The 2026 Vermont Legislative Session began this past week. I am happy to be back at work in the State House, which is especially beautiful in during the winter holidays. It promises to be a difficult session, with huge problems to solve for education, healthcare, and housing. Even so, these challenges were overshadowed by events perpetrated by the Trump Administration, including unauthorized military action in Venezuela, the 5th anniversary of the deadly January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and the tragic killing of poet and mother, Renee Good, by a federal ICE agent in Minneapolis. Sadly, Trump’s violent and greedy bullying is destabilizing the country and world, breeding fear and distrust among international allies and American residents alike. Read on for updates on policy discussions and Vermont connections to (inter)national news.
Vermont K-12 Education Reform
Last session ended with the passage of significant and divisive K-12 education reform legislation, Act 73. I both worked extensively on the legislation and had serious concerns about how it ended up, which you can read about on my legislative blog. During the off-session, a School District Redistricting Task Force worked to consider several options for new school district maps that would significantly consolidate school districts in Vermont. The Task Force released its recommendations last month, and it’s no surprise that with such a short timeline and complex charge, they were not able to simply draw new school district maps. They heard from thousands of Vermonters who oppose forced school district consolidations. Instead, the Task Force recommendations include provisions for creating regional partnerships through cooperative education services, strategic voluntary mergers, and regional high schools. Read their final report here.
I am still working through options, reading reports & doing research, and talking to lots of people, but I do know that we must reduce the cost of K-12 education and lower property taxes in Vermont. To do this, we have to focus on the cost drivers, including health care, aging facilities, student support services, and private tuition. While the Governor dedicated his entire state-of-the-state address to glorifying and exaggerating the benefits of Act 73, and even threatening the Legislature and state finances if we don’t bend to his will, I do not believe that simply moving forward with many of the pieces of this controversial legislation is the answer. Nor do I believe that implementing artificial spending caps that will ultimately punish students is the answer. As the debate continues, we must center the needs & education of kids, strong public schools throughout the state, and communities that Vermonters can afford.
Health Care
Many Vermonters are seeing enormous increases in health insurance costs this year, thanks to the decision by Trump and Congressional Republicans to end federal health care subsidies. While we did pass legislation last year to help lower the cost of health care in Vermont, that work will take time, and tiny Vermont does not have sufficient funding to make up for the lost federal subsidies. Vermont is set to receive $195 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Funds (RHTF), which is good news, but a drop in the bucket compared to the cuts to both federal subsidies and Medicaid funding. Together, these cuts will severely impact Vermont, its rural hospitals, and the thousands of residents who rely on either health insurance subsidies or Medicaid. The RHTF funds will support some crucial improvements to Vermont’s health care system, including infrastructure, facilities, and technology upgrades, but the funding is rigid, limited, and cannot be used to relieve the direct cost burden on patients. As one health policy expert told me, the RHTF grant is “blood money” for all of the cuts to Medicaid Trump and the Congressional Republicans imposed on states. See this document for a full list of projects this money will fund over the next few years.
Vermont and National & World Events
Venezuela. Last month the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) was deployed to Puerto Rico leading up to the military action in Venezuela. While the deployment is a federal action and not under the command of Vermont officials, after hearing concerns from constituents with deployed family members, I immediately reached out to Adjutant General Greg Knight to advocate for improved conditions for VTANG members. I had heard that members had not received pay, adequate food and supplies, or been given any days off since they were deployed in mid-December. General Knight immediately contacted his federal counterparts to try to address these issues. VTANG members & their families in Vermont should not further suffer because of Trump’s violent arrogance. I strongly oppose his illegal military action in a sovereign country and worry that Trump is dragging the United States into similar violent conflicts all over the world, with dire consequences for Americans at home.
ICE Actions. As ICE continues to ramp up its aggression and intimidation across the country, I know that many people are scared and angry. It is heartening to see so many Vermonters peacefully protesting and gathering to mourn, resist, and stand in solidarity with people in Minnesota and elsewhere. While ICE agents are federal law enforcement officers so state officials have little oversight of their actions, VT Democrats have introduced bills to expand the number of “sensitive places where a person is not subject to a civil arrest,” such as schools, government buildings, and health care facilities, and to require agents to identify themselves and not disguise their identity. These bills still have a long way to go before they become law, but we are trying to do what we can to protect Vermonters from out-of-control ICE agents.
Amidst so much horrible news and justifiable distrust of government, I attended a wonderful event today at the State House – the inauguration of Vermont’s first Kid Governor and the bestowing of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Awards. It was heartwarming and inspiring to see young Vermonters show up so well, including 5th graders from across the state filling the House chamber to cheer on their new Kid Governor. I was proud that the Addison District represented strongly, including the winner of the Lewis Award, Rafaela Botti of Orwell; two runner’s up for the Lewis Award, Ellie Cady of Middlebury and Henry Menke of Huntington; and a cabinet member of the Kid Governor, Lincoln Ratta of Lincoln. See photo of Lewis awardees with Secretary of State Copeland Hanzas (far right back) and Kid Governor Roslyn Fortin (far right front) with her cabinet. For more photos and video of the event, check out my Instagram page.
Speaking of students, listen to this episode of the podcast, Brave Little State, called “How does class show up in the classroom. Grads of one Vermont high school weigh in.” It’s about the class divide in Vermont high schools, with a specific focus on Middlebury Union High School. I know it will hit home for many ACSD high schoolers and recent grads, including my own kids. Also, the most recent Maple Broadband Annual Report is out, “highlight(ing) network expansion achievements, community partnerships, and financial milestones.” They are doing great work bringing affordable internet to hundreds of households across Addison County. I’m proud to have been a key part of getting the legislation passed in 2021 that led to this work.
Finally, if you live in New Haven, try to attend the next New Haven Comes Together event this Thursday, January 15, 6:00 at the Town Hall. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and have a say in the community action plan for the future. That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and take care.
Ruth for Vermont 