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…
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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…
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This week Governor Shumlin signed S.20 into law, making Vermont the fourth state in the nation to allow dental therapists to provide dental care. Dental therapists will be licensed Vermont hygienists with additional education and training, so that they can offer some of the most needed dental procedures such as…
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Late last night the legislature passed a fixed version of the energy siting bill (S.230) previously vetoed by Gov. Peter Shumlin. The new bill (S.260) made four simple clarifications necessary to address the governor’s concerns. VPIRG supports this bill. It will empower towns and regions to take a greater role,…
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Earlier this week Governor Shumlin was joined by elected officials, advocates, and members of the North Bennignton Community to sign H.595 in to law. The new law addresses issues that arose out of the PFOA contamination found in North Bennington earlier this year, and initiates a process to evaluate how…
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Today Governor Shumlin made it easier for all Vermonters to access contraceptives by signing bill H.620 into law. In a ceremony on the State House steps, the Governor, legislative allies, and advocates discussed the need to guarantee access to birth control, and the stark contrast between Vermont and other states…
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You may have heard that the just-completed 2016 legislative session was lacking in big ideas or major accomplishments. While it’s true that the looming election and pending retirement of many prominent legislators was a distraction this year, it did not prevent real progress on a number of important fronts. That’s…
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Governor Peter Shumlin signed H.458 into law Thursday, making Vermont the fourth state in the country to enact automatic voter registration. The new law will essentially flip voter registration procedures at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Under current law, the DMV requires Vermonters to “opt in” to voter registration. But…
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VPIRG was able to pass substantial legislation in the first half of the 2015-2016 legislative biennium and lay the groundwork for even more gains next year. We cracked through on long overdue reforms to our electoral system – including a vigorous new lobbyist disclosure law and the institution of Election…
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Gov. Peter Shumlin signed H.40 – the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) bill – into law today at signing ceremony in Montpelier. This law brings Vermont in line with 29 other states by requiring that electric utilities get a certain percentage of their energy from clean, renewable sources. The Renewable Energy…
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