The past few weeks have been really busy at the State House and lots of bills have advanced from the Senate to the House and vice versa. Read more for an update about several of these bills and other pressing issues impacting our county and state.
Climate Resiliency & Flood Recovery
The Senate passed a suite of bills to address climate resilience and flood prevention & recovery, including:
- S.310 improves the government’s response to natural disasters by addressing emergency planning, response, and communications, and provides much needed resources for local municipalities for flood recovery & infrastructure upgrades. You can find a summary of the bill here.
- S.259 creates a climate superfund cost recovery program to recoup payments from corporations whose activities contribute to climate change and cause the type of damage Vermont experienced during last summer’s floods.
- S.213 relating to the protection of wetlands, river corridor development, and dam safety which limits development in wetlands, requires the state to take the lead on planning development along rivers, and improves oversight of dam safety.
Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform
Although crime rates in Vermont remain relatively low, there have been increasing concerns about public safety in many communities, so I worked with a bi-partisan group of colleagues to introduce S.195 regarding creating stricter conditions of release for individuals who have been charged with a crime. The bill passed with nearly unanimous bi-partisan support.
Here in Addison County, we have had repeated issues with elected county officials who have been charged with crimes while serving in office. Two years ago the sheriff was charged with sexual assault and recently the state’s attorney was charged with DUI and had her law license suspended for failure to cooperate with an investigation. Yesterday, nearly the entire Addison County legislative delegation called on State’s Attorney Eva Vekos to resign: “Addison County deserves better. It is incumbent upon State’s Attorney Vekos to prioritize the safety of Addison County and the vital functions of the prosecutor’s office by resigning immediately.”
Public Libraries and Public Meetings
Public libraries are a vital part of our communities and schools, so I’m thrilled that my bill S.220 relating to Vermont’s public libraries has passed the Senate with strong provisions to prevent book banning in community and school libraries, secure the privacy of teens who check out books, and protect librarians and patrons from criminal threatening in a library.
The Open Meeting Law is foundational to the public’s ability to participate in meetings of public boards, councils, and commissions. It promotes accountability, transparency, and accessibility. During the pandemic, all public bodies were permitted to meet fully remotely and we learned a lot about meeting technology and participation. So, S.55 updates Vermont’s Open Meeting Law to permit more fully remote meetings, while also requiring broader access and public information. You can find a summary of the bill here.
Public Education and Public Health
After a year with no permanent Secretary of Education, Governor Scott nominated Zoie Saunders from Broward County Florida to be the next Secretary. I have not yet had the opportunity to meet her and ask her any questions, which I hope to be able to do within the next couple weeks. However, at this point, I am concerned that her professional experience as an executive at a for-profit charter school company and her lack of any meaningful public education or teaching experience make her a bad fit for Vermont. Agency secretaries must be approved by the Senate, and I assure you that I will ask tough questions and vote against her confirmation if I am not convinced that she’ll be a strong and competent leader for Vermont’s public schools.
Two weeks ago, S.18 a bill that would prohibit flavored nicotine vapes from being sold in Vermont passed the Legislature and was sent to Governor Scott. I have received hundreds of messages about this bill pleading with me to vote for or against it. I voted for it last year and did so again this year. I am the mother of three young adults/teens and have seen first-hand how vaping has captured teens and become a huge problem in our schools. Flavored vapes attract kids and their nicotine addiction hinders their participation in school and can permanently damage their health. Not convinced? Read this fantastic essay by the Middlebury High School Nurse, Kelly McGovern Landwehr, about her experiences as a health educator and mother. I hope Governor Scott signs this bill into law.
Monday Eclipse and Tax Days
The next two Mondays are big days. Monday, April 15 is Tax Day, when state and federal income tax forms are due. If you have a low-to-moderate income and need tax assistance, schedule an appointment with the CVOEO Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and be sure to claim the anti-poverty tax credits you qualify for. Many Vermonters are eligible to receive thousands of dollars from the government, but haven’t claimed their cash! And, if English is not your first language, the Vermont Language Justice Project explains the tax credits in 17 languages.
More exciting though, Monday, April 8 is Total Eclipse of the Sun Day! I’m sure you’ve heard (how could you not?) that Vermont is in the path of a total solar eclipse, with the zone of totality running from northern Addison County northeast through Burlington, Montpelier, and to the Northeast Kingdom. Most schools are letting kids out early to avoid the traffic, total darkness, and excitement of the eclipse. Vermont is expecting tens of thousands of visitors on Monday, with traffic filling our roads and solar tourists trekking through the countryside.
Check out these websites for more information about the science, events, and logistics surrounding Monday’s solar eclipse:
ACSD Eclipse Learning Guide, Vermont Vacation Solar Eclipse website, Vermont Public Solar Eclipse website, Seven Days Solar Eclipse Guide, and the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium website. If you plan to travel north, leave early and drive safely. So far the weather looks perfect! Have fun, wear proper eye protection, and cherish this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Photo Note: Talking with 4th graders from Monkton Elementary School during a school field trip to the State House. I love it when constituents visit the State House!
Ruth for Vermont 