VPIRG

Vermont House Gives Thumbs Up to Modernize the Bottle Bill 

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 …

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Vermont House Ways and Means Committee gives thumbs up to modernize the Bottle Bill

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 …

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Key Committee Advances Bill to Protect Vermonters from PFAS and Other Toxic Chemicals

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 …

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VT Senate Government Operations Committee Advances Ranked Choice Voting Legislation 

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 …

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Ranked Choice Voting is a Popular Success in Burlington’s Town Meeting Day Election 

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 …

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Affordable Heat Act Advances Through Vermont Senate, Moves to House of Representatives 

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 …

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Burlington, Vote YES on 2! 

On Town Meeting Day, March 7, 2023, Burlington voters will decide whether to implement a measure encouraging the usage of renewable energy heating systems in newly constructed buildings. The passage of this measure – question 2 – would have Burlington join cities across the Northeast that have utilized similar measures cut carbon pollution and provide …

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REI Announces It Will Ban PFAS In All Textiles

New commitment follows nationwide campaign and state regulatory actions On February 21st, leading outdoor retailer REI announced it will ban PFAS “forever chemicals” (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) in all textile products and cookware from its suppliers, in a major update to its “Product Impact Standards” for its 1,000+ brand partners. REI’s restrictions take effect in the fall of 2024 for cookware …

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Affordable Heat Act Advances Unanimously Through Vermont Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee

Today, in a huge victory for climate action and addressing Vermont’s second largest source of climate pollution – the thermal heating sector – the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee voted 5-0 to advance the Affordable Heat Act (S.5). This legislation is the culmination of years of work and analysis, represents a key pillar of …

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Burlington Town Meeting Day 2023: What YOU need to Know

Burlington Town Meeting Day ballots are scheduled to be mailed to all active registered voters starting this week. Here’s what VPIRG would like you to know… Whatever your positions on the issues are, we encourage you to exercise your right to vote. Our democracy depends on it! We believe voting is always important, but this year’s …

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