need to remove a dollar of the Governor’s plan each time a dollar is added for one of the recommended adds it wants. 

In addition, this will be done in the backdrop of what spending changes in Washington might mean for the state as over 36% of state revenue comes from the federal government. As an example, last week the Agency of Agriculture learned that a $1.7 million federal grant to support local foods in school cafeterias was eliminated.

Although there is no shortage of half full or half empty perspectives on the issues circulating at State House, most agree that the annual March Madness college basketball competition under the dome is a full glass. The bracket games, done in the after-work hours, provide some fun and diversion to various policy differences of the day. As the self-appointed Commissioner of the competition, which raises some money for charity, I am looking forward to the games beginning this Thursday.

Other News

In a reversal from last year, the Senate confirmed Zoie Saunders as Secretary of Education on a 22-8 vote, with several key senators changing their vote from a year ago, including leader Phil Baruth, D-Chittenden Central.

The House passed H.238, which expands the state ban on PFAS chemicals in several new products, including dental floss and cleaning products.