Senate, House GOP leaders pledge tax reform, Clean Heat repeal

Vermont’s House and Senate Republicans return home this week for Town Meeting Week and look forward to connecting with the communities that we represent. 

We have been working toward delivering common sense reforms called for last November when voters reelected Governor Scott by a landslide and broke the Democrat supermajority with historic Republican legislative gains. We are working very closely with Governor Scott to leverage our strengthened minority position in both chambers of the Legislature, along with the Governor’s veto power, to achieve as many of our goals as possible: education funding and governance reform, repeal of the Clean Heat Standard and Global Warming Solutions Act private right of action, increased public safety, and housing affordability and availability.

Republicans are in full agreement with Governor Scott and his goal of reducing Vermont’s property tax burdens through education reform. Vermonters deserve a transparent and understandable education funding system that much more closely connects a district spending decision with its tax rate. Discussions are ongoing with our Democrat colleagues. Rep. Toof introduced H.454 and the House Education Committee has already taken it up.

House and Senate Republicans are also committed to implementing Governor Scott’s Affordable Climate Action Management Plan, which will ensure affordable, achievable climate action that is realistic and includes reforming the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) to require net-zero emissions by 2035, rather than focusing on gross emissions. The GWSA would also be amended to repeal the private right of action to bring suit, which is already distracting the Agency of Natural Resources from its climate work.

The Clean Heat Standard would impose a cost of $955M on Vermonters through an eventual $0.58/gallon fee on heating fuel. Bills have been submitted in both the House and Senate to repeal the Clean Heat Standard. A motion to relieve the Senate Natural Resources & Energy committee of S.68 (repeal Clean Heat Standard) was made on Feb. 25th by Sen. Terry Williams, but did not pass. All 13 Republican Senators voted to relieve the committee of S.68, all 17 Democrat and Progressive voted no.

The Senate recently passed the Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) without Republican support, with the House of Representatives expected to take action after the Town Meeting week recess. The BAA in its current form will add an additional $1.8 million to extend emergency winter weather housing through June 30. The Governor supports an increase in congregate shelters for the safety of the unhoused as 124 people have died in the hotel-motel program since 2020 and none have died in congregate shelters. This would also cost half as much as sheltering people in hotel rooms.

This measure, along with others Democrats have added, would go far beyond the level of spending proposed by Governor Scott. In addition, Governor Scott believes that the instability in Washington D.C. dictates that Vermont should be holding onto as many dollars as possible in anticipation of a reduction in federal monies that flow to Vermont. Senator Beck noted on the Senate floor on February 25th that, “We need every penny we can (get) right now.” 

Public safety is a significant concern and Republican Representatives and Senators are introducing bills and pushing for necessary change, including further restrictions on bail, probation, and parole that will keep dangerous repeat offenders out of communities. We also continue to oppose “raise the age” initiatives which would allow those up to 21 to commit crimes with little accountability, and repealing expungement of records and instead, opt for sealing records.

Companion bills H.412 and S.102 have been introduced and have a lot of potential to help solve Vermont’s housing crisis. These bills would build on last year’s Act 250 reform work and provide municipalities increased flexibility to get critical housing programs started. Permitting ease and predictability are increased. Importantly, these bills would make it easier for critical infrastructure to be built and connected to housing projects. 

We look forward to returning to Montpelier after Town Meeting week and pursuing these initiatives and others.