Rep. White: Update from the Vermont House
February 28, 2025 | By Rep. Candice White Administration update
The General Assembly passed, and Gov. Phil Scott signed, H.78, on Feb. 13, clarifying and making consistent the use of Australian ballot in local elections.
The governor also reaffirmed Vermont’s stance on immigration enforcement, stating that while the state will comply with federal law, it will not prioritize assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in non-violent cases. He noted that Vermont’s 2017 agreement on this issue remains in place.
Amid financial concerns raised by Blue Cross Blue Shield’s leadership, the governor assured that state regulators are monitoring the situation closely.
The governor’s upcoming omnibus public safety bill has been introduced in response to community frustration over drug trafficking, rising gun violence, and a perceived lack of accountability for repeat offenders. The proposed reforms include:
Repealing the “raise the age” law and revising the youthful offender statute.
Addressing repeat offenders through bail revocation reform.
Expanding Department of Corrections pretrial supervision.
Universal sealing (not expungement) of criminal records.
Limiting judicial discretion to reduce sentences.
Enhancing extradition processes and redefining recidivism to improve intervention effectiveness.
House of Representatives
(Left to right): Rep. Mollie Burke, D-Brattleboro, Rep. Candice White, D-Waitsfield, and Harwood Union Youth Lobby students Harmony Belle Devoe, Cora Potts, Lucy Badger, Izzy Fish, Jane Schaefer. Not pictured is student Ayla Cattanach. Courtesy photo
We continue to closely watch the development of the Governor’s Education Reform proposal, which introduces a short-form bill laying out a big-picture plan with recommendations that include the replacement of current supervisory unions with five regional districts, the preservation of small elementary schools, the consolidation of high schools, a foundation-funding formula to fund education, suggested teacher-to-student ratios in classrooms, consistent graduation requirements across the state, and broadening a voucher system to allow students to attend private schools (highly controversial). The details on the cost-savings, and the actual per-pupil funding, remain vague but are currently being modeled.
I continue to meet weekly with a group led by the chairs of House Ways & Means and Education to stay on top of education-reform developments. I welcome your direct feedback on the governor’s plan and encourage you share feedback with the Agency of Education. (Email to: aoe.ed.policy@vermont.gov).
In the House Transportation Committee, we are discussing the following issues:
Materials-cost inflation related to expected tariffs from the federal government.
A mileage-based user fee has been proposed to be implemented when 15% of Vermont’s vehicle registrations are electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Details are to be worked out. Currently EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles are charged an additional registration fee to support the implementation of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
News from federal actions affecting Vermont includes a halt of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. Six contracts had just been awarded in December, five more were close to being awarded. Only one Level III charger is up and running thus far in Vermont through this program. Also, halted is the Carbon Reduction Program which awards bicycle/pedestrian grants, transit electrification and charging funding.
Road-paving vendors working with VTrans have shared safety concerns for the proposed 2026 VTrans budget which calls for the paving 125 miles of state roads in 2026 as opposed to their goal of 300 miles.
All of this underscores the need to find alternative sources of revenue for VTrans as we continue to see gas-tax revenue decline. We have reviewed current state and federal gas tax policies, discussed the possibility of a retail package delivery fee (to account for increased road usage by delivery trucks), and a road-bicycle registration fee to support bike lanes/safety. Your ideas are welcome!
The Vermont Youth Lobby with many impressive members from Harwood Union High School along with their leader Harwood teacher Matt Henchen joined our committee recently and shared positive input and thoughtful questions regarding a potential pilot project merging school busing with public transportation.
And passing along a useful website: vtransparency.vermont.gov. This is the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s website providing information on road conditions, plow locations, road projects, etc.
Other bills under consideration
H.96: Reassessing the Certificate of Need process in health care
H.91: Addressing the Emergency Temporary Shelter Program
H.13: An act relating to Medicaid payment rates for home- and community-based service providers and designated and specialized service agencies.
H.42: Would shorten the tenant eviction process by creating a Housing Board of Appeals.
H.169: Would protect the privacy of Social Security Numbers of tenants, and to add protection from discrimination based on citizenship and immigration status.
Note to dairy farmers
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center has a new grant for existing Northeast dairy processors. The Dairy Co-Packing Grant supports licensed dairy processors and dairy brands in the Northeast that already engage in or are planning to use co-packing arrangements. The application is open through April 3. Awards will range from $15,000 to $150,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match contribution.
Upcoming public meetings
March 3: Mad River Glen, meet at double chair, 9 a.m.
March 3: Zoom, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Details posted online at candicewhite4vt.com
Rep. Candice White, D-Waitsfield, represents the Washington-2 House district covering Duxbury, Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren. She is a member of the House Transportation Committee. Contact: cwhite@leg.state.vt.us