Crossed-Over
The legislature is tackling some really tough issues this year. Federal stimulus for Covid recovery is ending so we are working creatively to address our challenges and fund our programs in a fiscally responsible and sustainable way. Our priorities include:
• Addressing structural inequities that impact BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, people with disabilities, immigrants and vulnerable residents
• Tackling the complex and interconnected challenges of housing, workforce, and child care.
• Enacting inclusive strategies to combat climate change, support a just transition and prepare for severe weather patterns.
In all of this work, we’ll center equity — thinking deeply and looking toward the future to enact legislation that protects the most vulnerable, boosts vitality in all 14 counties, and leaves no Vermonter behind.
Last Friday was the deadline for most policy bills to pass out from committees of jurisdiction if they are to stay active this year. Below is a list of some of the key bills that made it through that crossover. Click on the bill number to see details of the bill.
Bills Related to Our Health and Wellbeing
S.103 | Amending the prohibitions against discrimination | Status: On Action Calendar for 3/27/23
This bill proposes to amend the laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and places of public accommodation to provide that harassment need not be severe or pervasive to constitute unlawful discrimination.
H.230 | Suicide prevention | Status: Passed House 3/23/23 | I voted Yes
This bill proposes to implement mechanisms that aim to reduce suicide in Vermont, including mechanisms that reduce access to guns. The majority of gun deaths in VT are suicides, not homicides, so the immediate threat to our loved ones is despair, not intruders.
H.66 | Paid family and medical leave | Status: Passed House 3/24/23 | I voted Yes
This bill proposes to create the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program within the Office of the Treasurer, to amend the Parental and Family Leave Act, and to provide job-protected leave from employment for reasons related to domestic and sexual violence.
H.171 | Relating to adult protective services | Status: Passed House 3/24/23 | I voted Yes
This bill proposes to update or modernize the statutory authority for investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults.
H.222 | Reducing Overdoses | Status: House will be voting week of March 27th.
This bill proposes to expand prescription drug disposal programs to include syringe disposal and to require syringe disposal kiosks at certain pharmacies.
Related to Children, Youth and Families
S.56 | Universal pre-k | Status: Scheduled for Senate vote
This bill proposes to establish a public pre kindergarten education program. It proposes to designate a second Deputy Secretary within the Agency of Education. It further proposes to establish a property tax exemption for childcare providers. This bill proposes to reorganize the Department for Children and Families and establish the Department of Economic Empowerment. It also proposes to increase family eligibility and provider payments in the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, to establish the Noncitizen Child Care Assistance Program, and to provide child care workforce retention grants.
H.165 | Universal School Meals | Status: Passed House 3/22/23 | I voted Yes
This bill will NOT change the fact that Winooski receives free meals due to it’s federal eligibility. The state legislation proposed requires free breakfast and lunch for all Vermont students, and leverages additional federal funding.
H. 483 | Restrictions on private schools receiving public tuition | Status: scheduled for House vote 3/29/23
An act relating to the accountability and oversight of approved independent schools that are eligible to receive public tuition.
Related to Our Environment
H.126 | Community resilience and biodiversity protection | Status: Passed House 3/23/23 | I voted Yes
Establishes state goal of conserving 30 percent of the land of the state by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050.
H.67 | Household products containing hazardous substances | Status: Passed House 3/1423 | I voted Yes
This bill would require that manufacturers of household products containing a hazardous substance participate in a stewardship organization and implement a plan to collect household products containing a hazardous substance free of charge to the public.
H.158 | The beverage container redemption system (The Bottle Bill 2.0) | Status: scheduled for House vote week of 3/27/23
This bill proposes to expand the scope of beverages subject to the beverage container redemption system to include all drinks in liquid form and intended for human consumption. The bill would also require all manufacturers and distributors of covered beverages to participate in a producer responsibility organization that shall manage the collection and disposition of beverage containers.
S.5 | Clean heat standard | Status: Passed Senate
Creates a system of clean heat credits to transition heating sector away from fossil fuels. Proposes affordably meeting the mandated greenhouse gas reductions for the thermal sector through efficiency, weatherization measures, electrification, and decarbonization.
Related to the Health Care Workforce
H.89 | Civil and criminal procedures concerning legally protected health care activity | Status: Passed House 3/17/23 | I voted Yes!
This bill proposes to define legally protected healthcare activity to include reproductive healthcare services and gender-affirming healthcare.
S.37 | Relating to access to legally protected health care activity and regulation of health care providers | Status: Passed Senate 3/17/23
This bill proposes to prohibit a medical malpractice insurer from adjusting a health care provider’s risk classification or premium charges in certain circumstances and requires that a health insurance plan covers gender-affirming health care services and abortion-related services.
S.36 | Permitting an arrest without a warrant for assaults and threats against health care workers and disorderly conduct at health care facilities
This bill proposes to permit a law enforcement officer to arrest a person without a warrant if the officer has probable cause to believe the person (1) assaulted or threatened a healthcare worker at a healthcare facility or (2) engaged in disorderly conduct that interfered with the provision of medically necessary health care services in a health care facility.
H.62 | Adds Vermont to the interstate counseling compact | Status: Passed House 3/17/23 | I voted Yes
This bill proposes that the State adopt and enter into the interstate counseling compact. Joining the compact would improve access to licensed mental health counselors. I presented this bill on the House floor and am hopeful for a quick advance through the Senate.
H.77 | Adopts the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact in Vermont. | Status: Passed House 3/17/23 | I voted Yes
H.86 | Adopt the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact in Vermont. | Status: Passed House 3/17/23 | I voted Yes
H.282 | Adopt and enter into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. | Status: I will be presenting this bill on the House floor the week of March 27th and expect tri-partisan support as with the above compacts.