The Senate is getting ready to vote on a historic education reform package (H.454) as soon as tomorrow. The bill includes major reforms to the financing of education in the state that are similar to the proposal we released in March. This overhaul will correct the tragedy of the commons situation that Act 60 has created (which significantly accelerated the growth of education spending in the state). The legislation also tees up major changes to the governance structure of education and creates a working group to come up with a plan for doing so.

I read Miro Weinberger’s recent opinion editorial “If Vermont wants a future of abundance, we must choose to build” with excitement. I too recently finished reading Ezra Klein’s new book, Abundance, and its relevance to Vermont is unquestionable.

We have a bunch of new bill reviews for you this week, including BOTH the House and Senate's versions of the housing bills and healthcare payment reform.

Last week both the Vermont House and Senate continued discussions regarding the importance of the reciprocal trading relationship with Canada, spanning over two centuries. The Vermont-Quebec trade relationship has been a significant source of economic development for Vermont, with foreign direct investment from Quebec playing a crucial role in job creation and business expansion. 

H.479 is the House's 2025 comprehensive housing bill aimed at addressing Vermont’s housing shortage through various programs, incentives, and regulatory changes. The legislation amends existing statutes and introduces new initiatives to improve rental housing, support manufactured home communities, enhance infrastructure, protect tenants, and streamline development processes.

S.126 is a comprehensive legislative proposal introduced to transform Vermont's health care system. The bill aims to improve health outcomes, enhance care quality, control costs, and ensure equitable access to health care services. It proposes structural changes through payment reforms, hospital budget oversight, data integration, and strategic planning.

The Senate's 2025 housing bill (S.127) is a comprehensive legislative proposal aimed at addressing housing shortages and improving housing accessibility, affordability, and infrastructure in Vermont. The bill amends existing statutes and introduces new programs to incentivize rental housing rehabilitation, manufactured home improvements, infrastructure development, and protections for vulnerable populations. It establishes study committees, funding mechanisms, and regulatory reforms to support housing development, with a focus on low- to moderate-income households, individuals with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

The Senate version of H.1 (Act 44) delays the implementation of investigatory authority and other miscellaneous powers of the State Ethics Commission until September 1, 2027.

Action Alert!

A bill that would delay implementation of oversight authority for the state's Ethics Commission passed out of Committee last week and is scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor this week. See our full analysis of the bill...