By Guy Page
Non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities is the goal of two bills under consideration this week by committees of the Vermont Legislature.
Public access to most committee meetings will be available via livestream.
The House Judiciary Committee will discuss H. 511, concerning the admittance of federal immigration authorities into schools, on Wednesday, April 30.
The sole sponsor of the bill is freshman William Greer (D-Bennington). It would “require schools in Vermont to adopt a policy that will restrict the admittance of federal immigration authorities into nonpublic areas of the school without presenting a judicial warrant.”
According to the ACLU, “ICE typically uses an ‘administrative’ warrant when they are conducting enforcement actions, but only a judicial warrant can mandate their entry into private property. [Schools are deemed private property because they are not open to the public.] A judicial warrant is one that is issued by a court, signed by a judge, based upon a finding of probable cause, and specifically names the location and date range that a search is allowed. If an ICE agent presents an administrative warrant signed and issued by an immigration officer, you have the right to refuse entry.”
The Senate Committee on Judiciary will consider S. 148, sponsored by Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (D/P Chittenden), concerning expanding good samaritan protections concerning immigration, with witness testimony and mark-up planned for Wednesday, April 30, and Friday, May 2. The bill would “prohibit Vermont law enforcement agencies, officers, and persons acting on the behalf of a Vermont law enforcement agency to expend any resources to assist federal immigration authorities with civil or criminal immigration investigations or proceedings.”
The House Committee on Judiciary will discuss and potentially vote on J.R.S. 15, a joint resolution supporting Vermont’s transgender and non-binary community, on Tuesday, April 29.
Tougher energy codes – House Energy and Digital Infrastructure will dedicate time on Tuesday-Thursday to discuss H. 181, boosting Residential (RBES) and Commercial (CBES) Building Energy Standards, AKA ‘energy codes.’
Sponsored by Rep. Scott Campbell (D-St. Johnsbury), the bill claims compliance is only 54 percent for RBES and 87% for CBES, with both rates declining. Both codes are scheduled to become more stringent with the goal of “net zero ready” by 2030.
The bill would require the State to create an energy savings yardstick to determine energy code compliance. H.181 also would require utilities and state agencies claiming energy savings to develop a methodology for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas reductions annually.
Also, H.181 would reduce from $10,000 to $2000 the size of a home improvement job (labor, materials) for which a contractor must register with the Office of Professional Regulation. The bill would drop by 80% the cost threshold set by a recent law aimed at reducing home improvement fraud.
Packaging materials crackdown – Senate Natural Resources and Energy will consider S. 139, requiring the State to conduct a needs assessment for managing discarded or disposed packaging materials, and would also prohibit the chemical conversion of plastic in Vermont. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Anne Watson (D-Washington), the committee chair.
Battery recycling, fuel delivery restrictions – The committee also will review H. 319, with a possible May 2 vote. The ‘miscellaneous’ energy bill introduced by Rep. Amy Sheldon (D-Middlebury) would:
- Extend by a year the deadline for a state plan to recycle or dispose of EV and energy storage batteries, battery disposal assessment.
- Bans fuel deliveries to tanks without valid permits.
- Amends current state law on flood safety, river corridor mapping, wetland management, dam emergency operations, and resilience, all to prepare for climate change impacts.
Bee protection, Ag runoff – the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry will review a report on Best Management Practices for the Use of Neonic Seeds and Pesticides.
On Tuesday, April 29, House Ag will hold a joint hearing with House Environment on S. 124, aimed at regulating concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and their environmental impact. This bill addresses growing concerns over water pollution and public health involving large-scale livestock farming. House Agriculture will continue discussion on S. 124 on Wednesday, April 30, and Friday, May 2.
Also, S. 45, sponsored by Sen. Sam Douglass (R-Orleans) concerning protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities, is slated for discussion on Wednesday – Thursday with invited testimony from a dairy farmer and farmer respectively. The committee will also receive an Ag Innovation Board Report on Thursday.
House Commerce and Economic Development will review and possibly vote on S.127, a housing bill with funding for rental housing development, manufactured home improvement and repair, capital funding for sewer and water, and other supports for housing.
Several other significant bills are on committee agendas:
The House Committee on Corrections and Institutions will discuss H. 32, concerning treatment for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities, and H. 494, concerning capital construction and State bonding, throughout the week.
The House Committee on General and Housing will hear testimony on H. 348, concerning protecting workers from extreme temperatures in the workplace, on Tuesday, April 29.
Education finance and governance will be central to discussions in the Senate Committees on Education and Finance, both dedicating significant time to H. 454, concerning transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems, throughout the week.