MONTPELIER – Sen. Scott Beck (R-Caledonia) is one of 13 sponsors of S.79, a bill that would create a committee to review whether real property owners who allow use of their property for public recreational trails should receive compensation of some kind. In February, the bill was referred to the[Read More…]
Montpelier
Housing Discrimination Bill Hits Federal Headwinds
MONTPELIER – Representatives for Vermont landlords and bankers have pushed back against a housing discrimination bill, citing the current political environment for immigrants without legal status. When Jose Ignacio decided to leave his job on a Vermont dairy farm, it took him nearly two years to secure a stable apartment.[Read More…]
Statehouse Rallygoers say, “Hands Off” to Executive Overreach
HARDWICK, MONTPELIER – Sixty people climbed into a school bus and van parked in the lot at Dona’s in Hardwick, Saturday, April 5 to attend a statehouse rally scheduled for noon in Montpelier. It had been organized by the grassroots 50501VT organization. The rally’s theme, “Hands Off,” was billed as[Read More…]
Saunders Walks Back Compliance Request with Federal Anti-DEI Directive
MONTPELIER – Education Secretary Zoie Saunders had sent a letter Friday requesting school district leaders to respond within 10 days. Federal guidance argues schools have used diversity programs, “social-emotional” learning and “culturally responsive” teaching to discriminate against students. Following a federal directive that schools ban “illegal” diversity, equity and inclusion-related[Read More…]
Senate Bill Would Prevent Banning Face Masks
MONTPELIER — Five years on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when wearing face masks in public was common and, later, mandatory in Vermont, state lawmakers are again considering the government’s role in overseeing what steps people take, or don’t, to protect their health. The Senate Government Operations Committee[Read More…]
Beck Supports Study on Public Trail Use Compensation
MONTPELIER — Should landowners who allow public trail networks on their property be compensated? That’s the question a study group would be tasked with answering under a bill in the Senate. It’s too late to pass this year, but the bill, S.79, has gained bipartisan support and excited trail network advocates.[Read More…]
Only 39 Bills Passed by House
MONTPELIER — To date, there have been 490 bills introduced and referred to committees. My assigned committee, Energy and Digital Infrastructure, has had a total of 29 bills referred to it. Of those, only two have made it out of committee for meeting the crossover deadline. The rest of the[Read More…]
Laureates Three Begin PoemCity, April 2
MONTPELIER — The Night series will kick off Montpelier’s PoetCity celebration in honor of National Poetry Month with The Laureates Three on Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 p.m. The program features three Northern New England poets laureate, Bianca Stone of Vermont, Jennifer Militello of New Hampshire and Julia Bouwsma of Maine.[Read More…]
Area Residents Visit Montpelier Women’s Rally
Scott Strikes Down Bill to Extend Motel Stays
MONTPELIER — Gov. Phil Scott delivered his first veto of the 2025 legislative session over a midyear spending package on Friday, setting up a showdown over Vermont’s motel shelter program. The five-term Republican wrote in his veto message that he wants to hold off on increased state spending as state[Read More…]
USDA Funding for Local Food Programs Terminated
MONTPELIER — The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is no longer in line to receive anticipated federal funding, which would have helped Vermont farms feed their local communities in 2025. On Friday, March 7, VAAFM received termination notices for two cooperative agreements from our USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)[Read More…]
Traditional Irish Music, March 19
MONTPELIER – On Wednesday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m., the 2025 Farmers Night series presents traditional Irish music with One More Time, in the House Chamber, Vermont State House. This Central Vermont-based band brings the spirit of Ireland to the stage with jigs, ballads and reels. Band members include Denise[Read More…]
