OVER THE HEDGE Tensions were on the rise this week in the Vermont statehouse as the Senate Appropriations Committee worked to refine their version of the FY2024 budget. It is normal for the annual spending bill to become the center of the Vermont political universe in April, but this year feels more intense. This is […]
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY The third week of the 2023 legislative session was all about the state budget. The week started with the January meeting of the Emergency Board (E-Board), which consists of the governor and the chairs of the Appropriations and Ways and Means committees in the House and the Appropriations and Finance committees in […]
By FOCUS, a Leonine Business Several new state laws will take effect this year banning products with “forever chemicals” in response to impetus nationwide to protect consumers from known toxins. Absent federal guidance, states have aimed to eliminate nonessential uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS. PFAS are found in many consumer products […]
FOUNDATION BUILDING Lawmakers settled into their new committees this week and began the process of familiarizing themselves with the areas of government they oversee. Administration officials from agencies and departments across state government provided the legislative committees with overviews of the work they do and started to lay the groundwork for Governor Phil Scott’s priorities, […]
