Update from Montpelier
Chittenden North Senate
|
By Irene Wrenner, Senator 802-338-2247 iwrenner@leg.state.vt.us |
MARCH UPDATE
With this year’s session nearly two-thirds over, state lawmakers see an increased pace and intensity of deliberation. In the first half of the session, Senate and House Committees worked to introduce and discuss their own bills, occasionally bringing one to the floor for passage. Now, each chamber is passing more of its own bills, plus acting on bills passed by the other legislative body.
Of the 143 Senate bills introduced thus far, S.100 is currently attracting the most attention. This omnibus housing bill aims for a total of 40,000 new housing units in ten years by changing Act 250 restrictions and potentially overriding local zoning. The bill has been amended several times but has yet to come to the floor for a vote.
The Senate has already passed more than two dozen bills. Here’s a sample:
S.3 prohibits paramilitary training camps;
S.5 funds a two-year study of a plan to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the thermal sector;
S.6 bans law enforcement’s use of coercive interrogation techniques on those under age 22;
S.27 reduces the use of cash bail;
S.36 provides options for arresting those who threaten or harm health care workers;
S.37 protects health care workers from legal action related to reproductive care for patients from other states;
S.48 restricts sales of used catalytic converters;
S.65 requires commercial insurance to cover cost of epi-pens;
S.73 provides workers compensation for firefighters who develop cancer; and
S.99 improves our lemon law, attempts to muffle motorcycle noise, and removes the requirement of a registration sticker on rear license plates.
Anyone may read or track current bills at
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/search/2024.
I’m mindful that most bills, even if they succeed in the Senate, have a long way to go. Their contents may be changed by the House. A bill passed by both chambers would still need the Governor’s signature or tacit approval – or a veto override -- before becoming law. My current focus is on preparing for the rush of bills we’ll be voting on in the final six weeks of the session.
I post occasional updates on Front Porch Forum and more frequently here: http://facebook.com/SenatorIreneWrenner.
This month I attended annual Town Meetings and other events in Essex, Fairfax, and Westford as well as the Milton-on-the-Move Annual Celebration. I answered questions at the Blue Spruce Grange’s Annual Legislative Night. Milton House Reps and I hosted a Community Conversation at their local library.
Of the 143 Senate bills introduced thus far, S.100 is currently attracting the most attention. This omnibus housing bill aims for a total of 40,000 new housing units in ten years by changing Act 250 restrictions and potentially overriding local zoning. The bill has been amended several times but has yet to come to the floor for a vote.
The Senate has already passed more than two dozen bills. Here’s a sample:
S.3 prohibits paramilitary training camps;
S.5 funds a two-year study of a plan to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the thermal sector;
S.6 bans law enforcement’s use of coercive interrogation techniques on those under age 22;
S.27 reduces the use of cash bail;
S.36 provides options for arresting those who threaten or harm health care workers;
S.37 protects health care workers from legal action related to reproductive care for patients from other states;
S.48 restricts sales of used catalytic converters;
S.65 requires commercial insurance to cover cost of epi-pens;
S.73 provides workers compensation for firefighters who develop cancer; and
S.99 improves our lemon law, attempts to muffle motorcycle noise, and removes the requirement of a registration sticker on rear license plates.
Anyone may read or track current bills at
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/search/2024.
I’m mindful that most bills, even if they succeed in the Senate, have a long way to go. Their contents may be changed by the House. A bill passed by both chambers would still need the Governor’s signature or tacit approval – or a veto override -- before becoming law. My current focus is on preparing for the rush of bills we’ll be voting on in the final six weeks of the session.
I post occasional updates on Front Porch Forum and more frequently here: http://facebook.com/SenatorIreneWrenner.
This month I attended annual Town Meetings and other events in Essex, Fairfax, and Westford as well as the Milton-on-the-Move Annual Celebration. I answered questions at the Blue Spruce Grange’s Annual Legislative Night. Milton House Reps and I hosted a Community Conversation at their local library.
FEBRUARY UPDATE
Here's a summary of what the Senate Committee on Institutions, on which I serve, is working on.
The five Institutions Committee members must allocate a Capital Budget of about $203M toward paying for the planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of hundreds of state-owned buildings, trails, historic sites, and monuments. https://ljfo.vermont.gov/subjects/2023-2024-session-fy-2024-and-fy-2025/filter/fiscal-year/fy-2025
Current Capital funding requests are exceeding $228M. Some difficult decisions must be made. However, we cannot finalize those decisions before obtaining feedback – from the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions – on the Governor's proposed Capital Budget. The House gets first dibs, then we'll have a turn to shape it next month.
Committee members continue to meet this month with state employees to determine funding priorities. Staff have testified to acute needs for new buildings and extensive renovations. They've also recommended selling several properties, such as the office building at 108 Cherry Street in Burlington.
Staff have explained the Capital Expenditure Cash Fund, which helps us meet a growing list of needs with cash, rather than borrowing, to save interest payments.
The Chancellor and CFO of Vermont State Colleges informed the Committee about the plan to rebrand the five campuses and nine learning sites as Vermont State University in the coming year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIQjw_ZQFIo
We spoke with the VSC President who wants to convert their library collections to digital only. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mZuaA8H_x4
Vermont's correctional facilities are inadequate and out-of-date. Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington is first on the list to replace. Its layout and construction hinder our efforts to help the women incarcerated there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOX4dvYVWhw
We spoke with an administrator from Maine's Department of Corrections, which built a Women's Re-entry facility that better serves those who are justice-involved — the current term for people we formerly labeled a convict or parolee — and sets them up for success outside prison. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6vaogBPakg
The state also plans to site a temporary, modular facility — perhaps in St. Albans — to securely house and treat youths for short stays. Currently, these children wind up in hospital emergency rooms for days or weeks at a time because resources haven't kept up with demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdTtN6LDGjU
We heard from David Schutz, the State Curator, about replacing historic interior finishes at the State House, which doubles as an art museum year-round. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AVR2iJ7M7M
This month I gathered with other legislators and community members for Conversations in Essex, Fairfax, Milton, Westford, and Georgia. More group events are in the works, and I'm readily available by email.
Institutions meetings are live-streamed and available to watch later here: https://www.youtube.com/@VTSenateInstitutions
The five Institutions Committee members must allocate a Capital Budget of about $203M toward paying for the planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of hundreds of state-owned buildings, trails, historic sites, and monuments. https://ljfo.vermont.gov/subjects/2023-2024-session-fy-2024-and-fy-2025/filter/fiscal-year/fy-2025
Current Capital funding requests are exceeding $228M. Some difficult decisions must be made. However, we cannot finalize those decisions before obtaining feedback – from the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions – on the Governor's proposed Capital Budget. The House gets first dibs, then we'll have a turn to shape it next month.
Committee members continue to meet this month with state employees to determine funding priorities. Staff have testified to acute needs for new buildings and extensive renovations. They've also recommended selling several properties, such as the office building at 108 Cherry Street in Burlington.
Staff have explained the Capital Expenditure Cash Fund, which helps us meet a growing list of needs with cash, rather than borrowing, to save interest payments.
The Chancellor and CFO of Vermont State Colleges informed the Committee about the plan to rebrand the five campuses and nine learning sites as Vermont State University in the coming year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIQjw_ZQFIo
We spoke with the VSC President who wants to convert their library collections to digital only. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mZuaA8H_x4
Vermont's correctional facilities are inadequate and out-of-date. Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington is first on the list to replace. Its layout and construction hinder our efforts to help the women incarcerated there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOX4dvYVWhw
We spoke with an administrator from Maine's Department of Corrections, which built a Women's Re-entry facility that better serves those who are justice-involved — the current term for people we formerly labeled a convict or parolee — and sets them up for success outside prison. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6vaogBPakg
The state also plans to site a temporary, modular facility — perhaps in St. Albans — to securely house and treat youths for short stays. Currently, these children wind up in hospital emergency rooms for days or weeks at a time because resources haven't kept up with demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdTtN6LDGjU
We heard from David Schutz, the State Curator, about replacing historic interior finishes at the State House, which doubles as an art museum year-round. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AVR2iJ7M7M
This month I gathered with other legislators and community members for Conversations in Essex, Fairfax, Milton, Westford, and Georgia. More group events are in the works, and I'm readily available by email.
Institutions meetings are live-streamed and available to watch later here: https://www.youtube.com/@VTSenateInstitutions
JANAURY UPDATE
As your sole Chittenden-North Senator, I’ve spent four weeks getting up to speed and embracing my new role, representing Milton, Fairfax, Westford and part of Essex.
Senators serve on two five-member committees. I was appointed to Agriculture, which meets each morning, and Institutions, an afternoon gig, which I’ll write about next month.
Members of Ag are working on a number of farm, environmental, food, and consumer protection issues.
Daily we hear from stakeholders far and near.
Scott Fay, from Essex Westford School District’s Child Nutrition Program, was among those testifying on January 25th that the Universal Meals program has reduced administrative paperwork, improved meal quality (including local meat and produce), eliminated the stigma of getting reduced-price lunches, decreased visits of hungry children to the school nurse, and increased the number of students coming to school (reducing truancy) and accessing healthy meals.
When low-income families inform the government of their status, more Federal money and less Vermont money flows to support school meals. If you haven’t filled out this form since August and are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, would you please take a moment to do so? https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-nutrition-meal-application-2022-2023.pdf
Meetings are live-streamed and available to watch later via https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ogCBBT6D13zAYmsLI0Oiw/featured.
I’ve also joined the Rural Caucus, in which dozens of legislators of all stripes come together each week to discuss issues and possible legislation affecting small villages and rural areas.
Please join me and fellow Lawmakers for Community Conversations in the weeks ahead:
Sunday, Feb. 5, 1 p.m.: Uncommon Coffee, Essex: Chittenden Central Senators
Saturday, Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m.: Milton Public Library, rear door: Milton House Rep’s
Saturday, Feb. 18, 8 a.m.: Georgia Fire Department: Fairfax/Georgia Reps and other Franklin County Legislators
Saturday, Feb. 18, 3 p.m.: Zoom (Link TBD): Westford and Essex House Reps
Senators serve on two five-member committees. I was appointed to Agriculture, which meets each morning, and Institutions, an afternoon gig, which I’ll write about next month.
Members of Ag are working on a number of farm, environmental, food, and consumer protection issues.
Daily we hear from stakeholders far and near.
Scott Fay, from Essex Westford School District’s Child Nutrition Program, was among those testifying on January 25th that the Universal Meals program has reduced administrative paperwork, improved meal quality (including local meat and produce), eliminated the stigma of getting reduced-price lunches, decreased visits of hungry children to the school nurse, and increased the number of students coming to school (reducing truancy) and accessing healthy meals.
When low-income families inform the government of their status, more Federal money and less Vermont money flows to support school meals. If you haven’t filled out this form since August and are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, would you please take a moment to do so? https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-nutrition-meal-application-2022-2023.pdf
Meetings are live-streamed and available to watch later via https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ogCBBT6D13zAYmsLI0Oiw/featured.
I’ve also joined the Rural Caucus, in which dozens of legislators of all stripes come together each week to discuss issues and possible legislation affecting small villages and rural areas.
Please join me and fellow Lawmakers for Community Conversations in the weeks ahead:
Sunday, Feb. 5, 1 p.m.: Uncommon Coffee, Essex: Chittenden Central Senators
Saturday, Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m.: Milton Public Library, rear door: Milton House Rep’s
Saturday, Feb. 18, 8 a.m.: Georgia Fire Department: Fairfax/Georgia Reps and other Franklin County Legislators
Saturday, Feb. 18, 3 p.m.: Zoom (Link TBD): Westford and Essex House Reps