Legislative Update: February 17, 2025

The past two weeks have been packed with information and meetings. 

I was excited to meet Eryn, Franklin County Miss Teen, and a Fairfax resident. Many in the body are wearing red in recognition of American Heart Association’s Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 7th.

Joint Hearings of the House Committees on General & Housing and Commerce & Economic Development 

I had the opportunity to participate in three joint hearings with the House Commerce and Economic Development Committees. We explored important topics affecting our communities: manufactured housing and Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Manufactured homes are a way for our state to address our housing crisis in an efficient and affordable manner, with the possibility of leading the region in production. Production of manufactured homes would also allow for a professionalized workforce in the industry. 

The second joint hearing of the week focused on how Vermont currently utilizes TIF, as well as the Governor's new project-based TIF proposal, SPARC. TIF districts are one of the most valuable tools to promote economic development in a state. However, rural communities are at a disadvantage when it comes to this specific tool. The Governor’s proposal would allow communities, such as ours, to benefit from TIF. Vermont currently has 8 different TIF districts. 

I had a great meeting with Paul Snyder from Northwest Access Television. We discussed the incredible programs they offer the community.

The last Joint Hearing, we heard testimony from the coalition of Let’s Build Homes regarding their Housing Infrastructure IniTiative (HIT), which is similar to TIF, but will allow smaller towns to participate in infrastructure improvement. I am excited to be introducing this legislation on the House floor. 

Education Funding Update

In addition, I’ve heard a lot of questions and concerns surrounding the Governor’s Education Funding Reform proposal. I want to emphasize that this is just the beginning of a broad and ongoing conversation. Committees of jurisdiction are currently hearing testimony and carefully debating various strategies and potential solutions. I encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts and concerns with us—we truly want to hear from you. Rest assured, the Legislature is not prepared to vote on the proposal in its current form, and there is a strong likelihood that we will consider a completely different approach to education funding. Your input is invaluable in shaping the direction of these important discussions.

Looking Ahead

In the General & Housing this week, much of our time will be spent on housing and a couple bill introductions. Testimony has been heard from the owner of Huntington Homes, Inc., Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Town of Fair Haven, Efficiency Vermont, local landlords on Landlord Tenant Issues, Lajeunesse Construction, Summit Properties, O’Brien Brothers, Cathedral Square, RuralEdge, Trust for Public Land, and Cornerstone Housing Partners. If you’re ever interested in testifying on a bill or issue in my committee, please contact me at abartley@leg.state.vt.us. 

The Committee will be working towards completing a committee omnibus housing bill, and expect to receive language back from Legislative Counsel sometime next week. You can expect to see issues such as VHIP, Manufactured home, the Infrastructure Fund and much more. 

You will always find our committee agenda and work here. Our meetings are always streamed here as well. If there is testimony you would like to give in my committee, please let me know and I’ll work with our Committee Assistant to place you on the agenda. I will have a more thorough update on our path forward as it relates to Governor Scott’s Housing Proposal and legislation I’ve asked the Legislative Council to draft on the issue.

Rep. Ashley Bartley

Franklin-1

Fairfax/Georgia 

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Update from Rep. Carolyn Branagan

Data received last week at the statehouse made it clear that the free breakfast/free lunch program is not costing as much as previously thought.

What’s happening with that program? The federal gov't matches the program almost dollar for dollar. Federal money totaling $16.9 M comes into our state for the school meals program. Since universal school meals went into place, there has only been a 10% increase in per student use of school meals, 51% to 61% of the student population participates. That means 39% of students are still not consuming school meals even though the meals are free. Wealthy families are essentially not participating so it is not true that the program subsidizes those who do not need it.

What the program does do is cut a lot of administrative cost and headache. There is no need to hire an additional employee simply to run register and no need to hire someone to collect and file all the paper work for free and reduced meals, and then to collect debt at the end of the school year.

When it's all said and done, universal meals are not costing our state an additional $18.5 M. The numbers are variable due to a few factors, but the cost difference of running the program is $3-6M. And that $3-6M brings in $16.9M Fed dollars.

You can contact me at cbranagan@comcast.net

Contact my district mate Ashley Bartley at abartley@leg.state.vt.us

We want to hear from you.

Rep.Carolyn Branagan

Franklin-1, Georgia/Fairfax