By Guy Page

Two controversial bills – one restricting ICE access to Vermont schools, the other delaying implementation of two rural development rules in Act 181 – have been voted out of the Senate and will be heard today in key House committees. 

S227 “would require all Vermont schools to adopt a policy that would prevent the school from providing sensitive information about a student to a federal agency and would require that a federal immigration authority present a judicial warrant before entering the nonpublic area of a school.” House Education will hear testimony this afternoon from sponsoring senators, the Agency of Education, and the Vermont School Board Association.

Committee member Josh Dobrovich (R-Williamstown) noted, “My guess is we’re moving forward on this.”

“I’m curious to see what the VSBA says about it,” Dobrovich said. “If we already have model policy around it, do we need legislation? If there is federal law, does this negatively impact us on the state level?”

Thee are no publicly reported incidents of ICE trying to enter Vermont schools. According to an AI search, nationwide since January 2025, ICE has tried to access school property only a dozen times – and never to access the school building, only grounds and parking lots.

Road rule/Tier 3 bill will ‘come off the wall’ in the House – but then what?

S.325, including delayed implementation of Act 181, will have testimony taken in a key House committee today. The bill delays implementation of Tier 3 (rural development restrictions) until 2028, and delays the even-more controversial Road Rule until 2030. The Road Rule restricts development of rural properties with 800 ft. roads on or adjacent to the property. 

Supporters of Act 181 say it streamlines housing development in urban areas and restricts development in rural areas in order to protect wildlife and what they say is Vermont’s historical pattern of encouraging growth in urban areas both law and small, but not in the countryside.

House Environment is “taking testimony today and tomorrow,” committee member Mike Taglivia (R-Corinth) said. “We’ll see where it goes.”

VDC asked the freshman rep what he thinks the House should do.

“We should repeal the Road Rule and Tier 3, that’s what we should do. The Road Rule is going to cripple rural Vermont. Think of the family with a 40 acre piece of ground, and they want to put a camp on it. We’re talking about draining the finances for a place that’s supposed to be an enjoyable family place.”

Tagliavia noted that many Vermonters are suspicious that delayed implementation could result in the final decision being made by a new governor and Legislature even less concerned about rural development rights. 

“They don’t trust us [the Legislature as a whole] anymore,” he said. “That’s what a lot of people suspect.” Therefore the Legislature should “repeal the stuff that people are suspicious of,” and then rewrite the bill.

Security checks on visitors every day through the rest of the session – If you come to the Vermont State House any day of the rest of the 2026 session (unless you’re a legislator or State House employee), expect to be wanded and have your electronics and bag X-rayed by security. The new security policy that began as a once-a-week affair will now be daily.

Also, expect to see more private security running the x-ray machines and wands. Today, two officers from Securitas were running the checks at the single-entry point near the back door, off of the coat room. A state house officer overseeing the operation said that’s partly so that visiting school children won’t feel intimidated by uniformed police.

Mental health agencies seek Medicaid increase – Vermont Care Partners, representing the 16-member network of community-based mental health agencies, are in the State House today. The group is seeking a 3.5% increase in Medicaid funding, up to $5.8 million in General Fund dollars. VCP cited “increasing service demand and complexity” as well as rising operating costs and wages and benefits for its workforce.