Adjourned! What the end of the legislative session means for Kingdom residents

Over the course of the biennium, I’ve heard from so many of you that you love living here, but that it’s getting harder to make ends meet, and you’re concerned about the future. That’s why my focus this session has been on ensuring the struggles of rural Vermonters were heard and addressed. 

I believe we do our best work when we intentionally consider diverse perspectives and collaborate effectively across the aisle to find balanced solutions that move us forward responsibly.

This session, I introduced bills and supported policies that reflect the priorities of our district. As co-chair of the Rural Caucus I fought to correct bills that didn’t adequately address the unique needs of our rural communities, such as Act 250, housing, and climate resilience. And regardless of which party promoted them, I voted no on policies that threatened the wellbeing of my neighbors and constituents.

Even as the legislature grappled with difficult fiscal realities and the aftermath of catastrophic flooding, we took action to address affordability, the housing crisis, public safety, healthcare, and climate resilience. 

The Budget

In Vermont we always pass a balanced budget–we don’t spend more than we have in revenue. With COVID-19 recovery funds gone and more modest revenues, we knew we’d have less to spend this year ($58 million less to be exact). After filling all statutorily required reserves and meeting all pension obligations, we assessed the balance between needs and wants. This led to making tough choices among critical investments in housing, economic development, human services, and the environment.

Housing 

H.687, the Act 250 modernization bill represents a historic agreement that will help reduce regulatory barriers  to create new housing and increase the resiliency of our communities, including our smallest rural ones. The Rural Caucus I co-chair offered numerous amendments to the bill to ensure that every town has the opportunity to grow and to remove regulatory barriers for farms and forest-based businesses so that our region’s critical industries can grow and thrive.

In addition to Act 250 regulatory reform, the legislature continues to address our housing crisis by investing nearly $80 million in housing programs to bring dilapidated apartment units back online, to repair and improve manufactured homes, and to develop affordable and workforce housing. 

Public Safety

We passed several bills to reduce crime in our communities through both prevention and prosecution measures. New legislation makes it a crime to “trespass” in a vehicle and increases penalties for theft and substance-related offenses. We’ve increased supervision for those awaiting trial and accountability for those who violate conditions of release. To ensure court cases can be processed in a timely manner, investments in the justice system will add staff capacity and increase use of court diversion measures for low-level crimes. 

To help prevent crime in the first place, we’ve directed $5.3 million from the Opiate Abatement Fund toward substance use disorder prevention and treatment as well as transitional and emergency housing. We’ve also invested in community justice organizations whose evidence-based initiatives reduce recidivism and support individual and community wellness. 

Health Care

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are essential and after hearing from folks in our community about the financial, workforce, and governance challenges our services face, I worked with local partners to introduce H.622, an EMS bill. The bill will add immediate capacity to EMS services, ensuring that emergency care is there when we need it. It also sets in motion system-wide reform to increase efficiency, ensure quality care and reduce overall costs.

H.766 eliminates the time-consuming practice known as “prior authorization” for all of our primary care providers. The bill will improve the health care outcomes of Vermonters – which could lower overall healthcare costs – by increasing access to timely and essential health care services. 

Too many low-income aging Vermonters face a benefits cliff when they reach the age of 65. To address this issue, the budget increases eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program, reducing the premium for 12,000 low-income Vermonters and putting just over $25 million a year into older Vermonters’ pockets.

Climate & Flood Recovery

To help communities recover from last year’s flood and to lessen the impact on strained municipal budgets, the legislature distributed millions of dollars in grants to towns impacted by the flood. In the upcoming fiscal year, more than $40 million has been set aside for flood response: for flooded businesses, raising and fixing up homes, FEMA matches, and resiliency grant programs. 

We also passed a series of bills to improve the state government’s preparation for future emergencies. This includes improving communication during disasters, overseeing flood insurance programs, and making sure wetlands and dams are better managed in the future. The new Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Fund, based on a bill that I introduced with others, will help towns in building and repairing infrastructure to withstand floods and other extreme weather, allocating them money to improve critical facilities, roads, and drainage. 

Energy

H.289 updates Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard requiring electric utilities to use 100 percent  renewable energy by 2030 and double the amount of new renewable energy to be built in the state. I’m concerned that the bill will increase Vermonters’ utility rates by an estimated $150 million to $450 million over the next ten years. As we transition to the sustainable, renewable energy economy of the future, I believe we must do more to center the needs of low-income, rural and marginalized Vermonters. Therefore, I voted no on H.289. 

Education & Property Tax

Each year, the Legislature sets a statewide property tax rate to cover locally-approved school budgets. This year, school spending across the state is up $189 million over last year being driven by a number of factors such as inflation, the end of federal pandemic aid, a 16 percent increase in health care costs, and payments on school construction or renovation projects. 

To cover these increased costs, H.887, the Yield Bill uses $69 million in one-time revenue and $26 million in on-going revenue (expansion of sales tax to cloud software and 3 percent short-term rental surcharge) to reduce statewide property tax rates from 18.5 percent to 13.8 percent. It also creates the Commission on the Future of Public Education to study our education system and make recommendations to create a high quality  education system at a cost our communities can afford.

Schools in our district need support and our children deserve it. But residents should not be drowning in property taxes. I could not support this bill, and voted no because I don’t think Vermonters can afford the double-digit property tax increase and because it lacks structural reforms and cost containment measures. The governor is expected to veto the bill. 

Moving Forward

The legislature is planning to reconvene on June 17 and 18 for a special veto session to consider any bills vetoed by the Governor. 

I worked hard this session to represent the voices and values of all 4,000 plus Orl-4 residents in Montpelier. Thanks to all of you who connected with me to share your ideas and concerns, we’ve made incredible progress putting the people of rural Vermont front and center during policy debates and decisions. But we’ve still got a ton of work to do to ensure the long-term vibrancy and affordability of our communities. 

I’m running for State Senate to create a Vermont that works for everyone and I want to keep hearing from you: What did we do well this session and how can we serve you better going forward?

Please feel free to reach out to me at 802-673-7376 or ksims@leg.state.vt.us.

Sincerely, 

Rep. Katherine Sims