MONTPELIER – The legislative session came to an end a bit like a roller coaster. We wrapped up most of our work on Friday, May 30, working until 11 p.m., as votes passed back and forth between the House and Senate. I was pleased to see that Governor Scott signed S.45 into law. Now Act 61, S.45 was a bill that passed through the agriculture committee regarding nuisance lawsuits and farms. The bill made long-needed improvements to statute to allow farmers to continue the proper management of their agricultural activities; spreading manure, etc., with less fear of entering into lawsuits with neighbors. It was the most contentious bill in our committee as it dealt with the subject of farms and neighbors and nuisance. Thanks to good people who find understanding, nuisance lawsuits rarely occur. On rare occasions things can get messy, so it’s good to have better statute in place to help resolve the situation and avoid court.
H.401 became Act 42 upon signing by Governor Scott. I reported this bill to the House back in March, and after a few tweaks in the Senate the bill passed through the Senate and House on a voice vote. Act 42 is the highlight of the session for me. The new statute allows home kitchens to produce and sell up to $30,000 of baked goods and $10,000 worth of other manufactured foods; beef jerky, quiche, etc., without needing to upgrade to a commercial kitchen. Prior statute allowed only $125 per week for baked goods. This is a huge gain for one of the backbones of our state; small home based businesses.
H.454, the education bill, was voted on and sent to the governor on Monday. The bill would create new school districts and voting wards, set class minimum sizes, create a construction fund, and set a base per pupil cost factor among other things. The changes outlined in the statute call for several working groups to be appointed to hash out the details. Additional work will be done by the legislature in the upcoming session as well. I will continue to work with members of the House and Senate education committees to ensure that small rural schools such as Cabot School are given ample opportunity and investment to remain open and successful. Although I know many are frustrated with the process and prospects of H.454, my hope is that the working groups, public input and further legislative work will produce a framework that will improve quality and lower the cost trajectory of our schools.
In a bit of a celebration of the July Fourth, I’ll highlight a bill that passed out of the House and Senate and I expect to be signed by the governor shortly. S.51 extends tax credits for military veterans as well as those receiving social security. It also enhances the Vermont child tax credit. I am a proponent of reduced taxes, especially for our military veterans, elderly, and young families.
Greg Burtt is a Cabot resident representing the Caledonia-Washington District in the Vermont Legislature.
