Rep. White: Legislative update & upcoming constituent meetings
February 15, 2025 | By Rep. Candice White
Rep. Candice White with Harwood Union High School student Harmony Belle Devoe, who was honored at the State House recently as a finalist for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award. This award honors young Vermonters who have demonstrated a passion for social justice and are motivated to improve the quality of life in their community. Courtesy photo
I recently spent a week watching committee testimony and the governor’s budget address from my couch as I recovered from Influenza A (despite a vaccination). I urge you to avoid this if at all possible (had I only worn a mask!). The good news is that I was able to experience how accessible our state government is to the public. If you can get to vermont.gov on a computer, the government tab takes you to all House and Senate business live via YouTube, as well as all committee testimony.
The governor delivered his FY2026 Budget Address, announcing support for a number of important initiatives, including property tax relief, housing, education reform, and crime reform. The governor’s property-tax relief proposes using $77 million of the General Fund to buy down property taxes, which as we know is a short-term solution to a long-term problem that is in the early stages of development.
Both the Ways and Means and the Education Committees are spending time studying Foundation Formulas in preparation for a new approach to education funding. This work is ongoing, and Rep. Dara Torre and I will continue to update you as developments unfold.
The House Appropriations Committee finalized the Budget Adjustment Act, summarizing recommendations on budget adjustments at the halfway mark in Fiscal Year 2025. This vote passed in the House last week.
Our Transportation Committee continued to hear testimony from various agency personnel, including Ernie Patnoe, Director of Maintenance. Patnoe testified on the maintenance of roads, including the use of salt and salt brine on roads to lessen salt use. According to the Agency of Transportation, Vermont uses approximately half the salt that New Hampshire uses because of its environmentally forward approach, recognizing that both states manage a similar-sized area of highways. The committee questioned whether this training flows down to municipalities. While the agency has the knowledge, it was unclear how many municipalities take advantage of this, which could lead to a reduction of salt use, cost, and salt proliferation in the water supply.
We also heard testimony on Vermont’s rail system, which repaired or replaced 29 bridges in the past four years, and whose Amtrak service usage has almost doubled in the last few years. A future goal is to expand service to Montreal. Freight-train service continues to grow and proves to be an efficient way to move freight across Vermont while minimizing truck traffic. Fun fact: 1 freight train car=3.5 truckloads.
Additional testimony from the Program Manager for Vital Communities reviewed public transportation funding challenges. The committee questioned why fares aren’t being charged to pay for public transit today.
We also heard testimony in support of continuing incentives for electric vehicles and e-bikes and continued support for bike lanes and bike safety. As we continue to think about how we will fund the Transportation Agency as fuel tax revenue declines, I think about the possibility of a bike registration fee that would directly fund additional bike lanes and bike safety in the state. What do folks think?
Note that Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski has just launched a new podcast titled “State of the House,” available on Spotify and YouTube.
I have several public meetings scheduled in the next few weeks:
Monday, Feb. 17, 8 a.m., Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush: Meet at Green Mountain Express
Monday, Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. via Zoom: Zoom details will be shared on my website and social, and emailed out by request.
Monday, Feb. 24, 8 a.m., Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush: Meet at Green Mountain Express
Monday, March 3, 9 a.m. at Mad River Glen: Meet at the double chair
Monday, March 3, 12:30 p.m. via Zoom: Zoom details will be shared on my website and social, and emailed out by request.
Please join me, or reach out via email: cwhite@leg.state.vt.us.
Rep. Candice White, D-Waitsfield, is one of two representatives in the Washington-2 House district representing Duxbury, Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren. She is a member of the House Transportation Committee.