By Guy Page

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott on Tuesday signed into law H.542, the $6.11 billion state budget for fiscal year 2019-2020, which begins July 1.

Gov. Phil Scott said he signed the 2019-20 $6.1 billion state budget because it meets major priorities while limiting spending increases to the same as wage growth in Vermont.

“While keeping new spending to a level that Vermonters can afford” (3 percent, Vermont’s current wage growth), Gov. Scott said at a State House press conference the budget meets these major priorities:

• Retraining workers (10% workforce development increase) and attracting new workers to Vermont ($7500 for moving expenses for workers relocating to Vermont)
• $6 million more for childcare and $3 million more for higher education, which “moves Vermont closer to a cradle to career education system.” In the last two and a half years state funding for childcare is up 30%.
• Provides more pay for frontline mental health workers.
• Funds state water cleanup without raising new taxes.
• Spends half of the fiscal year surplus on reducing pension fund deficit.

Gov. Scott also announced Monday, June 17 he had vetoed S.37, the medical monitoring bill. This bill would have required toxic chemical users and manufacturers to pay for the medical monitoring costs of people who claim they have been exposed to toxic substances, and can get an “expert witness” to convince a jury of the exposure and its potential harm.

“As a state, we have shown a significant commitment to ensuring Vermonters have clean and safe water and have existing legal avenues to pursue bad actors who jeopardize Vermonters’ health – and we will continue to do so,” Gov. Scott said. ““While we made progress this year in the discussion about medical monitoring, S.37 as passed, lacks the clarity needed by Vermont employers who our state relies on to provide good jobs. Numerous Vermont employers have expressed concerns to me, and to Legislators, that the unknown legal and financial risks, and increased liability, is problematic for continued investment in Vermont.”

Gov. Scott Monday, June 17 announced he has signed the following bills:

• S.30, the regulation of hydrofluorocarbons. This law bans sale of refrigerants now used to reduce the ozone layer but have also been found to emit greenhouse gases.
• S.40, testing and remediation of lead in the drinking water of schoolsand child care facilities (Click here to view press release).
• S.107, elections corrections – requires governor to notify voters of a statewide referendum on a constitutional amendment approved by the Legislature.
• S.111, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (Click here to view Governor Scott’s signing ceremony remarks).
• S.113, the management of single-use products, notably plastic bags, containers and straws. This law will take effect in July, 2020.
• H.16, boards and commissions.
• H.63, weatherization, a Public Utility Commission proceeding, and unclaimed beverage container deposits – this law funds increased home weatherization through Efficiency Vermont and creates a joint climate change committee of the Legislature to oversee climate-related policy when the Legislature is not in session.
• H.524, health insurance and the individual mandate.
• H.525, miscellaneous agricultural subjects, including removal of the hazard to health of unborn babies on warning labels on unpasteurized milk containers.

Previously, Gov. Scott has signed into law the following legislation:

• S.7, social service integration with Vermont’s health care system
• S.31, informed health care financial decision making and the consent policy for the Vermont Health Information Exchange
• S.41, regulating entities that administer tax-advantaged accounts for health-related expenses
• S.73, licensure of ambulatory surgical centers
• S.112, earned good time
• S.131, insurance and securities
• S.134, background investigations for State employees with access to federal tax information
• H.132, adopting protections against housing discrimination for victims of domestic and sexual violence
• H.135, the authority of the Agency of Digital Services
• H.292, miscellaneous natural resources and energy subjects
• H.508, approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Bennington
• H.514, miscellaneous tax provisions
• H.536, education finance

And these bills:

Statehouse Headliners is intended primarily to educate, not advocate. It is e-mailed to an ever-growing list of interested Vermonters, public officials and media. Guy Page is affiliated with the Vermont Energy Partnership; the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare; and Physicians, Families and Friends for a Better Vermont.