Legislative Report

Summary Legislative Report for the 2023 Session

This year we had special opportunities because unprecedented federal funds still are flowing into state, some related to Covid (the American Rescue Plan (“ARPA”)) plus the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) plus the Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act (“IIJA”). We were mindful to minimize the use of these funds to create programs that will then require ongoing state funding when federal funds dry up.
We faced this year the problem of the expiration Covid-related funds that paid for important programs we wanted to continue. This included for example:
- Emergency housing for the homeless in motels (more on that below)
- Scholarships to train nurses, mental health and childcare workers at the State Colleges which we deemed so important that we continued funding with state resources for at least this year.

The politics of the budget were in my view somewhat unfortunately partisan, due mostly to the Governor. The Governor repeatedly cited the Democrats as responsible for a 13.3% increase in the size of the budget (which was true given all the available federal funds). What he failed to mention is that his budget, the budget he sent to the legislature in January, called for a 10% increase. Most of the mere 3% difference consists of modest increases in Medicaid reimbursements for dental and medical providers where reimbursement rates had fallen so far behind inflation that dentists and doctors couldn’t afford to provide services to Medicaid recipients, in my view a worthy cause.

Please write or call me for information on other laws or more information on these laws.

Much of this controversial act doesn’t apply to our three villagers because we’re not served by sewer and water (where the new law requires a density of 5/acre minimum +40% if affordable) and we don’t have downtowns, neighborhood development areas or growth centers. But:
All towns must allow duplexes and accessory units where single family residential uses are permitted.
Residents can no longer appeal an affordable housing approval on “character of the area” basis
Until a sunset of 7-1-26, the new law raises threshold trigger of Act 250 from 10 to 25 units but just for village centers.
Belated help for those homeless in motels: covers families with children, those over 60 or disabled only, and until April. Requires a plan for permanent approaches.

One of our best and key accomplishments.
- The new law addresses market failure in childcare where there’s not enough of it, parents pay too much but childcare workers don’t earn a living wage.
- This is a key economic development measure—will increase labor supply by allowing people to work or work more who currently cannot because they can’t find childcare or can’t afford it.
- The law was enacted over Governor’s veto. The Governor opposed the payroll tax, but for most families the benefits will far outweigh the tax amount.

The law provides a stepped pre-K and childcare subsidy to families comes with up to 575% of poverty level threshold. That’s about $140,000 for family of 3; $172,000 for family of 4.
The law provides direct payments to childcare centers to increase wages for workers.
The service is paid for by a payroll tax of .11% for individual, self-employed or employed per year and .33 percent for employer. That’s about $82 per year for a family with an income of $75,000.
Lots of studies.

Family Leave

The big disappointment of the session. The House passed an excellent, inclusive family leave policy, far better than the private insurance plan advocated by the Governor. The Senate however did not pass the plan. So nothing happened.
I hope that it’s taken up in the next session.

Universal School meals

Covers all kids’ breakfasts and lunches
Uses state funds to continue a previously federal Covid-related program
Provides better student performance and nutrition
Eliminates stigma for kids from less wealthy households which cases many not to eat lunch
This law now provides kids food just as we now provide books and bus service regardless of income.

Vermont has one of highest suicide rates. Suicides which occur more frequently in rural areas where people are isolated and have access to guns.
The law provides a waiting period of 72 hours. This will help because most suicides are spur of the moment. Most suicide attempts fail and aren’t repeated, but almost all those attempted with guns succeed.
The law provides that guns must be stored where kids can’t get at them. This will help because many of our suicides are committed by kids using parents guns

This is our key climate action to combat climate change in Vermont. It begins implementation of provisions that will require oil companies to offer consumers weatherization, heat pumps or pellet or other advanced wood stoves in addition to the usual oil and gas. Estimated that it will save Vermonters $6 billion over time by saving energy and reducing the $1 billion per year we send to oil and gas companies.

The law doesn’t take effect now, but rather gives the PUC two years to hold hearings on implementation and to model whether and how much it will cost consumers compared to the savings they’ll make.
The it provides that the matter comes back to the Legislature for consideration in January 2025. It won’t go into effect unless re-adopted.

Originally replaced Town appraisals with a Statewide appraisal, but amended so that:
As passed and signed:
- Repeals the common level of appraisal as a trigger for re-appraisals
- Reappraisals required every six years or if a coefficient of dispersion (“COD”) greater than 20: COD measures the internal fairness of appraisals; it looks at the ratio of sales price to appraisal amounts for all sales, allowing some differences among individual appraisals, but not too much.
- The law creates a two year study process aimed at creating a statewide appraisal system.
- And provides a process for training and certifying appraisers.