Bartley and Branagan: The people of Vermont deserve solutions, not delays.

This past week in the House, all legislative focus centered on H.454, the House Education bill. It quickly became evident that there were not enough votes to move the bill forward to the Senate. Opposition was bipartisan, with all Republicans and a significant number of Democrats planning to vote against the bill.

While some Republican members ultimately supported the bill in an effort to keep the conversation alive and improve the policy in future negotiations, we were not among them. We remained a firm "no" vote for several reasons.

First and foremost, the bill fails to offer any form of tax relief for at least five years. Vermonters made it abundantly clear in November that tax relief is a priority now—not half a decade from now. Delaying action is not acceptable for hardworking families and individuals across our state.

Another significant concern is the bill’s restriction on public tuition dollars, which would be directed only to a narrow group of six “approved” independent schools. To qualify, these schools must receive 51% of their tuition from public funds—a requirement that would drastically reduce educational options for families in sending towns such as Georgia. This provision undermines school choice and restricts local control.

Despite these concerns, after extended negotiations, several Republican members agreed to support the bill out of concern that if the House failed to act, leadership might refuse to take up an education proposal should the Senate advance its own version. That risk of inaction—on both education and tax reform—is one Vermonters simply cannot afford.

From our youngest learners to our oldest taxpayers, the people of Vermont deserve solutions, not delays.

Rep. Ashley Bartley and Rep. Carolyn Branagan