We are still in session for another few weeks – without an exact end-time - knowing that we still have some significant legislation to pass. Following are updates to our Transportation Committee bills, the Budget Bill, and the Education Bill:
On the Governor’s Desk:
The Transportation Bill (H.488) – passed out of a Committee of Conference last Friday, and is headed to the Governor for signature. A bill goes to a Committee of Conference when changes from one body (in this case, the Senate) are detailed enough that a negotiation by both bodies is required. Three members of our House Committee on Transportation – the chair, vice-chair, and a veteran committee member – met with three members of the Senate Transportation Committee over the course of several days to hammer out their differences and come to a consensus. One section of the Senate’s version addressed the issue of Legal Trails, clarifying municipal authority over former class IV roads which have been designated Legal Trails. The Legal Trail language was pulled from the T-Bill as part of the committee of conference, and is being considered for addition to the DMV Bill (see below).
Coming soon to the House Floor:
The Budget Bill (H.439) – was resolved by a Committee of Conference last week, and will be on the floor Thursday, May 15, for an up or down vote. When a bill has gone to a Conference Committee, no amendments are allowed.
Department of Motor Vehicles Bill (S.123) – We have reviewed the original contents of the DMV Bill sent to us from the Senate. We considered several amendments, including the Idaho Stop – cycling legislation that allows cyclists to yield at stop signs and red blinking lights when no cars are present, and also allows cyclists to utilize pedestrian crosswalks (while yielding to pedestrians). Despite compelling testimony in support of the Idaho Stop, including a study by the National Highway Safety Board showing an increase in safety in states that have adopted it, our committee split on party lines and could not add this. The bill does include a provision allowing Vermonters to renew their operator’s license or privilege cards at any time, so they no longer have to wait until their card is near expiration. This is intended to support non-binary, transgender, and undocumented Vermonters who are worried about federal legislation. The bill also includes some provisions regarding affordability: 1) a review of the annual automotive inspection process, and 2) a review of the process for determining sales tax owed for the private sale of a used car. We removed a section of the bill regarding window-tinting (after lengthy and arduous testimony on the subject), but know that Vermont limits window-tinting to 30% or less on the front windshield and passenger- and driver’s-side windows. Lastly, as mentioned above, we are taking testimony on the Legal Trails issue, and I will support adding language in the bill that clarifies that municipalities maintain authority over Legal Trails, whether or not they have been maintaining them. It is vitally important to retain access to these Legal Trails, many of which provide access to trail systems we value.
Education (H.454)
This remains in the Senate and is undergoing significant changes that I am not in support of, including allowing more private schools to receive public dollars, changing the body that will be drawing the new district lines to be a solely-legislative body (leaving out those closest to the work), and removing class-size minimums. Representative Torre and I will be holding a public meeting next week to discuss (see below).
Virtual Meeting on Education Reform H.454
Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom (Details on our websites).
