By Guy Page

Gov. Phil Scott Monday, June 12 signed into law H.479, Vermont’s biggest transportation budget ever. 

Annual transportation budget spending in the coming fiscal year totals $851 million. A ledger of all proposed transportation spending appears in H.494, the 2023-24 state budget approved by the Legislature, vetoed by the governor, and the subject of a possible override next week. It surpasses last year’s record transportation spending of $829 million.

“This year’s T-Bill is the largest ever, making significant investments in Vermont’s infrastructure,” Scott said. Much of the revenue is federally funded. However, DMV fees are scheduled to increase by 19.8%. Spending includes:

• Over $140 million for paving projects, covering more than 450 miles of improvements;  
• $18.2 million for bicycle, pedestrian, and transportation alternatives program funding, going to 55 construction projects and the design of 37 additional projects across 77 Vermont communities; 
• $48.8 million for public transit; 
• $43 million in rail projects;
• $27.9 million to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector, including expanding EV charging.

Other bills signed into law June 12:

H.31 (sponsored by Rep. Seth Bongartz, D-Manchester) creating an aquatic nuisance control committee to study use of pesticides in Vermont waters.

H.67 bans sale of hazardous household products (including those sold in pressurized cans) not covered by a government-approved, industry operated recycling program (Lead sponsor Kari Dolan, D-Waitsfield). 

H.227 clarifies power of attorney with the Vermont Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Martin LaLonde, D-S. Burlington). H.414 establishes an unused legal drug repository for Vermont. Drugs donated by pharmaceutical companies, etc., would be distributed to low-income Vermonters.

H.414 establishes an unused legal drug repository for Vermont. Drugs donated by pharmaceutical companies, etc., would be distributed to low-income Vermonters.