It's time to get to work.
- Rep. Ashley Bartley
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Tomorrow marks the start of the 2026 Vermont legislative session. It remains an honor to serve Franklin-1 and I am committed to ensuring your voices are heard in Montpelier.
When the House convenes, we will swear in two new members. During the adjournment, several sitting members resigned their seats. We wish those who have departed the very best and are excited to welcome new colleagues to the House.
In 2024, Vermonters sent a clear message: the Legislature must make meaningful progress on the issues impacting everyday life; our education system and the resulting property tax burden, affordable healthcare, and the lack of affordable housing. Despite that mandate, our work last session did not go far enough. These challenges persist, and many Vermonters are still waiting for needed real relief.
Representative Branagan and I heard this clearly through the legislative survey we distributed. A detailed review is below; but in summary, an overwhelming majority of respondents identified education, healthcare, and housing as the top priorities, and many expressed limited trust that the Legislature will deliver reasonable, effective solutions.
Inaction is not acceptable. I’m ready to get to work.
In the House Committee on General and Housing, the committee I am the vice-chair of, we will begin the session by reviewing where Vermont stands today as a result of the three landmark housing bills passed in recent years—what they accomplished, what is working, and where gaps remain. Starting with a clear assessment will allow us to make thoughtful, informed, and timely decisions as we consider housing legislation this session.
Here is what you can expect from me in the weeks ahead. I will continue to provide regular updates and share as much information as possible about the work happening both in committee and on the House floor. Because legislation often evolves rapidly during the week, I plan to shift to end-of-week written updates paired with a short video recap. I will also continue using social media and my email list to keep you informed.
As always, if there is information you would like to see or questions you want answered, please do not hesitate to reach out. Your engagement matters, and it strengthens the work we do.
What We Heard From You. A Quick Pre-Session Survey Summary
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our pre-session survey. We truly appreciate the honesty and thoughtfulness of your responses. Your feedback helps guide our work at the State House and ensures your voices are part of the conversation.
Trust in Montpelier Remains a Concern
Many respondents shared frustration with the direction of Vermont. As the survey shows, a majority of people said they are not very confident or not confident at all that the state government is addressing the needs of Vermonters right now. That message came through loud and clear.
Several of you put it plainly:
“It feels like the Legislature talks a lot but doesn’t always deliver results.” “We need more practical solutions and less politics.”
Affordability Remains the Top Issue
Over and over again, respondents pointed to rising costs as their biggest concern. Property taxes, housing availability, education costs, health care, and the overall cost of living dominated the responses. These pressures are affecting families, seniors, and young people alike.
As one respondent shared:
“Everything costs more — housing, taxes, groceries — and wages aren’t keeping up.”
Concern for the environment and climate change remains strongAlongside economic issues, many of you expressed sincere concern about protecting Vermont’s environment and addressing the impacts of climate change. Respondents spoke about safeguarding natural resources, preparing for flooding and extreme weather, and ensuring environmental policies are practical and effective.
Some of the comments included:
“We have a responsibility to protect Vermont’s environment for the next generation.” “Climate change is real, and we need smart, balanced solutions that actually work.”
While people don’t always agree on the approach, it’s clear that environmental stewardship remains a core value for many Vermonters.
There is cautious optimismEven with frustration and concern, many respondents also acknowledged that the most recent legislative session showed that progress can happen. When the Legislature is more balanced and willing to negotiate in good faith, real results are possible — even if they’re not perfect or complete.
One comment summed it up well:
“When lawmakers actually work together, things do move forward. We need more of that.”
What’s next?
This survey shows there is still a lot of work to do — on affordability, housing, transportation, education, the environment, and restoring trust in government. At the same time, it reinforces our belief that balanced leadership and open negotiation can and will deliver results for Vermonters.
Thank you again to everyone who participated. We are grateful for your engagement and will continue bringing your concerns and ideas with us to Montpelier.
House Committee on General & Housing Update
If you're ever interested in following my work in the Committee on General & Housing, all agendas, documents, presentations, studies and testimony can be accessed here:
Every single committee meeting is streamed live and archived here:
House of Representatives Updates
Every day, a House Calendar is posted to the Legislative Website. You can view them by visiting:
You can stream the House Floor live daily on YouTube here:
Keeping constituents informed about what’s happening in Montpelier is an important part of the job. Tools like websites, email updates, printed materials, and town meeting reports help make that possible, but they aren’t funded by the Legislature and are covered through campaign accounts.
If you’re able and would like to support this work, contributions are always appreciated. Thank you for your consideration!