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Weekly Legislative Update: January 20, 2025

Writer's picture: Rep. Ashley BartleyRep. Ashley Bartley

Week Two Legislative Update

Rep. Ashley Bartley 


As we moved into the second week of the legislative session, our focus was on familiarizing the committee with the breadth of housing agencies and nonprofits working to address Vermont’s housing challenges. This week served as a foundation for understanding the key players and strategies in Vermont’s housing sector.


It’s always a great day when the man, the myth, the legend, Former Georgia, Rep. Carl Rosenquist visits the Statehouse!
It’s always a great day when the man, the myth, the legend, Former Georgia, Rep. Carl Rosenquist visits the Statehouse!

Housing Agencies and Non-Profit Familiarization

Throughout the week, committee members were introduced to a number of housing agencies and organizations that are working tirelessly to alleviate Vermont’s housing crisis. These agencies provide a variety of essential services, from affordable housing development to homelessness prevention and supportive housing initiatives. By meeting with representatives from these agencies and nonprofits, we gained valuable insight into the unique challenges they face and the ways in which they are innovating to meet the growing demand for affordable housing across the state.


This was a critical opportunity to deepen our understanding of the current housing landscape in Vermont, and it will inform the committee’s future decisions on policy and funding priorities.


Training for Committee Leadership

On Tuesday, I participated in a training session specifically designed for Vice Chairs and Chairs of legislative committees. Both the House and Senate leadership were involved, and the session provided valuable guidance on best practices for committee management, effective collaboration, and maintaining legislative momentum throughout the session. The training was particularly helpful in equipping us with the tools necessary to lead our committee in a way that fosters transparency, inclusivity, and productive dialogue.


Let's Build Homes Press Conference
Let's Build Homes Press Conference

Let's Build Homes Press Conference

This week I, as well as many other legislators, attended the Let’s Build Homes press conference. This press conference brought together a coalition of individuals and organizations committed to addressing Vermont’s housing crisis. The initiative, which includes housing advocates, builders, developers, and other key stakeholders, emphasizes the urgent need to build more housing across the state.

The event underscored the consensus around the need for increased housing production, streamlined permitting processes, and enhanced investments in housing infrastructure. The coalition’s collective call for action is a clear signal that the housing issue must be addressed with coordinated effort and urgency, and I am proud to be part of this conversation at the state level.


Moving Forward

As we wrapped up week two, it is clear that the housing crisis will require continued focus and collaboration across all sectors of our community. The next few weeks will build on the knowledge we’ve gained, and we are committed to moving forward with policies that help ensure safe, affordable, and accessible housing for all Vermonters.


Looking Ahead

This week, my committee will continue introductions from housing related organizations. We will also begin labor discussions and will be introduced to a handful of bills assigned to our committee. 


This week we will hear from Cathedral Square, Support and Services at Home (SASH, Land Use Review Board, Department of Housing and Community Development, Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies, Land Access and Opportunity Board, Windham and Windsor Housing Trust, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce, Mickenburg, Dunn and Smith, Vermont National Education Association, Northeast and the Kingdom Community Action.


We will hear a report from the Landlord Tenant Law Study Committee, the presentation of H.33 - “an act relating to expanding employee access to unpaid leave” and H.38 - “an act relating to adding new positions to the Human Rights Commission.”


Finally, the Legislature will receive Discrimination Prevention Training on Tuesday and Ethics, Rules, and Decorum Training on Thursday.


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 love having constituents in the Statehouse; I love it even more when we get to talk about Early Childhood Education! Thank you Melissa and Sam for meeting with me this morning. Shoutout to the Snelling Early Childhood Leadership Program for bringing them down! If you're planning on visiting the Statehouse, be sure to let me know!
I love having constituents in the Statehouse; I love it even more when we get to talk about Early Childhood Education! Thank you Melissa and Sam for meeting with me this morning. Shoutout to the Snelling Early Childhood Leadership Program for bringing them down! If you're planning on visiting the Statehouse, be sure to let me know!

I look forward to continuing this important work and keeping you informed as we progress through the session.


Thank you for your continued engagement and support.


-Ashley

___


Week review for January 13

Rep. Carolyn Branagan


Last week legislators arrived at the statehouse ready to work.  The Ways and Means committee hit the books in an attempt to bring its new members up to speed with what is called Ways and Means 101.  


The Commissioner of Taxes Craig Bolio spoke to us about money in the Education Fund, there is a large, unexpected  balance available for carryover, next fiscal year. The Chair of the new committee on the Future of Public Education, Meagan Roy,  spoke to us about findings from that Committee’s work.  


Officers from Joint Fiscal and the Legislative Counsel brought us up to date on all kinds of fiscal issues and new laws regarding revenue including Federal Legislation and the Annual link up with Federal Changes in law.  


The Bi-Annual Tax Expenditure report is always interesting , so one of the fiscal analysts, Ted Barnet,  came in to brief us  on it.  Wendy Knight, the Commissioner of the Department of Liquor and Lottery, stopped by to tell us about the unexpectedly high revenue in that area.  Several heads from the Agency on Education helped us understand how a Foundation Formula would work, if we were to implement one.  An Attorney from the Office of Legislative Counsel reviewed the Brigham decision for us.  


The Department of Children and Families sent two people to speak about the new Child Care program, started last year with a new tax.  Apparently there is enough extra money there that some money will be returned to the General Fund for the Child Care Contribution tax.  People from the Department of Taxes and the Joint Fiscal Office came to us to speak about the Governor’s Budget Adjustment, property Valuation and Review and the Property tax credit for property owners.  


So, all in all it was a very busy week.  


More of the same coming next week.  


Stay tuned.  

Rep. Carolyn Branagan

Franklin-1



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