Senate & House Democrats Legislative Update

This guest posting comes from Erin Stoetzner and Liam O'Sullivan, caucus directors for the Vermont Democratic State Senate and State House.

______

Hi neighbors,

Happy Town Meeting Week! We hope you were able to vote and make your voice heard. Local elections impact school budgets, municipal infrastructure, shared resources for small business owners and community centers, and so much more. If you want to check out what was up for your review on your town's ballot, see VTDigger's Town Meeting Day Guide here. Town Meeting Week typically marks the midpoint of the legislative session – House and Senate Democrats wanted to give you an update on what's keeping us busy in Montpelier!

Protecting Vermont from Federal Overreach

Your Vermont legislators are committed to protecting human rights for all and defending democracy from the political chaos of the Trump Administration. We are taking action on several fronts:

Gender-Affirming Care & Reproductive Access - Senator Ruth Hardy introduced a bipartisan joint resolution with 23 co-sponsors to ensure that anyone who identifies as transgender or nonbinary, along with their families, receives the rights and support they deserve. On March 14, a State House forum on abortion telemedicine will hear from providers who are facing legal threats for offering abortion care, including one provider at risk of extradition to Louisiana. It is critical that Vermont stands by these professionals and protects access to reproductive healthcare.

Immigration Protections - Senator Becca White has introduced a mass deportation prevention bill to limit federal immigration overreach. Currently in Senate Judiciary, this bill would prevent state and local agencies from bypassing Vermont law to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Senator Nader Hashim has introduced a standby guardianship bill that would allow children to stay with family members rather than be placed in federal custody if a parent is deported.

Vermont Public Education & Property Taxes

House and Senate Democrats understand the urgent need to lower property taxes and develop a long-term plan to fund education fairly. Vermont Democrats are committed to lowering property taxes this year and are committed to formulating a thoughtful and sustainable property tax plan for the future. Both chambers are taking a thoughtful approach to school consolidation and we are carefully reviewing the Governor's education plan.

The Governor's education plan wasn't fully released to the House until last week, and leaves key funding concerns unaddressed including:

• School board consolidation and transition costs,
• Funding for school construction and existing debt,
• Support for Special Education and Pre-K programs,
• And the impact on student transportation and school staff.

Democrats are willing to work with the Governor on his plan, and we await answers to our concerns about cost-saving measures and a realistic timeline for implementation. We are committed to prioritizing the voices of students and families in these ongoing conversations.

In negotiations with the Governor, House and Senate Democrats have already committed to a hard stance against some core components of Governor Scott's education plan:

1. We do not support expansion of school choice policies that directly weaken our world-class public education system.
2. We do not support repealing Universal School Meals – a cost effective program that guarantees no child's education is hindered by hunger.

House Democrats are working on a handful of proposed solutions for immediate tax relief:

1. Adjusting Property Tax Credits: Democrats are considering adjusting the income and property value limits that have been in statute since 1997 so that rate increases better reflect household income. There are also other proposals that would simplify the administration and calculation of those credits.
2. Buying Down Property Taxes for Fiscal Year 2026: Democrats are looking at fair ways to use one-time surplus funds in the General Fund to "buy down" statewide property taxes for FY2026, which would lower individual property tax bills significantly.
3. Expanding Child Tax Credit: Democrats are considering expanding the Child Tax Credit to children under the age of 6 years of age, up from 5 years of age. That will increase the number of eligible filers by 18% and deliver additional refundable tax credits for low income families.

We Want to Hear Your Thoughts!

Visit bit.ly/VoiceVermontEducation to give your input on Governor Scott's education plan. What educational opportunities do you think every Vermont student should have? Do you feel like Vermont's current education system is funded fairly and sustainably? What's the best way to connect you to local decision making processes around public education?

Housing & This Year's Budget Adjustment Act

The House and Senate passed the Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) in the last weeks of February. The BAA is an opportunity for the legislature to make minor changes to the budget they passed last year to reflect the state's current fiscal situation. The BAA is now in conference committee, where House and Senate legislators debate over the differences of each chamber's proposed adjustments. Both the House and Senate have supported an expansion of housing investments, including $8.6 million to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to expand affordable housing and shelter capacity, including improvements to manufactured homes. Additionally, $2.8 million will pilot supportive housing for adults with developmental disabilities, and $1.8 million will extend winter weather eligibility rules for emergency motel housing from April 1st through June 30th, ensuring vulnerable Vermonters have access to shelter.

Legislative Democrats Continue to Strengthen Communications

House and Senate Democrats usually host weekly press conferences until the end of the legislative session. Typically, House Democrats hold press conferences on Tuesdays at 9:15AM and Senate Democrats hold press conferences on Thursdays at 12pm noon. Sometimes, we will host press conferences together on the most important issues facing Vermonters. You can find livestreams on either the VT House Dems Facebook or the VT Senate Dems Facebook.

Moving Forward

Vermont House and Senate Democrats are working every day to protect your civil rights, improve your quality of life while lowering your cost of living, and to make sure our state remains an inclusive, welcoming and vibrant place for all our neighbors to live and thrive.

If you want to stay up to date with what Vermont Senate and House Democrats are doing, follow us on social media:

Instagram:
@vtsenatedems
@vthousedems

Facebook:

Vermont Senate Democrats

Vermont House Democrats

Vermont Democratic Party

Onwards,

Erin Stoetzner
Senate Caucus Director
estoetzner@vtdemocrats.org
Vermont Democratic Party

Liam O'Sullivan

House Caucus Director
losullivan@vtdemocrats.org