MONTPELIER – Last week, we passed H.723 out of the House chamber, an act relating to the posting of land. While I receive many emails from across our community on a variety of legislative proposals, this bill has generated particular interest in our district. It stemmed from a proposed rule change this past fall by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department that would have required landowners to post their land on January 1, for a full year, with a need to repost it again the following January. This raised real concerns, especially for those with large parcels of land that would need to be posted in the middle of winter, often in deep snow, as well as for those with mobility challenges. Many of you reached out to me at that time, and similar concerns were raised across Vermont. For that reason, I co-sponsored H.723. This bill allows land postings to remain valid for one year from the date they are posted, regardless of the time of year. It also clarifies in statute that if a landowner is clearly attempting to comply with posting laws, such as being slightly off in the correct distance between signs, the land will still be considered properly posted. The House Environment Committee did choose not to include a “Purple Paint” provision, which would have allowed landowners to mark boundaries with purple paint instead of signage. Concerns were raised that this could create confusion, allow for mistakes, and be too permanent in cases where land ownership changes. Overall, this was a big win in protecting the rights of landowners. The bill now heads to the Senate, and if passed, the new rules would take effect on July 1, 2026.
This week, the House also passed H.739, prohibiting the use and sale of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease. It is still used in Vermont, particularly in apple orchards. This bill also now moves to the Senate.
In the Education Committee, conversations are shifting. Rather than mandating new school districts outright, the current focus is on creating Cooperative Education Service Agreements (CESAs). These agreements aim to reduce education costs by sharing services like special education, administrative functions, professional development, curriculum coordination, and transportation. In addition, these CESA regions would help facilitate local conversations about how districts might strategically merge under Act 73. The goal is to bring local voices back into these major decisions and allow for voluntary, thoughtful mergers that require a community vote instead of top-down mandates. This bill is still being developed and is likely to change andd evolve quickly, as is often the case at this stage of the session, so stay tuned.
Many of you have also raised concerns about Act 181. Those concerns are being heard across both chambers of the legislature, and particularly by your Northeast Kingdom delegation. There are two opportunities next week to make your voice heard: a bipartisan rally and press conference being held on Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. on the State House lawn, and a Rural Caucus listening session Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., in person or by Zoom. You can sign up here: https://forms.gle/dVbWyi5N6ZDMRF6t7 or visit vtruralcaucus.com.
If you’d like to see other bills passed by the House this session, visit: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/passed/2026
I also want to highlight Vermont Manufacturing Day at the State House on Thursday, April 2, hosted by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, this event connects manufacturers with policymakers to discuss workforce, supply chains, and economic growth. Participants will have the chance to attend hearings, meet with legislators, and share their experiences in manufacturing. If you are a manufacturer in the Northeast Kingdom, I hope you will consider attending. If you are a manufacturer in the Northeast Kingdom, I encourage you to attend.
Finally, I want to share that I am adjusting the schedule for my monthly coffee hours. Moving forward, they will be held on the first Saturday of each month instead of the last. They will run through June, with a final legislative wrap-up on June 6. I hope you can join me on Saturday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Highland Center for the Arts for coffee and conversation about how we can continue strengthening our community and our democracy.
Leanne Harple represents Orleans District 4 that includes Albany, Craftsbury, Glover, and Greensboro.
Rep. Leanne Harple
Leanne Harple represents Orleans-4, the towns of Albany, Craftsbury, Glover and Greensboro.
