2024 Legislative Session

Yield (Property Tax) Bill (H.887).

Vote held to override Governor’s veto on 6/17/2024.

The Legislature passes a yield bill every year to raise the funds necessary to cover local school budgets. However, this year the legislature grappled with skyrocketing school spending and a lack of policy levers to contain costs. In December 2023 the statewide increase to education taxes was projected to be 20%. The legislature reduced the increase with a one-time $25M transfer from the General Fund and two new taxes on short-term rentals, and subscription software to arrive at a statewide average increase of 13.8%. The bill did nothing to structurally address rising school costs; instead Legislators punted this responsibility to a Commission loaded with special interests who designed the current system.

Watson - YES

Renewable Energy Mandate (H.289).

Vote held to override Governor’s veto on 6/17/2024.

This legislation requires that all utilities provide 100% clean energy by 2035. This legislation would increase the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which would require Green Mountain Power, Vermont's largest utility, to get 100% of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030. Smaller municipal utilities would have until 2035 to reach the 100% clean target. The bill explicitly prohibits new out of state renewable generation from counting towards these goals, creating regulatory capture for some of the legislature’s largest campaign donors. The cost estimates for achieving this range from $140M to over $800M, primarily paid by ratepayers to upgrade distribution infrastructure to handle more distributed renewable power generation.

Watson - YES

‘Safe’ Injection Sites (H.72).

Vote held to override Governor’s veto on 6/17/2024.

The legislation allows a supervised injection site pilot project without any age limit. The site would allow the use of illegal drugs while preventing the enforcement of state or federal law. Similar facilities in Oregon have been closed due to ineffectiveness.

Watson - YES

Historic $8.6B State Budget (H.883).

Vote held by Senate to approve the final bill on 5/10/2024.

The largest state budget ever was passed by the Legislature and increased state spending by 14% over two years. The increase was so stark that a former finance commissioner and tax commissioner for the state started raising red flags and state economists warned legislators that their spending was exceeding organic revenue growth. The state would need to cut spending drastically if a recession were to hit. Rapid increases in state budgets, without corresponding economic growth may also signal a future bond ratings issue for the state.

Watson - YES

2023 Legislative Session

Authorize Affordable Heat Act with Study Period (S.5). Passed 18-10 on March 3, 2023.

Watson - YES

Assert Government Authority to Audit State Contractors (S.9). Passed 23-6 on March 2, 2023.

Watson - YES