Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry Committee

The House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry considers matters relating to agriculture, food resiliency, climate change mitigation and adaptation, forestry and forest products, State parks and lands, and other similar policies.

Use Value Appraisal Program (Current Use)

The Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry Committee is considering a land use bill that combines 3 current use bills. The proposals would help reduce costs for farmers, incentivize growth for affordable housing, and raise additional revenue from lands that are posted. 

H.291 (An act relating to enrollment of posted land in the Use Value Appraisal Program)

This bill proposes that land posted against hunting, fishing, or trapping shall pay a higher tax rate than agricultural land or managed forestland when enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal Program.

H.273 (An act relating to the Use Value Appraisal Program)

This bill proposes to amend the eligibility requirements for the Use Value Appraisal Program by providing that a farmer is eligible for the program when the farmer earns at least 25 percent of the farmer’s annual gross income from the business of farming. The bill would also reduce the percentage rate of the land use change tax from 10 percent to 6 percent of the full fair market value of the changed land. In addition, the bill would define a “farmer” eligible for enrollment of agricultural land to include a person who earns at least 25 percent of the farmer’s income  from the raising, feeding, or management of equines. This is helpful for individuals who are engaged in the act of farming, but who need an off farm income source to make ends meet. This would help young farmers and beginning farmers (as well as homesteaders who have traditionally been excluded).

H.134 (An act relating to calculating land use change tax and creating a new land use change tax exemption for developing affordable housing)

This bill proposes to change the land use change tax calculation used when a portion of a parcel is removed from use value appraisal so that the calculation uses proration based on acreage instead of valuing the removed portion as a separate parcel. The bill also creates a new land use change tax exemption for land withdrawn to develop  affordable housing. 

Universal School Meals

Investing in Universal School Meals means healthier kids, stronger families, thriving farms, and successful schools. No student can learn while hungry. This program results to better focus, improved behavior, and higher academic achievement. Vermont leads the nation in summer meal participatio with 1 million meals served in summer 2024. Repealing Act 64 would reverse progress, harm vulnerable families, and create financial instability for schools and farmers. Vermont must keep its commitment to feeding every student, every school day.

Vermont made a bipartisan commitment to provide two meals for every student, every school day with Act 64 of 2023. Governor Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature. Repealing Act 64 breaks this commitment to students, families, educators, and communities.

Universal School Meals has led to a dramatic increase in student participation. The program provides breakfast and lunch for every student at no charge, ensuring no child goes hungry during the school day. It eliminates the stigma and barriers associated with free or reduced-price meal programs offered only to certain students. Participation in school breakfast and lunch has increased by 20-40%, meaning more students are eating healthier meals.

The program has led to a 44% increase in federal funding for school meals since 2019, bringing in $34.5 million in FY2024. Eliminating Universal School Meals would forfeit this crucial federal investment. Moreover, repealing the program would cause Vermont to lose $7-10 million annually in federal funds for school meals and local farms.

Without Universal School Meals, families would face an extra $1,500 per child per year for school meals. By contrast, the average Education Fund taxpayer pays just $30 per year to support the program. 80% of Vermont students live in families making under $150,000 - the “missing middle” who would struggle with added costs. 27,000 children from “missing middle” families would be forced to pay for meals, increasing financial strain.

Schools are buying more food from Vermont farmers, supporting local agriculture and food producers. Repealing Act 64 would disrupt Vermont’s farm economy and harm local food producers. School meal programs provide stability for local farms and food suppliers, ensuring continued purchases of fresh, nutritious, Vermont-grown foods. Schools spent $1.2 million on Vermont-grown food through the Local Foods Incentive Grant. Cutting the program would disrupt farm-to-school relationships and hurt local food systems.

In summary, the Universal School Meals Act has led to increased student participation in meal programs across Vermont. The program accounts for less than 1% of the Education Fund, making it a small but highly impactful investment. Vermont should reaffirm its commitment rather than eliminate a policy that is working exceptionally well.