VRLDA Legislative Update: April 2025
With an estimated four weeks left in the Vermont legislative session for 2025, there has been very little official progress on the big issues of education restructuring and difficult budgets, fueled largely by stalled federal programs. Here is where we are with regard to key issues: Career Technical Education ImprovementsWe have not seen much progress […]
VRLDA Legislative Update: February 2025
Attend VRLDA Lobby Day 2025 This year, VRLDA is prioritizing Career and Technical Education (CTE) reform to ensure Vermont’s educational systems meet the future needs of LBM’s workforce. Join fellow members at the Vermont State House in Montpelier on Thursday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Career Technical Education (CTE) Improvements The legislative […]
VRLDA Legislative Update: January 2025
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 […]
VRLDA Legislative Update: End of Session 2024
The Legislature adjourned on May 10th, with a designated ‘veto session’ scheduled on June 17th to consider whether the Legislature would override vetoes by Governor Scott. To override a veto, both the House and Senate must have at least 2/3 of their members present vote to override. In this session, with 145 Representatives present, 97 […]
VRLDA Legislative Update: April 2024
As we wind toward adjournment things are heating up on a few issues: CTE changes and a new issue, Data Privacy. The adjournment date is set for May 10th. Career Technical Education Improvements—S.304 The Senate passed S.304 after removing an appropriation for a new employee at the Agency of Education; the bill passed on a […]
VRLDA Legislative Update: February 2024
The Legislature is bogged down in funding, or lack of funding, on many issues this year. One of the big issues in the Legislature this year is education funding and as part of that, changes to Tech Center funding and ‘governance’. Career Technical Education Improvements The Senate Education Committee has the lead on Tech Center […]
VRLDA Legislative Update: January 2024
The Legislature began the second year of the biennium on Wednesday, January 3rd. All committee assignments and bills from 2023 carry forward into the new year. Career Technical Education Improvements In line with his address to the Legislature on the State of the State (delivered January 4th) and his budget address (delivered January 23rd), Governor […]
VRLDA Small Claims Legislation Becomes Law
This year, VRLDA worked to pass an increase in the amount you can seek in small claims court from $5,000 to $10,000. We are happy to announce that Governor Scott signed our bill, S.33, on June 5. This change will help Vermont small businesses recoup money they are owned without having to paying for a […]
Vermont Legislative Update May 2023
The Legislature adjourned (with the exception of a June veto session) on the night of Friday, May 12th. The Governor has now vetoed the budget, which includes DMV fee increases, and the veto session will consider that in a few weeks. Bills that were not passed this year will carry over to 2024. Workforce Development […]
VRLDA 2023 Legislative Priorities
Workforce Development A growing gap between employer needs and employee skills, that has only been exasperated by COVID-19, must be addressed. Small businesses in the trades face increasing difficulty hiring and retaining good workers. A career in the trades can be both financially and professionally rewarding. It is critical to create and support programs that […]