MONTPELIER – Vermont’s Senate adjourned on Friday evening, ending the 2025-2026 biennium. The 2024 election and an end to the super majority in the House and Senate made it possible for a lot of good work to be accomplished over the last 2 years. Vermonters were rewarded for voting in[Read More…]
Montpelier
It is not the end of the work
MONTPELIER – Yesterday evening, we gavelled out the 2026 legislative session, officially concluding the biennium. We passed the state budget, the yield bill to set property tax rates and the education transformation bill that I have been working so carefully on throughout the past year to get right. While this[Read More…]
Getting major legislation right
MONTPELIER – It is a little daunting that the legislative session is continuing this late into May, but that is because we are working hard in these final weeks to get several major pieces of legislation right.We are close to reaching an agreement with Governor Scott on the final education[Read More…]
Confronting highest health insurance premiums
MONTPELIER – The debate over health care legislation known as S.190 may ultimately be remembered as one of the defining affordability fights of this legislative session. At issue was whether Vermont would finally take aggressive action to confront some of the highest health insurance premiums in America or continue down[Read More…]
AG Clark takes enforcement action against unregistered residential contractor
MONTPELIER – Attorney General Charity Clark announced her office filed a lawsuit against residential contractor Jesse Reeder of Montpelier based on a complaint involving a homeowner in Hardwick, for failure to register under Vermont’s Residential Contractor law. Since 2023, residential contractors have been required to register with the Secretary of[Read More…]
New exhibits open at museum’s galleries, May 28
MONTPELIER – “Sea Wonders” by Carolyn Shapiro and Deb Fleischman and “Art Resource Association Members Exhibit” by the Art Resource Association will be on exhibit May 28 through July 24 at the T.W. Wood Gallery. An Art Walk reception will be held June 6, 5 to 7:30 p.m., with an[Read More…]
Burtt’s amendments pass as Tier 3, Road Rule scraped by House
MONTPELIER – Amid this legislative session’s turmoil over Act 181’s land use revisions to Act 250, adding three tiers and a road rule, and the turmoil of an extended floor debate last week, Rep. Greg Burtt (R-Cabot) scored a win for Republicans. His two pro-farm amendments to Senate bill S.325,[Read More…]
Vermonters made their voices heard
MONTPELIER – It has been a pivotal week in Montpelier as we near the end of the biennium and work to finalize major legislation before adjournment. The biggest development this week was the passage in the House of S.325, legislation updating portions of Act 250 and Act 181. This bill came[Read More…]
Key roles for Twinfield-Cabot athletes in Montpelier baseball
MONTPELIER – Twinfield-Cabot’s Isidore and Ambrose Hochschild continue to get key playing time for the Division II Montpelier varsity baseball team this spring. Ambrose Hochschild took the loss on the mound this past week against Thetford Academy. He allowed five hits, five runs and issued five walks as the Panthers[Read More…]
Nunery’s outstanding work recognized by colleagues
MONTPELIER – Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation staffers were recognized by Commissioner Danielle (Danny) Fitzko for their achievements at the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Earth Day celebration, April 22. Orleans County Forester Jared Nunery was recognized for his outstanding contributions with the Canute Dalmasse Award, and Kathryn Wrigley and[Read More…]
Update on positive legislation and progress on working together
MONTPELIER – This week felt like a much-needed breath of fresh spring air in the House Education Committee, and I want to share an update on some positive legislation we’ve been working on, separate from Act 73, that has recently passed unanimously out of committee. I think we could all[Read More…]
We can, and should, do better
MONTPELIER – I have always held Gov. Scott in the highest regard. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was admirable and helped make Vermont the envy of much of the nation. His calm, balanced style, coupled with his good sense of following the scientists, guided our state in ways many[Read More…]
