Appropriations Committee

The House Committee on Appropriations considers matters relating to appropriating money from the State Treasury.

The House Appropriations Committee did its usual in comprehensive  look at every line in the Governor's proposed budget. The committee received over $250 million in additional requests from Vermont citizens, advocates, and House members. After the House and Senate passed their versions of the budget, a Committee of Conference was called to reconcile differences.

In a very tight budget year, some of the goals included primary care, food, housing, and economic development. We wanted to take care of Vermonters who have needs now, especially with the changes that continue to come out of Washington, DC, and to build for the future.

A few highlights that reflect our priorities include:

• $717,000 for primary care loan repayment and primary care provider placement services

• $924,000 for Vermont’s free and referrals clinics to support health care services to Vermonters without health insurance

• $350,000 for the Bridges to Health program to support migrant and immigrant workers and families

• $3.7 million in global commitment funds to support primary care providers

• Increases to designated agencies, specialized service agencies, home and community-based service providers, and the Office of the Health Care Advocate

• Over $5 million in food-related programs, including Meals on Wheels, the Vermont Foodbank, and NOFA’s Cash Crop, Cash Crop Plus, and Farm Share programs.

• $4 million for VHIP (VT Housing Improvement Program) 

• $1 million for the Rent Arrears Assistance Fund

• $800,000 for the manufactured home improvement and repair program

• $150,000 to the Vermont Small Business Development Center

• $250,000 to the Vermont Council on Rural Development for technical support in rural communities

• $2 million to the Rural Industrial Development Program to support grant funding related to federally impacted properties

• $1.35 million to Agency of Transportation to help pay for damages to infrastructure in the Northeast Kingdom due to 2025 flooding that did not receive FEMA money

Finally, $3.5 million was appropriated to the Agency of Human Services from funds reserved last year to respond to federal funding changes and other emerging needs. The appropriation will expand statewide capacity to support SNAP and Medicaid beneficiaries in obtaining and maintaining access to their benefits.

Next year promises to be an even tighter budget year, but it is hoped that money invested in Fiscal Year 2027 will support Vermonters across the state going forward.