By Michael Bielawski
Lawmakers will review dozens of bills this week in their committees, according to the weekly House committee agenda. Note that the agendas can change daily.
No guns in public buildings – H. 525 (House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs) Sponsored by Rep. James Harrison, R-North Chittenden, and others.
Harrison will introduce the bill on Tuesday. It deals with allowing communities to restrict firearms policy in public buildings. It proposes to “authorize the legislative body of a municipality to adopt an ordinance that prohibits the possession of firearms in a municipal building.”
Homeless Bill of Rights – H. 132 (House Committee on General and Housing) Sponsored by Rep. Thomas Stevens, R-Waterbury, and others.
On Wednesday lawmakers will look at establishing a homeless bill of rights and to “prohibit discrimination against persons without homes.”
An area of interest is what this will mean for the homeless who decide to set up tents on a sidewalk or panhandle in front of a business. The bill’s text says it’s to protect their rights “to use and move freely in public places, including public sidewalks, parks, transportation, and buildings, in the same manner as any other individual and without discrimination on the basis of the individual’s housing status.”
Carbon taxes for energy utilities? – H. 289 (Tuesday, House Committee on Education) sponsored by Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, and State Rep. Laura H. Sibilia, I-Dover addresses the state’s Renewable Energy Standard and could force utilities to buy special credits to continue with carbon-emitting forms of energy. It proposes “purchase of tradable renewable energy credits for distributed renewable generation at a cost that is less than the applicable alternative compliance rate.”
Act 250 (zoning) – H. 687 (Tuesday, House Committee on Education) sponsored by Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, and Rep. Seth Bongartz, D-Manchester would modifying the state’s land use and development law known as Act 250. Its purpose is to provide “a regulatory framework that supports the vision for Vermont of human and natural community resilience and biodiversity protection in the face of climate change, as described in 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 59.”
The priority stated in the 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 59 is that “Nature is facing a catastrophic loss of biodiversity, both globally and locally. In addition to its intrinsic value, biodiversity is essential to human survival.”
Growing marijuana outdoors – H. 549 (Tuesday in House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs) sponsored by Rep. Karen Dolan, D-Essex Junction, and Rep. Lori Houghton, D-Essex Junction would deal with the outdoor cultivation of cannabis. It would “prohibit the outdoor cultivation of cannabis in an area of a municipality with a population density at or above 500 persons per square mile, in an area served by municipal water and sewer infrastructure, or in an area prohibited by the Cannabis Control Board.”
Cultivation would be allowed “on property lawfully in possession of the cultivator or with the written consent of the person in lawful possession of the property.” It should also be “screened from public view and access is limited to the cultivator and persons 21 years of age or older who have permission from the cultivator.”
Non-Vermont judges? H. 780 – (Wednesday, House Committee on Judiciary) sponsored by Rep. Martin Lalonde, D-South Burlington, and Rep. Barbara Rachelson, D-Burlington would change requirements for judicial nominations and appointments. One feature of note would allow for judges in Vermont to not need to be Vermont residents.
Non-residential property tax surcharge – H.608 (Friday, House Ways & Means) sponsored by Rep. Mary Howard (D-Rutland) would allow municipalities to impose a property tax surcharge on non-residential property, with revenue going only to rehabilitating blighted residential buildings and public safety.
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle