The 2023 Vermont legislative session has come to a close, marking the halfway point of the 2023-2024 biennium. The VPIRG team secured a number of significant legislative victories – shepherding some landmark public interest policies into law, while making important progress on other bills that will need to brought across the finish line in 2024. …
A coalition of business, environmental, and equity-focused organizations called on the Vermont Legislature to override Governor Phil Scott’s veto of S.5, the Affordable Heat Act. This veto comes right on the heels of the Scott Administration’s release of the latest Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast. This report projects Vermont will miss its legally …
In a significant step towards climate action, the Vermont House of Representatives passed S.5, the Affordable Heat Act, on a 98-46 roll call vote on second reading and, on final reading, they advanced the bill back to the Senate. This is important and necessary progress. Legislators on the House Committee on Environment and Energy worked …
Affordable Heat Act Passes the Vermont House of Representatives on 98-44 Vote Read More »
Today, the Vermont Senate voted 23-7 on Second Reading in favor of legislation to put ranked choice voting in place for Vermont’s 2028 Presidential Primary. The vote included support from Democrat, Republican, and Progressive/Democrat Senators. The bill (S.32) would also create a summer study committee to investigate and make recommendations on other statewide elections …
VT Senate Gives Initial Approval of Ranked Choice Voting Legislation Read More »
The Vermont House yesterday gave its strong approval to legislation that would update and substantially update the scope of the state’s beverage redemption program, commonly known as the Bottle Bill. The vote in favor of H.158 was 115-29, and the bill now heads to third reading. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) has been …
Vermont House Gives Thumbs Up to Modernize the Bottle Bill Read More »
The Vermont House Committee on Ways and Means gave its strong approval to legislation on Friday that would update and substantially expand the scope of the state’s beverage redemption program, commonly known as the Bottle Bill. The vote in favor of H.158 was 9-3 and follows the House Energy and Environment’s 10-1 endorsement of the …
Vermont House Ways and Means Committee gives thumbs up to modernize the Bottle Bill Read More »
On Friday, the Vermont Senate Committee on Health and Welfare unanimously passed legislation (S.25) to ban PFAS and other toxic chemicals from products including personal care products, textiles, and artificial turf fields. The bill is supported by Vermont small businesses, public health and children’s advocates, and environmental groups. It now heads to the full Senate …
Key Committee Advances Bill to Protect Vermonters from PFAS and Other Toxic Chemicals Read More »
On March 15th, the Senate’s Committee on Government Operations voted 6-0 in favor of legislation to put ranked choice voting in place for Vermont’s 2028 Presidential Primary. The unanimous vote included support from Democratic, Republican, and Progressive/Democrat members. The bill (S.32) would create a summer study committee to investigate and make recommendations on other statewide …
VT Senate Government Operations Committee Advances Ranked Choice Voting Legislation Read More »
Two years after the city voted to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) for city council elections, 64.4% of voters favored expanding the reform to include elections for mayor, schoolboard commissioner, and ward election officers. Additionally, Tuesday marked the first-time voters across all wards had the opportunity to use ranked choice voting to elect their city …
Ranked Choice Voting is a Popular Success in Burlington’s Town Meeting Day Election Read More »
In another major win for climate action, the Vermont Senate advanced S.5, the Affordable Heat Act, on a 19-10 vote. The bill will now head to the House of Representatives. In the face of unparalleled pressure from the deep-pocketed fossil fuel industry – which has ramped its opposition to the bill with over $35,000 in a …
Affordable Heat Act Advances Through Vermont Senate, Moves to House of Representatives Read More »
