New single-family homes on their way out?
Senate legislation that would likely reduce new construction of urban, single-family homes will get its first look in the House at the House General and Housing Committee.
Vermont family paid leave bill discussed in Senate committee
The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs on Tuesday morning heard testimony from sponsors of House Bill 66 and a representative of the Office of Legislative Counsel.
Alison Despathy: 14 reasons why the S.5 Affordable Heat Act must not pass
If you think Vermonters should be punished and charged more for using heating fuel to reliably heat their homes in the winter, then this bill is for you.
Paul Dame: Parents beware
Parents stands to lose a great deal this year. The worst offense which will impact the greatest number of people is the proposal to eliminate the Child Tax Credit. Democrats are looking at eliminating this benefit.
Can’t afford your parking ticket? This Senate bill would help
Senate legislators are considering a bill that would end a policy that suspends driver’s licenses as a result of not paying civil traffic violations within 30 days. The bill, H.53, would also dissolve the need to pay the $80 license reinstatement fee currently in place for individuals who had theirs revoked for nonpayment of a violation.
Legislators looking at a redo of conservation bill Phil Scott vetoed last year
House lawmakers passed a sweeping land and water conservation bill March 24, in what is effectively a do-over of legislation vetoed last year by Gov. Phil Scott. H.126, which sets a goal of conserving half of Vermont’s land area and waters by 2050, is now heading through the Senate.
Roper: So, the ‘check back’ in S.5 isn’t really a check back
Now that the Clean Heat Standard bill is in the House, we are getting some clarity as to just how hollow even that level of “check back” really is. For one thing, it isn’t really a “check back” or a “circuit breaker” at all, it is a — new term — “throttle down.”
House committee takes up ranked-choice voting for presidential primary elections in 2028
Will Senning, director of elections and campaign finance for the Secretary of State’s Office, clarified that this bill would require ranked choice voting for the 2028 presidential election regardless of what the study committee comes up with.
Rep. Charles Wilson: Holding on to Vermont and Vermont traditions
Authentic Vermont embodies agriculture, self-sufficiency and independence, a strong work ethic, healthy communities and families, faith and honorable values, and fiscal responsibility. The supermajority in the Statehouse are placing these fundamental Vermont values at risk.
Vermont GOP lawmakers share governor’s alarm over half-billion in new spending proposals
Vermont’s Republican House and Senate members met together at the Statehouse on Thursday to echo Gov. Phil Scott’s recent concerns that the budget proposed by the supermajority could raise the General Fund base budget by 12% and spend $500 million on new programs annually.
Fuel dealers try their luck with House reps regarding clean heat standard bill
When the clean heat standard bill, S.5, was in the Senate, Vermont fuel dealers who testified in committee were given a mere six minutes each to make their case. Now that the bill has moved over to the House Committee on Environment and Energy, they got a chance to try again with a new audience — and a little more time.
Sex crimes expert warns decriminalization bills will help pimps, not sex workers
The executive director of the group Rights4Girls was on the “Morning Drive” radio show on Wednesday to talk about bills moving through the Statehouse that aim to decriminalize sex work — but they may make it easier to be a ‘pimp’ in the business, and more difficult to rescue the sex workers.