By Anne Galloway, VTDigger Hundreds of gun activists swarmed the State House lawn Saturday afternoon, March 31, to protest the passage of S.55, legislation that puts sweeping new restrictions on gun use in Vermont. Republican Gov. Phil Scott has promised to […]
Tag: VTDigger
House passes $5.84 billion budget
By Xander Landen, VTDigger The House passed a $5.84 billion budget proposal Friday, March 23, that lawmakers say addresses the needs of the most vulnerable Vermonters and makes long-term investments without raising taxes or fees. Facing little debate, the budget bill, H.924, […]
Castleton closes Polling Institute, eliminates two dean positions
By Kelsey Neubauer, VTDigger The state’s only polling institute is among the casualties as Castleton University seeks to address a $1.5 million budget gap. Two dean positions have also been eliminated. Castleton spokesperson Jeff Weld said Tuesday, March 13, that the […]
Gun management law would open way for firearm sales
By Colin Meyn, VTDigger Before it became the vehicle for universal background checks and increasing the legal age to purchase guns, Senate bill S.55 had a fairly simple purpose: clear the way for the state to get rid of hundreds of […]
School boards appeal to Legislature regarding funding bill
In school budgets presented to voters on Town Meeting Day, school boards and administrators rose to the challenge of keeping spending growth below the state’s target of 2.5 percent. FY 2019 statewide education spending growth is estimated at 1.5 percent, […]
Gun safety bills pass Senate, House
By Colin Meyn, VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott said he was “disappointed” that a bill addressing gun violence did not make it to his desk last week after the House decided to move on its own “extreme risk” gun seizure bill rather […]
Senate panel advances “extreme risk” gun legislation
By Alan J. Keays The words of a Poultney teenager charged in a thwarted school shooting plot resonated in the small room as a Senate panel advanced a bill Friday, Feb. 23, allowing authorities to seize a firearm from a person deemed […]
Special education students could be better served for less, studies say
By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger Vermont students needing special education could be better served for less money, according to two studies commissioned by the Legislature. Lawmakers will use the studies to craft new approaches to delivering and funding special education services. […]
Republican leader proposes drug testing for welfare recipients
By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger House Minority Leader Rep. Don Turner is proposing a bill that would allow for drug testing of people receiving financial assistance through a state program for low-income families. If a test comes back positive for an […]
Saliva testing for pot?
By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger A panel of lawmakers voted in favor of a bill that would allow law enforcement officers to use saliva testing to detect the presence of drugs in motorists. The House Transportation Committee approved the bill, H.237, on […]