April legislative update

April 2025

Hello from the State House!

We’re now post-crossover, a major milestone in the session. Big bills are now hitting the House floor, addressing housing, flood resilience and soon, education. Despite hard choices, with seven times more dollars requested than available, our House Appropriations Committee passed the FY26 budget ($9B) out of committee unanimously and the bill received strong support on the floor (104-38) last week. The budget reflects deep compromise that prioritizes critical needs and also proposes ways to address federal funding losses. Read on below for additional bill updates, resources, upcoming events and more. I’m eager for the renewal springs brings, amid the uncertainty and challenges we face. I hope you’re well and would love to hear from you. Thank you!

Climate resilience

A March highlight was a visit with students on Youth Lobby Climate Action Day. Two Harwood students were among a group testifying in the Energy & Digital Infrastructure Committee. Their powerful and heartfelt messages were timely as we consider a number of bills, some proposing climate policy rollbacks and repeals, while others pave the way for more in-state renewables.

H.289 - the Governor’s bill revises the Global Warming Solutions Act and Renewable Energy Standard, repeals the Affordable Heat Act, repurposes efficiency funds for more weatherization, and creates a new renewables program (see next item). We’re taking testimony and learning about each of these policies.
H.352/H.289 - creates a Renewable Energy for Communities program to enable more access to community solar benefits for affordable housing residents and renters
S.50 - a bill related to PUC expedited approval process of “backyard”, ground-mounted solar panels. Expands expedited approvals to arrays as large as 25kW from the current 15 kW limit as new solar panels are more efficient in the same footprint

Vermont’s Climate Action Office and Climate Council have been busy. We heard about new tools and upcoming public sessions on the Climate Action Plan update that’s underway:

Weigh in on your climate priorities at these upcoming in-person and virtual events

Education transformation

I appreciated hearing directly from community members at our recent legislator forum on education transformation. Legislators are committed to proceeding carefully and collaboratively as we make needed system-level changes for the long-term sustainability and quality of education in our state. Loss of federal support for education will make this all the more daunting, and requires extra caution and flexibility.

The House Education Committee voted out its education transformation bill (H.454) last Friday. H.454 differs in some key ways from the Governor’s proposal, including:

Proposes more time on the process for making larger school districts, tasking a new working group of the Commission on the Future of Education to produce several realistic scenarios by December so the Legislature can designate new districts in 2026
Proposes smaller class size minimums - Kindergarten: 12 students; Grades 1-4: 15 students; Grades 5-12: 18 students; Multiage Class rooms limited to 2 grades per class.
Resurrects State Aid for School Construction Program
Strengthens the State Board of Education as an independent and transparent body

What’s next? The Ways & Means Committee will add a different, more predictable funding mechanism (foundation formula) to the bill before it heads to the House floor for a vote. Then it’s on to the Senate, where there are yet other ideas on how to move forward.

Links

Housing investment

Last week, we passed H.479, the housing omnibus bill from House Housing & General Committee. This tri-partisan bill covers a lot of ground: enables easier permitting, adds barriers to excessive use of appeals that delay housing projects, expands financing for housing and related infrastructure, adds more funding for training up carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc., helps first-time and first-generation homebuyers access funding and expands access to more housing that lower-income and middle-income Vermonters can afford to rent or buy. H.91 addresses the need for effective emergency housing and transitional housing opportunities.

Trump Administration impacts

With federal funds making up almost one-third of our annual state budget, relevant committees are taking testimony on impacts of potential funding losses to Medicaid, public health, agriculture, education, transportation and other programs. Even after the legislative session ends, Vermont's Emergency Board (or “E-Board”), that includes the Governor and legislative leaders from the money committees, will continue to meet and can be authorized to tap some of the state's $100 million "Rainy Day Fund" to mitigate impacts of federal cuts on our state.

Stay updated on policy changes affecting federal funding via this new Joint Fiscal Office webpage

Lawsuits against the Trump administration filed by Attorney General Clark and other states (VTDigger)

April coffee chats

Meet me for morning coffee! Please be in touch if you’d like to arrange another time or meet in the State House.

Tuesday, Apr. 22, 8-9 a.m.: Moretown General Store
Saturday, Apr. 26, 10-11 a.m.: Mad River Donuts in Waitsfield
Tuesday, Apr. 29, 8- 9 a.m.: Black Cap Cafe & Bakery at Waterbury Train Station

Events/useful links

Track key legislation in the House and Senate (VTDigger link)
Vermont House YouTube channel - live streamed and recorded proceedings
Announcements - links to State House events
Joint Fiscal Office - reports on key issues and Fiscal Facts
Farmers’ Night performances - only 2 left! April 2 - poetry (with New England poet laureates), April 9 - Jazz
Financial and ethics disclosures for Vermont legislators (VTDigger link)

Stay in touch!

dtorre@leg.state.vt.us | 802-793-3575