The 2025-2026 legislative session began on January 8, with a new legislature and a new mandate from voters for Governor Phil Scott. Unlike last biennium, Democrats and Progressives do not have a veto-proof majority in either the House (now 94-56) or Senate (now 17-13). Picking up several seats in the Senate and more in the House, Republicans can now support the Governor’s initiatives and also will have more say in committees. For example, in the Senate, the Chair of both the Transportation Committee and the Education Committee are Republicans. In the House, the Chair of the Transportation Committee is a Republican. That may mean (but does not guarantee) that those committees will follow the Governor’s lead. Remember, it is still a different branch of government!
Career Technical Education Improvements
The Governor kept his plans under wraps until this week when he gave his budget address on January 28. The new plan moves us from 52 school districts to 5 and would directly fund CTE centers instead of relying on the districts. No specific legislation has been introduced at this point for review, though the Governor did share a recent study. Slides—Caucus of the Whole | DocumentCloud
Electric Truck Requirements 2026
Starting sometime this calendar year, the 2026 medium and heavy-duty trucks will be put on sale in Vermont. 10% of the ones sold in Vermont will have to be Zero Emission Vehicles. This isn’t just big trucks; every new truck over 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is included in the requirement. This is the California Advanced Clean Truck rule, which Vermont adopted a few years ago. The problem is that they are not cost effective, nor are they technologically feasible. In layman’s terms, they cost too much for what they can do. Vermont truck dealers, business owners who use trucks, and trade associations such as VRLDA are working to roll back or remove this mandate. No legislation has yet been introduced, though our members have given their perspective to the rule-making agency (Agency of Natural Resources). I expect we will see specific legislation in the early weeks of February.
Municipal Overweight Permitting
Last year the Department of Motor Vehicles hired a computer system contractor to build their online permitting system. System implementation is still planned for late summer, 2025. That system will have the capacity to apply for municipal permits as well as state permits. We will work to have as many towns as possible accessing this online system.