News and Updates

Affordable Heat Act Passes the Vermont House of Representatives on 98-44 Vote 

Climate & Energy, Efficiency & Electrification, Heat Clean, News and Updates, Press Releases / By

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 »

VT Senate Gives Initial Approval of Ranked Choice Voting Legislation 

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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 …

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Vermont House Gives Thumbs Up to Modernize the Bottle Bill 

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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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2023 Mid Session Legislative Update

Climate & Energy, Consumer Protection, Elections and Government Reform, News and Updates, Resources, Toxics & Environmental Health, Zero Waste / By

We are officially halfway through the 2023 legislative session, with both legislative and money crossover dates in the rear-view mirror. Our VPIRG team has been hard at work over the past few months pushing for common sense policies, from Bottle Bill modernization to ranked choice voting, and we’ve made great progress, thanks in large part …

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

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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

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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 

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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 »

On To The House: Next Steps For S.5, The Affordable Heat Act

Climate & Energy, Efficiency & Electrification, Heat Clean, News and Updates / By

Just before the Vermont Legislature left for Town Meeting Week break, the Senate passed the Affordable Heat Act (S.5) on a strong 19-10 vote. This is a significant win for Vermonters. In the face of a well-financed fossil fuel industry ad blitz, sowing fear and misinformation, the Senate stood up and advanced this critical climate …

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

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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 »

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

Climate & Energy, Efficiency & Electrification, Global Warming Solutions, Heat Clean, News and Updates, Press Releases / By

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 »

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