By Carly Berlin/VTDigger Editor’s note: This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public. During the first days of his fifth term in office, Gov. Phil Scott emphasized a familiar priority: create more housing across Vermont. At a press conference at the Statehouse Jan. 21, members of…

Late last week, House Republicans banded together to vote against the annual midyear Budget Adjustment Act. The BAA, often a noncontroversial shifting of state funds between various accounts to address changes in budget actuals, included several policy issues that proved problematic for Republicans. Extending the winter rules for Vermont’s hotel assistance program to June 30…

Many of you have been in touch about the unprecedented actions being taken by our new President and those he has deputized. In addition to the scores of emails I’ve had from constituents, Montpelier was the focus of a huge demonstration on Wednesday, Feb. 5, protesting the actions taken by the Trump Administration targeting USAID,…

By Polly Mikula Gov. Phil Scott’s education proposal would allow every student to opt into a school choice lottery system within their regional school district.  Testimony from Education Secretary Zoie Saunders in the House Education Committee, Thursday, Feb. 6, was the first public explanation of how school choice would work in Scott’s “transformation” plan. “It’s very provocative,”…

At the beginning of the session last month, one of the first daily riddles I shared in our committee was a simple question, “Why is it good to balance on your left foot on New Year’s Eve? Because that way you can start off the new year on the right foot.” Unfortunately, that didn’t happen…

“I can’t afford to live here” and “It’s not worth it” is what I often hear when talking about property taxes. It is one of the main reasons I ran for office — to find a better, more sustainable way to pay for public education. The bulk of most property tax bills is the statewide…

By Polly Mikula Since first announcing what they’ve coined the “education transformation” plan on Jan. 22. Governor Phil Scott and his top education officials have gradually unveiled more and more details.  Democratic lawmakers have mostly welcomed Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s grand proposal with cautious optimism. Yet while broad support for a new funding formula and…

Vermont legislators are calling for support on a bill that seeks to exempt Social Security benefits from state income tax, a move aimed at easing financial burdens for retirees while aligning Vermont with most other states. This proposed legislation, H.74, has over 60 co-sponsors from across all parties and from all corners of the state.  Currently, Vermont is one of…

On Thursday, Jan. 23, a coalition of Vermont state legislators and healthcare workers, in partnership with the office of Senator Bernie Sanders, unveiled a bill that would task the Green Mountain Care Board with moving healthcare resources to the front lines of patient care amidst a deepening healthcare crisis.  The bill, which was introduced on…

 Last Tuesday, Jan. 21, Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Senator Ginny Lyons, and Representative Alyssa Black announced a proposal to provide medical debt relief to thousands of Vermonters. The proposal would eliminate up to $100 million in medical debt for a one-time investment of $1 million. Further, the proposal would protect Vermonters’ credit scores by eliminating the…

By Shaun Robinson/VTDigger Vermont’s economy, and the country’s as a whole, is in “exceptional” shape, the state’s economists told a panel of top fiscal lawmakers Wednesday, Jan. 22 — but cautioned their outlook was tempered by uncertainty over the actions President Donald Trump has pledged to take, or already taken, early on in his second term.…

Vermont’s 2025 legislative session is off to a very fast start. This is due in large measure to the clear message Vermonters sent all legislators through the 2024 campaign and the election in November. Seldom have I experienced the Legislature so unified in its top priorities: tackling education financing, affordability of life in Vermont, building…

Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders and Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio shared an overview of the administration’s proposal for reforming Vermont’s education system with the Legislature. While many questions remain regarding the details, it is safe to say the plan represents the most significant change to education governance and finance in decades. There will undoubtedly be…

by Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger State officials unveiled the broad strokes of Gov. Phil Scott’s education proposal on Wednesday, Jan. 22, a plan that includes sweeping changes like consolidating Vermont’s dozens of school districts to just five and adopting a foundation formula. “We know that the work that we’re describing here is going to be really challenging,”…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger The chair of the state’s Public Utility Commission told lawmakers on Thursday, while presenting a long-awaited report, that implementing the controversial clean heat standard could cost significantly less than others have previously suggested. However, chairman Ed McNamara concluded that the commission recommends that the state not move forward with it. Debate about…