H.315 - AN ACT RELATING TO COVID-19 RELIEF

PASSED
in the State House of Representatives
on April 6, 2021, by a vote of
141-5

Purpose: The bill allocates federal $80 million (as of yet, not received) in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to areas loosely related to Covid’s impact on Vermont. $24 million in general state funding is also included, bringing the total spending of H.315 to $104 million.

Analysis:

ARPA Funding ($80 million):

  Highly related to Covid-19:

Covid recovery & mental health outreach $5,540,000
Business recovery grants $10,500,000
Air quality in grade schools $15,000,000
Home foreclosure prevention $5,000,000
Federal grant compliance $950,000
Internet infrastructure $3,200,000
Vermont farmers $3,000,000

  Tangentially related to Covid-19:

Practical Nurse Program (40-45 new seats) $1,400,000
Free items for families with children $8,258,000
Shelter lower-income Vermonters $10,000,000

  Unrelated to Covid-19:

Parks and trails improvement $5,000,000
Afterschool & summer programs $4,000,000
Free college classes $6,800,000
Refugee Resettlement Program $700,000

State Funding ($24,200,000)

Environmental clean-up $14,000,000
Shelter lower-income Vermonters $10,000,000
Health equity analysis $200,000

Many of those voting YES believe this is a bill is essential for helping Vermonters during a difficult time, at any financial cost. Others reluctantly voted YES were worried about spending money on projects that would need financial support in the future. But they did not want to make their constituents wait to receive funding they were depending on to recover from Covid.

Beginning in tax year 2021, Vermont would tax, as income, PPP loans that Vermont businesses received from the federal government (which are not taxed as income by the federal government). Some voting YES argued that once Congress clarified the federal tax law for 2021, removing the tax will be a priority of the Legislature. They want to make sure tax changes are made “by the legislature not by the (Governor’s) administration” for 2021 and future years. 

Some of those voting NO are wary of “premature” allocation of ARPA funding that Vermont has not received yet. They view much of the funding in the bill as excessive. The federal government has given Vermont over 2 years to spend these ARPA funds. Spending over several years would ensure it gets spent more wisely. They echo the Governor’s concern that taxing PPP loans by default creates an undue burden on Vermont businesses. Others voting NO believe data gathered on has or hasn’t received a vaccine could violate the privacy rights of Vermonters.

As Recorded in the House Journal, Tuesday, April 6, 2021: “Pending the question, Shall the House concur in the Senate proposal of amendment with a further proposal of amendment thereto?, Rep. Hooper of Montpelier demanded the Yeas and Nays, which demand was sustained by the Constitutional number. The Clerk proceeded to call the roll and the question, Shall the House concur in the Senate proposal of amendment with a further proposal of amendment thereto? was decided in the affirmative. Yeas, 141. Nays, 5.” (Read the Journal, p. 547 – 582).

Watch the floor debate on YouTube (Part 1, and Part 2).

How They Voted
(Click on your Rep’s name to send an email)

SEE MORE ROLL CALL VOTES
NOT SIGNED UP YET? JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST