Rep. Austin's Session Journal
“Well paying jobs, thriving businesses, access to affordable housing, childcare, healthcare, quality schools, and safe and inclusive communities, as well as a clean and sustainable climate will all contribute to Vermonter’s solvency, security, and quality of life”
~Representative Sarita Austin~
Colchester 19
Email: saustin@leg.state.vt.us FaceBook: SaritaForVTHouse Phone:802-310-4698
March, 2024 - Town Meeting Day Report
Here we are at the half way mark of the 2024 Legislative Session.
As you can imagine from recent headlines and nightly news broadcasts it has been a been a jam packed few months of an inordinate amount of introduced bills, new staff and assistants to meet and work with, in addition to our newer members getting their bearings amongst more senior representatives.
Due to the large infusion of Federal funding that was appropriated to Vermont (and other states) to mitigate the impact that COVID was projected to have on our health, economy, and welfare there has been somewhat of a abrupt reality check on what the State’s actual revenue projections are and the necessary return to responsible spending in order to stay within our budget.
Those of us that served during the pre COVID sessions understand that although COVID is now in our rear view mirror the road ahead is filled with new fiscal and logistical challenges (and opportunities) that we had not encountered before.
I will share in this report some of the proposed Legislation that is being taken up in mine (Education) and other House Committee’s. Throughout the past summer and into this session (2024) I have heard from Colchester constituents who are asking me to support or not support certain bills that have either been introduced on the Floor or taken up by Committees. As I have explained before, there have been over 700 bills introduced in the House since we began in January and of those 700 very few will actually be “taken up”. If a bill is not taken up by “crossover” (March15th) then the chances of it being taken up this session is remote. All bills that are left “on the wall” at the end of this session will be eliminated and would need to be reintroduced next session.
The bills that have passed out of Committee’s and passed by the House are then sent over to the Senate Committee of Jurisdiction to basically follow the same process that the House Committees follow.
The Senate Chair decides what bills that have been sent over to “take up”. Bills that are “taken up” have testimony presented by agency or department heads, experts in the area of the bill’s intent and policies, advocates that support the passage of the bill and those that don’t, and any other witnesses that can inform the Committee about the purpose, proposed policies, actions, intent and intended and unintended outcomes of the bill’s passage.
Legislative Council advises the Committee about the Federal and State Constitutionality of the proposed bill as well a providing legal guidance and recommendations as to the language that should be included to meet the intent of the bill.
The Joint Fiscal Office provides projected costs that would most likely be incurred if the bill passed as well as any additional funding sources, grants, Federal funds, and projections of current revenue sources (such as cannabis revenue from fees) that could possibly be used for funding certain programs.
If the Senate Committee votes to pass a bill out without any amendments then the bill heads to the Governor. The Governor can either sign the bill into law, veto the bill, or not sign bill. If the Governor chooses to not sign the bill then the bill automatically becomes law five days after the Governor receives the bill.
This is a very simplified explanation of how a bill becomes a law. The reality is that the process is more complicated, difficult, frustrating, and circumvented. It truly is a remarkable process that has been in place since Vermont became a State, wrote our Constitution, and granted the Legislature broad powers to make decisions on behalf of the citizens.
Here are some of the bills that my Committee will be sending to the Senate as well as some bills I believe may be of interest to Colchester citizens.
House Education Committee
School Construction Aid
The School Construction aid program was suspended in 2008.
In 2021 Vermont created a task force (through Act 72) to create a comprehensive inventory and assessment of all public school buildings in our State. The data from this study was used to inform the charge and work of the School Construction Aid Task Force of 2023. This group was mandated by Act 78 to analyze the assessment data and develop recommendations for a new statewide aid program.
The House Education Committee is creating a bill-informed by the Task Force Report-to initiate a new state aid program that would provide financial incentive contributions toward annual bond payments. Addressing school construction and deferred maintenance is essential to providing safe spaces for our children to be educated in. The Committee is also learning how other states are not only financing school construction but are also using this opportunity to address declining enrollment and cost containment.
BOCES - Boards of Cooperative Education Services
Act 46 of 2016 required school districts to unify in order to better serve students and to reduce education spending.As a extension of this initiative the Education Committee is considering a bill that would allow and encourage school districts to collaborate on shared functions and services in order lower costs and provide specialized services, joint procurement, transportation services etc.The Committee has heard testimony from the Vermont Teacher’s Association, the Vermont Superintendent’s Association, the Vermont School Board’s Association, and administrator’s of BOCES operations in other states. By working cooperatively to lower costs and become more efficient school districts and supervisory unions will be better able to serve their students and communities.
Health and Human Services Committee
S.18 Regulating Contents of E-Cigarettes
I have heard from many Colchester constituents asking me to vote yes on S.18.This bill would ban the retail sale of all flavored vapes, all flavored tobacco substitutes, and all flavored eliquids. Currently Vermont spends more than $400 million dollars every year to treat tobacco related illnesses. Research indicates that: Candy flavored cigarettes are hooking Vermont youth 89% of Vermont youth between the ages of 12-17 who smoke or vape started with a flavored product 7% of Vermont high school students smoke cigarettes but when you add in e-cigarettes the number jumps to 28%. As a former health education teacher I am opposed to the tobacco industry’s back door advertising campaigns to entice our youth (and adults) to “try” their addictive and expensive products. S.18 will be coming to the Floor after we return from Town Meeting break. I will be voting “yes” to ban the retail sale of all flavored vapes, tobacco substitutes and e-liquids.
Judiciary Committee
This session I have spoken with the Chair of Judiciary (Representative Martin Lalonde) concerning the postings I am reading on Colchester Community posts such as Front Porch Forum and the emails and phone calls I am receiving regarding retail theft at our businesses and break ins and destruction of property in Colchester. As a result of hearing from other Legislators in the greater Burlington area that share Colchester’s concerns the Judiciary Committee has taken up two bills to address these incidents.
H.534 would enable prosecutors to charge individuals with a felony if the aggregate value of goods stolen within a 14-day period exceeds $900,or if the person acted in concert with someone else. This bill is designed to specifically to address repeat offenders.
H.563 The Judiciary Committee combined three bills into one that would address vehicle theft, unlawful operation, and trespass. Currently, the law does not prohibit a person from entering another person’s car without consent. H.563 will address incidents of rummaging through someone’s car without actually stealing anything out of it.
Ways and Means Committee
The Ways and Means Committee is encouraging all Vermonters to file for tax reduction benefits. Even if your income is below the threshold to file a return, you still should. Two thirds of Vermonters are eligible for income-based property tax relief and filing a homestead declaration is a way to receive this discount.
You may also be eligible for some tax credits. There are dozens of credits, but two of our largest are the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). If you need help filing taxes to receive these benefits contact the Vermont’s Taxpayer Advocate at (802) 828-6848 or tax.taxpayeradvocate@vermont.gov.
There are more bills being considered to make cross over by March 15th. Act 250,Transportation and Resiliency, Mental Health, Health Care Costs, Early Childhood, Housing and Homelessness, Workforce, Economic Development and Implementing the Global Warming Solutions Act bills continue to navigate the process and make their way to the House Floor.
Respectfully,
Representative Sarita Austin
Colchester 19
saustin@leg.state.vt.us
January, 2024
We are back at the Statehouse and at the end of the transition from being consumed by the disruptive and destructive impact of COVID to a post-COVID reality.
The masks are gone on the Floor and in committee rooms as well as the underlying worry and trepidation that at any moment we would be required to exit the Statehouse, return to our homes, and stare at our computer screens for hours while we conducted the “people’s work” across Zoom. I wouldn’t say this is the “new normal” but I believe our collective sense of certainty and predictability has been altered to allow for the real possibilities of unforeseen circumstances.
There have been close to 700 new bills introduced on the Floor and that does not include the bills that were introduced last session. It is important to understand that only a very small number of these bills will be “taken up” in the Committee they are assigned to and that even those bills that are taken up, passed out of the Committee, and voted out of the House will then have to go through the same process in the Senate. When and if the Governor signs a bill into law, that bill has been revised, amended, debated, and word smithed by the process so that at times it has no resemblance to the original bill that was first submitted.
A bill that the Judiciary Committee is taking testimony on is one, I believe, that the citizens and business owners in Colchester and surrounding communities would be interested in following. H.534 would enable prosecutors to charge individuals with a felony if the aggregate value of goods stolen within a 14-day period exceeds $900, or if the person acted in concert with someone else.
Currently, retail theft around Vermont, but especially in the greater Burlington area, is impacting public safety and economic growth. The current law allows for theft offenses to be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the value of the goods stolen. Anything up to $900 is a misdemeanor; over $900 is a felony. If H.534 makes it way through the Legislative process then there will, hopefully, be relief for our citizens and hard working business owners from repeat offenders of retail theft.
As a member of the Colchester Planning Commission, I also pay close attention to bills that the Environment and Energy Committee may be taking up. A regional planning report from the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies, the Natural Resources Board’s Act 250 modernization report, and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s designation report, all create the possibility of a pathway towards a more coordinated and effective statewide planning and land use regulation.
The Committee took testimony from regional land use planers focused on recommendations for consistent land use categories and mapping as well as state approval of regional plans.In addition representatives from the Natural Resources Board testified on the progress made by diverse advocates on reaching consensus regarding a new, more efficient Act 250 framework and improved governance structure. The proposal envisions a tiered, location-based approach, exempting development in designated downtowns and village centers in order to protect sensitive natural areas and reduce sprawl.
In my Committee, House Education, we continue to monitor the PCB testing and remediation program occurring across the State with the end goal being that all VT schools will proceed through this process. As of January 1, 2024 the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has identified a total of 324 schools that were built or renovated before 1980 and therefore require testing consistent with Act 185.
Currently, indoor sampling results from 96 schools have been received by the DEC.There are 228 schools that remain to be tested.Of the schools sampled, the following indoor air information is available:
61 (63%) of schools have had no PCB sections above the School Action Level (SAL)
35 (37%) of schools have PCB detections above the SAL
13 of the above 35 schools (13% of all schools tested) have PCB detections above the Immediate Action Level (IAL)
We are also taking testimony on the Mental Health Designated Agencies that provide services to our schools, proposed Literacy Legislation, the outlook for proposed School Construction projects and maintenance and other topics related to the operation of Vermont schools and the advancement of student learning.
It feels good to be back in the Statehouse and to continue the work that Vermonter’s sent us there to accomplish.
Respectfully,
Representative Sarita Austin
Colchester 19
saustin@leg.state.vt.us
I would like to thank Representative’s Dara Torre and Angela Arsenault for their contributions to the report
2023 Session Recap
Messages From Montpelier
Looking Back on the 2023 Session and Looking Forward to 2024
Priorities of the 2023-2024 Session
• Investing in affordable housing, assuring working families access to affordable and accessible quality childcare, growing Vermont’s workforce to meet the demand of our expanding economy and assuring that all Vermont communities have the public safety services required to provide for the safety and peace of minds of all their citizens.
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• Protecting the rights of women to make informed decisions about their reproductive healthcare
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• Ensuring that all Vermonters have equal access to any and all economic, social, technical, educational, employment, housing, and healthcare opportunities.
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• Support climate change solutions that address greenhouse gas emissions as well as building resiliency in order to make a fair, affordable, and equitable transition to cleaner and more sustainable sources of fuel to heat our homes and power our cars.
• Protect our natural resources in a responsible and equitable process so that future generations of Vermonter’s will have the same access and opportunities that we currently enjoy
• Recognizing that Vermont’s population is growing older and anticipating the systems that will need to be available to address the specific health, safety, and quality of life issues of our elders
Investing in Vermont’s Economic Growth
I take my responsibility as one of your Representative’s very seriously and humbly.I believe it is my job to listen, research, ask questions, read reports, and seek out the facts and truths when making critical decisions that will impact the quality of life for Vermonters.The role of a Legislator is to make very difficult decisions regarding competing priorities with limited funding.There are many worthy proposals submitted every session but very few become law.
This session continued Vermont’s recovery from COVID and our transition to a post COVID economy. Prior to COVID Vermont’s economy was ramping up with higher than anticipated revenues, low unemployment, and a future focused on sustainability and economic growth. COVID put a halt to that momentum and almost overnight the State’s priority shifted to the safety, health, and solvency of our citizens.Uncertainty and economic disparity prevailed for close to two years and now, thankfully, our government can return to it’s role of providing infrastructure, services, responsible regulations, incentives for workforce development and business growth as well as increasing educational outcomes, and other essential responsibilities that support all Vermonter’s including our businesses, our families, and our communities.
I have somewhat of a mantra within my Committee and within the Legislature-pease show me the data/evidence that demonstrates that this particular proposal has a greater chance of reaching projected outcomes than other proposals. I want to invest Vermonter’s hard earned tax dollars on what works.
A trend I have been paying close attention to is the growth of Vermont’s current population compared to the rest of the nation. I also monitor our projected population growth, maintenance, or decline.It is important to also take into consideration the age demographics of our current population.Strong population growth can lead to a brighter economic and fiscal landscape as a growing labor force stimulates new economic activity.”Population trends are tied to state economic fortunes and government finances. More people usually means more workers and consumers adding to economic activity as they take jobs and buy goods and services, which generates more tax revenue. A growing economy, in turn can also attract even more workers and their families” (Fiscal 50:State Trends and Analysis PEW)
Vermont currently has a population of 647,064( US Census 2022) According to a PEW analysis updated May 17,2023 Vermont had one of the lowest percentage growth rates in the nation in 2022.
In order to keep Vermont affordable we need to increase our tax base and in order to increase our tax base we need to invest in affordable housing, childcare, and workforce opportunities.
H.494 Vermont’s 2024 Budget
This session we passed a balanced budget for FY 24 that makes one time and ongoing investments in critical infrastructure, education, and services.The focus is on long term stability as well as day to day operations in the lives of Vermonters.
On May 12th the Legislature approved an $8.5 billion dollar balanced budget that funds all our government functions for the 2024 fiscal year. A portion of H.494 uses one-time federal stimulus funds in an intentional and strategic process to fund one time investments.The projects and programs that are receiving these one time funds have been prioritized to assure that Vermont will gain the largest benefits from these investments.
The other portion of the budget appropriates funding to operate our government, pay our state employees, service providers, as well as make investments in our economy, communities, and our families.
Here are some investments being made in the 2024 budget:
S.100-Housing ($211 million): The appropriation includes $109 million to expand affordable housing by building more units statewide, rehabbing rental units that are not up to code, and helping property owners create accessory dwelling units (ADUs, also known as “in law apartments)
$102 million was appropriated for a range of other housing services including shelter and transition services for homeless Vermonters as well as assisting qualified mobile homeowners with repairs and infrastructure.Regulations were revised to allow for housing to be permitted in downtowns and village centers which opens up options for potential homebuyers and developers.
H.217-Childcare( $76 million) This investment is the first step in a multi-year transformation of our current childcare/preschool system.This funding will substantially open up access to childcare to families, provide stability to providers, and pay our childhood workforce a competitive salary.In addition, this bill calls for a study to be done that examines how to implement a PreK4 program for four year olds in all VT public schools. This program would not be a requirement (as kindergarten is an option) and would still provide for the public / private options for PreK4 that exist currently.
A detailed and comprehensive report was done by the RAND Corporation on how to address the childcare crises in VT. The recommendations from the report helped to inform the creation of H.217.Starting July 1st 2024 there will be a payroll tax to fund this initiative.Not all Vermonters will be impacted-the tax will be paid for by employees and their employers-the two entities that are most impacted by an unstable and unsustainable childcare system.
The tax rate will be 0.44% ,with employers paying 0.33% and employees paying 0.11%.For an employee earning $50,000 a year the employer would pay $165 and the employee would pay $55 for the year.
Currently, a four person family with an infant and toddler receiving full time care at a center based program and an income of $105,300-is not eligible for any subsidy.This family is paying $35,204 out of pocket for their children to be cared for while both parents remain employed.With the passage of H.217, this family will be eligible for subsides with an estimated weekly co-pay of $225, a savings of $23,000 a year.
By investing in affordable and sustainable childcare Vermont will benefit by fueling our economic growth, providing businesses with a reliable and predictable workforce, and letting potential new workers know that Vermont strongly values families and children.
Workforce and Higher Ed ($474 million) The 2024 budget includes funding to attract and retain workers in fields with shortages, including nursing, dental hygienists, public school teachers, mental health workers, school counselors, and skilled trades.It funds UVM and Vermont State University with scholarships like 802 Opportunity and programs to help adult education, small businesses and small farms, rural industry, working lands enterprises, and much more.
H.494 Substance Misuse Prevention and Recovery($20,000,000) This bill expands Vermont’s treatment systems for opioid use disorder and also for funding recovery centers, recovery housing and after school programs, youth mentoring and prevention programs.
The 2024 budget also included:
S.5 The Affordable Heat Act
Climate change is here with longer stretches of hotter weather and more intense storms that impact our farms, communities, commerce, and health.Town budgets are not prepared to take on the cost of replacing culverts, repairing washed out bridges and roads, and losing access to essential services that depend on a working infrastructure.
The Vermont Climate Action Plan is a roadmap to guide Vermont’s efforts to cut carbon emissions and take the needed action to address our changing climate.
We need to cut pollution in half by 2030 to meet the target in Vermont’s Warming Solutions Act.This means transitioning away from fossil fuels to clean, efficient energy in our transportation systems, buildings, homes, businesses, and communities.
S.5 targets how we heat our buildings.The proposed outcome is to encourage Vermonters to move away from fossil fuels in order to save money and reduce climate pollution and transition to cleaner sources to heat their homes.This out come is not achieved by imposing new taxes or creating mandates but by requiring fossil fuel dealers to help willing Vermonter’s lower their emissions.Weatherizing a home, installing heat pumps, switching to advanced wood heat, or using advancing technologies, at a lower price through incentives.
Last May the Legislature passed S.5 which has set in motion a two-year public process of study and design. This study asks for nonpartisan reports that will research the actual costs and savings for Vermonters-including the any future impact on fuel prices-and also draft rules that would govern the proposed program.The first report is due in February 2024.In 2025, this detailed information will return to the Legislature for consideration to be approved, rejected, or revised.A brand new bill will need to be drafted, testimony will need to be taken, the House and the Senate will need to pass the bill out of each respective Chamber, and the Governor will need to sign the bill.The program cannot be implemented until it passes all these steps.
This is a complicated bill because of the complexity of what is being proposed.The hope is is that Vermonters will have an opportunity to cut climate pollution and save billions over the next few decades by transitioning to renewable energy.Looking back through history we can observe how difficult transformational change has always been. A “Yes” vote last May was a vote to gather all the data, evidence, and data Vermonters want and deserve to make an informed and responsible decision in 2025.
The passage of S.5 will not increase heating costs next winter.If fuels costs rise it will be due to market forces, supply chain issues, and/or forces beyond our control in a volatile world market.
DMV Fees: The Department of Motor Vehicles has not raised fees since 2016. After much discussion it was decided to increase DMV fees to adjust for inflation.For the majority of Vermonters this will mean a $15 increase in car registration or an increase from $30 to $36 for a driver’s license.
Good governance requires making adjustments in fees in order to keep up with inflation. I am committed to supporting a progressive ,fair, and equitable system that incorporates different revenue sources so if our economy trends shift these funds can supplement each other. A progressive tax structure is based on the premise that people and corporations pay according based on their taxable income . Those with a lower taxable income pay a lower percentage than those with higher incomes.
In closing, I would, once again like to express my gratitude to the citizens of Colchester for your honest, respectful, and informed thoughts, questions, and suggestions.It is an honor to serve you.
Thank you for this opportunity and please continue to reach out for constituent support, to have your questions answered and your issues heard.
Respectfully,
Rep.Sarita Austin
Colchester 19
The Bay and Beyond
*I want to thank Representative Kathleen James from Bennington District 4 and Representative Katherine Sims from Orleans-4 for their generous contributions to this report.