2023 Legislative Accomplishments

The 2023 Legislative Session was a closely-watched, incredibly productive session in which we passed historic legislation to support Vermont’s families and childcare system, build and renovate housing in towns throughout the state, advance climate & environmental preservation programs, protect reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, reduce the harm of the opioid epidemic, and improve gun safety & suicide prevention efforts. In late June, the Session came to a close after we reconvened for one day to override five of the Governor’s unprecedented nine vetoes this session, including vetoes of the state budget and crucial childcare legislation.

I was the lead sponsor of the childcare legislation, and worked throughout the off-session with other childcare champions in the legislature to introduce a comprehensive bill that eventually became Act 76 on Vermont’s Childcare and Early Learning System.  As a member of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, I helped shepherd the childcare legislation and numerous other important health and human services bills through the Senate. I also had the honor of serving as the new Chair of the Senate Government Operations Committee, where we passed crucial legislation to provide better oversight of Vermont’s 14 sheriffs and county law enforcement operations.

For more details on the bills mentioned above, please read the summaries of several key legislative initiatives below. These summaries represent just some highlights of our work this session. In total, 81 bills and 16 municipal charter changes became law. You can find summaries of each act on the legislative website; they range in scope from minor updates to major new initiatives, as well as Act 78 the comprehensive 2024 state budget. Please reach out to me if you have questions or would like more information on our work. Thank you!