June Newsletter

At the end of last session a number of legislators announced they were not going to run for reelection and over a dozen more lost their reelection bids. In total, this meant 54 new faces in Montpelier this year, which created a serious stir. The political void departing legislators would be leaving behind – in terms of expertise, knowledge of the process, the history behind key bills, familiarity with staff – is hard to overstate.

As a matter of fact, I know for certain that two of these legislators left because the process, which has stood the test of time, was beginning to erode. We used to say that the best bill was the third bill - yours, mine and the compromise bill (which became law). But not so much anymore. When asked why, they just said “because we can.”

So here we are at the end of the first year of the 2025 – 2026 biennium. My impression of this past year is that many of the new legislators do not seem to have the commitment and respect for the institution, its traditions, and the many Vermonters they represent.

Just recently a Democratic Representative posted a very telling statement about respect for the process. “The question to vote on the Ed bill was called so quickly after voting on the procedural question that people didn’t realize what was happening. Reps who wanted a roll call vote missed the window to do that, etc. Not a good way to end the 2025 session in Montpelier.”

It goes further than that. There were instances in Committees where not everyone who wanted to speak before the Committee members got a chance to do so. The behavior of legislators, in how they treat one another, how they talk about constituents, the delays in ethics oversight, and even flaunting the state house dress code does not show respect for Vermonters or the institution.

Towards the end of the session there appeared to be more compromise and understanding being reached. I am hoping that is a sign that compromise, and the "third bill" is returning and being recognized for the benefits it can produce for Vermonters.

Here is what passed the Legislature this year:

In total, the legislature passed 82 bills this year. Five of them were vetoed by Governor Scott, the remainder went into law. The main ones focused on Vermont's three concurrent crises: education, housing, and health care. But, common ground was also found around elections, open meetings, workforce, social justice, and environmental protection. We will dig into many of them this summer in our short-format TV show - Banter & Beans.

We won't re-live every moment in this update, but Governor Scott certainly set the tone for this session, coming out with bold policy proposals on two of the three big challenges facing the state. For the most part he was successful in passing these priorities and legislative leaders were less eager to dismiss him and the Administration than in previous years. The reshuffling of the deck in Montpelier also changed the tenor of the conversation. Committees listened more eagerly to what administration officials (who are responsible for implementing legislation) were saying. House Speaker even bragged about how closely they were working with the Administration on education reform.

This a far departure from the last few legislative sessions where the atmosphere was adversarial and the legislature had little apparent interest in taking the Administration's proposals seriously. This turning over of a new leaf has lead to more compromise and two significant pieces of legislation that promise to address our housing and education spending crises (time will tell what the actual impact will be).

We would say that Vermonters are better off for this newfound spirit of compromise.

On behalf of Vermonters,

Pat McDonald
President, Campaign for Vermont

Banter & Beans We will be digging into everything the Legislature did this session over the summer in our short-format TV show! Join us as we break down each bill and digest what the legislature did (and did not) accomplish this year. Subscribe on YouTube
		COMMENTARY: Trust Vermont Values in Education Reform The road to education reform in Vermont has been long and winding, and we are at another crossroads. Driven by increasingly unaffordable property tax bills, House bill H. 454 attempts to use district consolidation as a cost-saving measure along with a funding formula change meant to contain spending. With no proof that this tactic will actually save money (and plenty that suggests it will not), this legislation heads us dangerously in the wrong direction. We need to look both ways before we go any further down this road.
Hybrid Open Meetings & Disruptive Individuals (S.59) The bill amends the state's Open Meeting Law to enhance transparency, accessibility, and accountability in public meetings; requiring hybrid meetings and clarifying policies and procedures for various meeting functions.
		2025 Economic and Workforce Development Initiatives (S.122) S. 122, passed by the Vermont House and Senate in 2025, focuses on enhancing economic and workforce development through targeted funding, task forces, and new commissions.
Stormwater Management (H.481) H.481, passed by the Vermont House and Senate in 2025, amends stormwater management regulations to enhance water quality protection, particularly for impervious surfaces of three or more acres. The legislation addresses permitting, funding, and municipal responsibilities while establishing a study committee to explore regional stormwater utility districts.
		Targeted Tax Relief (S.51) Expands the Vermont Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), retirement income exclusions, and introduces a new Vermont Veteran Tax Credit.
Cap on 340B prescription drug prices (H.266/Act 55) 340B prescription prices will be capped starting in January 2026. Other provisions promote equity and transparency.
		UPDATED: Delaying Ethics Oversight (H.1/Act 44) H.1 became law without the Governor's signature on June 5th.
UPDATED: The Legislature's Education Transformation Plan (H.454) The Legislature's grand education transformation initiative offers a mixed bag of results but does manage to move forward historic changes.
		Data Privacy for Minors (S.69 / Act 63) The Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act establishes regulations for online services and products that are likely to be accessed by minors. It emphasizes the protection of minors' data and outlines the responsibilities of businesses in handling this information.
Letter To Education Reform Conference Committee We sent a letter to the committee stalled on education reform with suggestions on how to move forward with a less top-down approach that avoids major tax increases for some of the state's most vulnerable communities.
		CFV is Hiring Campaign for Vermont is hiring! After years of being a board-run organization we are looking to staff up again to address major legislative initiatives. Read More

News Worth Reading:

Our top picks of local must-read news this month.

1. Seven Things to Know About Vermont's Education Reform Bill - Seven Days
2. Lawmakers Strike Deal on Huge Housing Infrastructure Bill - Seven Days
3. Maura Collins and Jason Pidgeon: CHIP is a game changer - VT Digger
4. Vermont lawmakers give final approval to nearly $14 million in tax cuts - Vermont Public
5. A cap on drug prices at Vt. hospitals will save millions. Hospitals say they can’t afford it - Vermont Public
6. Election bill falters at 11th hour after Senate president ties its fate to Burlington gun bill he backed - VT Digger
7. Sen. Thomas Chittenden: Freedom and Unity in our education system - VT Digger
8. Richard Monterosso: The H.454 power grab is not tax relief or education reform - VT Digger
9. Tim Maciel: Consolidation is not the answer - VT Digger
10. A supervisory union’s break with the Vermont School Boards Association reveals statewide fault lines in education reform - VT Digger

Recently Completed Research & Policy Proposals:

• Wealth Migration Report - Published December 11, 2024
• Education Spending & Outcomes Report - Published December 30, 2024
• A Pathway to Viable Education Reform - Published March 7, 2025
• Letter to Education Reform Conference Committee - Sent June 6, 2025

In order to continue pursuing all of these priorities, we need support from Vermonters like you! 

Campaign for Vermont's mission is to advocate for public policy changes by reconnecting middle-class Vermonters to their government.