Video: House Energy Committee discusses Global Warming Solutions Act
On Jan. 28, 2020, the House Committee on Energy and Technology heard testimony on H.688, the Global Warming Solutions Act.
Video: House Judiciary Committee discusses police deadly use of force
On Jan. 28, 2020, the House Committee on Judiciary took testimony on H.808, an act relating to the use of deadly force by law enforcement.
New agency proposed to oversee all state police, game wardens, county sheriffs, and prison guards
S.182, sponsored by Senate Government Operations Committee Chair Jeanette White, D-Windham, creates a plan to elevate a new Agency of Public Safety to lead a new “hierarchical structure” over all state and county enforcement.
School Choice Week comes to Vermont, but issue gains little traction at Statehouse
Vermont’s fourth celebration of School Choice Week came to the Statehouse on Wednesday, with students sharing stories about the benefits of choice and education policy leaders calling for more action.
School choice good for students, parents, Vermont economy, advocates say
In one sentence at a press conference Wednesday, Brad Ferland of St. Albans declared the goal of National School Choice Week: “School choice should be expanded, and not taken away.”
Video: Senate Committees on Health and Welfare, Judiciary evaluate gun waiting periods and suicide prevention
On Jan. 23, 2020, the Senate Committee on Judiciary and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee held a joint hearing to consider research on the effect of gun waiting periods on suicide.
Video: Senate Judiciary Committee discusses act related to firearms procedures
On Jan. 23, 2020, the Senate Committee on Judiciary reviewed S.169, an act related to firearms procedures including magazine capacity exemptions, firearms transfers and background checks, gun purchase waiting periods, and extreme risk protection orders.
Vermont House this week ponders apology for eugenics and sterilization, considers increasing access to contraception
About 100 years after the heyday of the Vermont eugenics movement led by UVM Professor Henry Perkins, the Vermont Legislature this week is preparing an official apology to Abenaki, French-Canadians and others forced into sterilization under laws promulgated by previous general assemblies.
Video: House Committee on Energy discusses Global Warming Solutions Act
On Jan. 24, the House Committee on Energy and Technology held a hearing on H.688, the Global Warming Solutions Act. Among the witnesses who gave testimony were Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce, Mary Powell and Jen Duggan of the Conservation Law Foundation.
1,241 bills introduced so far include Abenaki land repatriation, stormwater fee delay, high capacity ammo mag ban
As of Jan. 27, the 2019-20 Vermont Legislature has introduced 1,241 new bills and eight proposed constitutional amendments. The following is a partial list of bills introduced last week into the Vermont House.
House passes minimum wage hike to $12.55 per hour, on to Senate next
The Vermont House voted Friday to raise the state’s minimum wage to $12.55 within two years, but the measure failed to garner enough votes to override a veto, should Gov. Phil Scott oppose the bill in the coming weeks.
Paid family leave passes House, heads to governor’s desk
The Vermont House of Representatives on Thursday voted to approve a paid family leave program for the entire state, but the legislation didn’t get quite enough votes to overcome a potential governor’s veto.