Montpelier, VT – President Donald Trump thinks climate change is a “hoax.” Today, he’s poised to quit the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which united most of the world around a plan to fight global warming. In fact, of the 197 countries that are part of the United Nations group on climate change, only two failed …
VPIRG calls for climate action in Vermont in the face of presidential retreat Read More »
FAQs For the current status of H.196, read more here. 1. What is Family and Medical Leave Insurance? Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FaMLI) is an insurance program that allows employees to take longer-term paid leave to bond with or care for a new child, an ill or injured family member, or to recover …
Given what’s happening in Washington DC and the real threats to what we would consider Vermonters’ well being–our health, our environment, many of our values–we expected more activity on the part of Vermont legislators to push back against these threats. Some people have suggested that the new leadership in the State House needed time to …
VPIRG joined our allies Wednesday at a news conference outside to show legislators that Vermonters want them to pass toxic chemical reform legislation before they go home for the year. All session long we’ve been tracking S.103 – a toxic chemical reform bill that makes important strides to protect kids from harmful chemicals and ensure that Vermonters’ …
Bill to Protect Kids From Toxics Nears Finish Line Read More »
Vermont is moving forward with expanding access to quality retirement savings options for employees of smaller businesses. The House voted overwhelmingly in favor of S.135, an economic omnibus bill that included the public retirement plan. The bill passed the Senate in early April, and is now in Conference Committee awaiting final approval before it heads …
The paid family leave insurance proposal, H.196, has been approved by the Vermont House! After hours of debate, representatives acted to advance the bill to the Senate by a vote of 88-58, where it will likely be taken up next year. Despite being significantly weakened throughout the committee process, H.196 still provides an important benefit …
Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee advanced H.196, the paid family leave insurance proposal. This is great news! The paid family leave bill has had months of testimony from citizens, business owners, advocates, and experts, and is finally expecting a vote on the House floor next week. This proposal would allow workers to take …
This session, the Vermont Senate passed a bill that would have weakened the state’s existing strong law banning gifts from pharmaceutical and medical device companies to Vermont medical professionals. More and more, researchers are finding that gifts – even as seemingly insignificant as a free meal – have a real impact on consequent decisions made …
This week you’ve likely started to hear rumblings about the proposed “bag ban” in Vermont. When you hear about this on VPR, or read about it in another media source please remember one thing. This is not a bag ban. You see, there are two bills being discussed in the Vermont House right now. …
S.135, an economic omnibus bill that includes the establishment of a public retirement plan for Vermonters, has successfully passed through the Senate! Now in the House Commerce and Economic Development and Government Operations committees, the bill follows recommendations from a report brought to the legislature earlier this year by the Public Retirement Study Committee, chaired …
