Town Meeting Report for Residents of Warren, Waitsfield, Fayston, Moretown, and Duxbury (Washington-2 District) 3/4/25.
We enjoyed seeing many of you at Town Meeting last week, and are grateful to the many neighbors who work tirelessly to keep our towns running efficiently. Below is an update we shared at Town Meeting regarding priorities of the Legislative Session thus far.
The Vermont General Assembly’s 2025 Legislative Session kicked off on January 8th. During the first week, House members took the oath of office, elected Rep. Jill Krowinski as Speaker of the House, attended a joint assembly to hear Governor Scott’s address, and received committee assignments for the 2025-26 biennium. Dara was elected clerk of the newly created Committee on House Energy and Digital Infrastructure that considers matters relating to energy, utilities, telecommunications, broadband, information technology, and cybersecurity. Candice is serving on the House Transportation Committee that oversees the Agency of Transportation and its management of VT’s highways, bridges, rail, air, bike/ped areas.
EDUCATION REFORM
Education reform is a top priority for Vermont. We need to build a new funding system that’s fair and easier to understand. We need to streamline the way we govern and organize our school systems statewide. And above all, we need to offer all students a high-quality education at a rate taxpayers can afford.
On January 22, Governor Scott delivered his high-level “Stronger Students, Stronger Schools” reform proposal to a joint House-Senate assembly, followed by a 176-page bill submitted on February 25. Highlights of his plan include:
–Consolidating from 119 school districts to five large regional districts, overseen by one school board, each with local advisory teams; streamlining administration;
-Moving away from local budgets — developed by school boards, approved by voters, and funded by the legislature when we set the necessary tax rates — to a “foundation formula” in which the state sets an adequate level of per-pupil spending.
–Shifting school closure decisions away from school boards to a state assessment based on financial viability and educational quality.
–Establishing minimum classroom sizes; standardizing graduation requirements
Both the House Education and Ways and Means Committees have been taking extensive testimony since January to understand the Governor’s proposals, build out a daunting list of details, and try to find a path that works for Vermont.
The House will pass a bill in late March or early April. This bill will then move to the Senate for another full round of testimony, debate and revision. The details of the plan, particularly the financial projections, must show significant savings before we head down this path of multi-year reform.
As legislators, we must balance voters’ demand for property-tax relief against the values many of us cherish, including local control and support for preK-12 public schools that are the souls of our community. We need to hear from you; please reach out and attend our March 24th Education Reform Discussion at Harwood Union High School, 6-8PM.
TAX RELIEF
The Ways and Means Committee is looking at equitable ways to use one-time surplus funds in the General Fund to “buy down” statewide property taxes for FY26. We’ll continue to take testimony about how this short-term step will impact the Education Fund in future years, and how it factors into any multi-year transition plan in education reform.
We’re also considering proposals to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income filers without children, while expanding the Child Tax Credit to children up to the age of 6 (from 5 years). That will increase the number of eligible filers by 18% and deliver more refundable tax credits for low-income families. The committee is also considering increasing the exemption for Social Security income by $5,000 when the adjusted gross income for tax filers is $55,000 for individuals, and $70,000 for joint filers.
HOUSING
The Legislature is working to ease regulations to permit, finance, and build affordable homes for Vermonters. We are working to streamline the regulatory process to encourage responsible development, allowing for denser housing in urban and village centers while ensuring local governments can approve projects more efficiently. We will continue to invest in the work of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency to ensure housing remains within reach for working families.
HEALTHCARE
Vermont’s Healthcare system is facing significant challenges, including workforce shortages, provider financial strain, and proposed closures in rural areas like the Mad River Valley. Discussions and policy action have focused on legislation that streamlines regulatory oversight, promotes accountability and financial stability, and seeks a long-term strategy to address cost, insurer stability, affordability and access.
CLEAN HEAT & CLIMATE RESILIENCE
The Public Utility Commission’s report on the Affordable Heat Act concluded that creating a “clean heat credit” market is not viable for Vermont. The Legislature is exploring alternatives. Climate action comes in many forms: incentivizing Vermonters to buy EVs or more fuel-efficient cars; expanding charging infrastructure; helping Vermonters weatherize drafty homes and install heat pumps and efficient hot-water heaters; and making our towns more resilient to extreme weather (flood omnibus bill, H.397, also strengthens flood recovery and coordination delivery). The federal government has just canceled programs that helped us achieve some of these environmental goals, and we anticipate further cancelations.
We have confidence in our own Vermont Climate Council, a 23-person board with representation from all branches of government, industry, and climate experts. Their work will likely require adjustments to our state’s climate goals, and they are best suited to do this work. We are watching closely H.289, the Governor’s proposed climate action plan. The provision of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) allowing for citizen lawsuits has received much attention with concern this would cost the state money and resources–this provision holds the state accountable by requiring the Agency of Natural Resources to address concerns via the Attorney General’s office. We must remain committed to investing in climate solutions while balancing affordability concerns.
BUILDING A BALANCED STATE BUDGET
The House has been reviewing the Governor’s draft budget with state agencies, policy committees, and through citizen input at public hearings. The needs expressed in these forums include:
-Gaps between Medicaid reimbursement rates and the actual cost of services delivered by mental health and primary care providers and at adult day and long-term care facilities
-Court backlogs that may require additional legal or judicial staffing to address
-Increased demand for basic food supports and Meals on Wheels
-Affordable housing for low to moderate-income Vermonters
We try to create a budget that strikes the right balance between addressing immediate or emerging needs, makes meaningful contributions to longer-term needs (like maintaining bridges and roads or extending access to broadband), and ensures that the state government has the capacity to fulfill its obligations to Vermonters. This year, the budget process is also affected by two critical pressures: (1) the need to address education funding and (2) trying to anticipate and prepare for potential cuts to federal funding.
The Trump administration has already cut, halted or threatened a wide range of federal spending programs. In addition, the proposed federal budget passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on February 25 contemplates big cuts to basic social services like Medicaid, SNAP food benefits, public education and school meals.
In the current fiscal year, federal funds make up 36% of Vermont’s overall state budget, or about $3 billion of our state’s total $8.7 billion annual spending. The biggest categories are Medicaid (the federal share covers 61% of the total state cost), transportation (58% of total state cost) and K-12 education (12%).
We are working in especially close collaboration with the Governor, the Treasurer, and the Joint Fiscal Office to pass a responsible budget and try to prepare for possible federal cuts. The FY26 Vermont state budget is expected to pass the House by March 21and move on to the Senate
TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES
The Agency of Transportation’s proposed FY26 budget reflects a decrease in funding to local municipalities, as well as to paving, interstate bridges, and public-transit. Revenues are projected to decrease, in part due to declining gas-tax revenue. A fee on EVs and Plug-in EVs has been added to Registration Fees, and a Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) is in development. Other potential revenue sources and cost reductions are in discussion, including a home-delivery fee on packages, and public transit-school transit partnerships. Useful info: VTransparency.vermont.gov; @aotvermont.
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Please join us at Harwood Union High School on Monday, March 24, 6-8PM, along with our Washington County Senate delegation, for a Discussion on Education Reform—all are welcome.
Community Discussion w/ Legislators Upcoming Dates:
Rep. Torre Constituent Meetings
Tuesday 3/18 @ 8 AM, Moretown General Store
Saturday 3/22 @ 10 AM, Three Mountain Café, Waitsfield
Tuesday 3/25 @ 8 AM, Black Cap Coffee, Waterbury
Rep. White Constituent Meetings
Monday 3/17 Lunchtime Zoom @ noon (see candicewhite4vt.com for zoom details)
Monday 3/24 @ 7:30 AM, The Warren Store
Monday 3/31 @ 7:30 AM, Black Cap Café, Waterbury
Sincerely,
Rep. Dara Torre
Dtorre@leg.state.vt.us
802.793.3575 (cell)
daratorrevt.com
Rep. Candice White
cwhite@leg.state.vt.us
candicewhite4vt.com
