I hope you’re staying safe and warm during this February storm! It’s a good day for me to write about what’s been going on during the first six weeks of the legislative session. Read more for a look at what bills are starting to move, the status of the major K-12 education proposal, and a few resources related to the federal situation.
Finance and Education
On the Finance Committee, we’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand the Governor’s “Transformative Education Plan” which seeks to consolidate schools into five districts, centralize much decision-making at the state-level, expand private school choice statewide, and drastically change the funding formula, all within the next few years. While there is broad consensus that our K-12 education system and financing need reform, the Governor’s proposal currently lacks the clarity and details necessary for this magnitude of change and it’s unlikely his plan would save taxpayer money. I am opposed to the Governor’s proposal for only five mega-districts and an expansion of using taxpayer money to fund private schools. I also know we have to be thoughtful and deliberate about implementing changes, particularly given the federal situation. While we continue to wait for a bill with the specifics of the Governor’s proposal, legislative committees are hearing testimony and developing our own bills for transforming our K-12 system, including how we fund schools in Vermont. I hope to have more to report in the next few weeks.
The Finance Committee is also considering bills related to taxes more broadly. We’re working on a bill I introduced, S.51, a bipartisan bill that would provide tax relief to unpaid caregivers in Vermont, who often have to cut back on paid work to care for relatives at the end of life, recovering from surgery or illness, or living with chronic diseases or disabilities. While most anyone could be an unpaid caregiver and qualify for the tax credit, most unpaid caregivers are women over the age of 55, so this bill would target tax relief to older Vermonters who are struggling to juggle work and family obligations. I’m excited to see this bill getting attention, particularly because several of my students helped develop the bill during a public policy class I taught last fall at Middlebury College.
Natural Resources and Agriculture
On the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, where all but one member is new to the committee, we’re spending time learning about the status of environmental and energy policy in Vermont. Over the past five years, we’ve passed major legislation in this area, including the Global Warming Solutions Act, the Flood Safety Act, the Renewable Energy Standard, and the Environmental Justice Act, so much of the work now is about ensuring these are well implemented and tracked. While this is not the time for major new initiatives, it’s also not the time to backtrack on Vermont’s commitment to fighting climate change, protecting Vermonters and our natural resources, and improving our state’s resilience in the face of severe weather. I am committed to working on solutions that are practical and affordable for all Vermonters.
This week, the Committee is poised to pass S.29, a bipartisan bill I co-sponsored that would create a voluntary training and compliance program for municipal and private snow removal contractors to reduce the amount of road salt they use. The program is based on initiatives in neighboring states and provinces, including NH’s Green SnowPro program. These efforts are necessary because many Vermont lakes and streams have dramatically rising sodium chloride (salt) levels, which can harm aquatic plants and animals and lead to drinking water contamination. This week the Agriculture Committee will begin work on another bipartisan bill I introduced, the Farm Security Special Fund (S.60), which would create an emergency fund to help farmers recover from extreme weather events, including the increasing number of floods, freezes, and wind storms. As climate changes brings more unpredictable weather, we need to protect and support our local farms and food supply.
Additional Bills of Note
One of the first bills we passed in the Senate was a bipartisan bill I introduced (S.9) on access to after-hours sexual assault relief orders. This would provide victims of sexual assault the same access as victims of domestic abuse to judicial relief orders during weekend and night-time hours. This is especially important for people who live in congregate settings, such as dorms or apartment buildings, so they can get protection after instances of sexual assault. The Government Operations Committee has begun work on another bipartisan bill of mine, S.23 which regulates deep fakes and synthetic media use during elections. With the rise of AI-generated media, many other states already regulate the use of this technology during elections, so voters know when an election ad is using fake video or audio of candidates. Finally, I’ve introduced several bills related to health care, including S.14 which would expand access to health care for pregnant women and S.55 which would begin to implement reference-based pricing for hospital services in Vermont. With the cost of health care spiraling out of control, we must both ensure that Vermonters can get the care they need and prices come down to a level Vermonters can afford. I’m looking forward to these bills moving forward this session. For more information about bills I’ve sponsors, see my legislative webpage.
Federal Situation
I have heard from many constituents who are concerned about the situation unfolding at the federal level. I share many of these concerns and am doing my best to track the chaotic situation. Unfortunately, there is not much that a state legislature can do to counteract the magnitude of federal funding cuts, layoffs, and orders that are coming from federal officials, including the inexperienced, vengeful “government efficiency” crew. At this point, it’s difficult to evaluate the level and impact of funding cuts and tariffs on Vermont government programs, schools and colleges, non-profit organizations, and businesses, but it could be significant. In addition, in most cases, federal law supersedes state law, but Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark is joining other state attorneys general in a number of legal actions challenging actions of the Trump administration, with the goal of stopping the most destructive measures.
I know immigrants in Vermont are especially afraid. It’s incredibly important to ensure that information is accurate so folks aren’t spreading rumors that increase fear and isolation. It’s also important to know your rights and what to do if you are confronted by immigration officials. The Northeast Organic Farming Association has a good resource page for farm workers and the Vermont ACLU has a good Know Your Rights: Immigration Resources website. Under state law, Vermont law enforcement cannot cooperate with ICE officials without approval from the Governor, and a recently introduced bill would further strengthen this law. Vermont also has strong human rights protections, including for transgender people and an upcoming resolution I’m working on will reaffirm these protections. Finally, we have strong protections for abortion care and gender-affirming health care in Vermont, based on both the Reproductive Liberty Amendment of the Vermont Constitution and the Legally Protected Health Care laws passed two years ago. I am doing what I can to track the federal actions, reaffirm current state protections, and work to strengthen state laws when possible.
Finally, I leave you with a shout-out to the hardworking, non-partisan lawyers who draft the hundreds of bills introduced every session at the State House and provide crucial legal advice to citizen legislators like me. Check out this Seven Days story, “Ways and Means: Legislative Lawyers are Busy as Heck.” They are an incredible group of professionals who rarely get the credit they deserve. Thanks for reading – stay safe and warm!
Photo Note: Photos with constituents at the State House this session. I love when my constituents visit the State House for events, advocacy days, testimony, or just to see how the legislative process works. It’s the People’s House – come visit!
Ruth for Vermont 