By the Vermont Chamber of Commerce

THE Legislature took big steps Friday on major tax and development legislation.

Wealth tax: The Senate advanced H.933, voting down a floor amendment that would have attached a high-income earner and investments tax proposal and had broad implications for business owners. The bill now returns to the House.

Act 250: S.325 advanced out of House Environment with significant changes to Act 181, including repealing Tier 3 and the road rule, but shortening interim Act 250 housing exemptions from 2030 to 2028. This new version will also create a joint legislative oversight committee and initiate a Vermont Council on Rural Development–led public engagement process on future land use policy.

Property taxes: On a 28-2 vote the Senate advanced H.949 with an average property tax increase of 3.8% using all available onetime funds, compared to the House-passed 7% increase using half those funds. The bill now returns to the House, where a conference committee made up of legislators from both chambers is expected to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Budget: On a 23-7 vote the Senate advanced H.951, approving a $9.4 billion budget with additional investments in economic development and housing programs. The bill now returns to the House, where a conference committee made up of legislators from both chambers is expected to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget.