Remember that the legislature is on Town Meeting break, they are off until March 10. I encourage you to reach out to your Senator or Representative during this break to discuss your concerns or support for legislation with them. They are elected to represent you, so they need to hear from you. The next legislative update will be March 16.

The House spent last Thursday evening and much of Friday morning discussing and debating H-926, the new Act 250 bill. In the end the bill passed on a vote of 88 yea and 52 no. There were three amendments added Friday morning that passed. The first would allow the Department of Fish and Wildlife to “billback.”

The second amendment moved the elevation back to the 2500 ft elevation from the 2000 ft that had been recommended in the bill. H-926 will now go the Senate Natural Resources for their deliberations.

The third amendment was for the definition of “Greenhouse gas” which was amended to read carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

The bill still contains the expanded criteria which include:

In 2019 Act 83, (S-160), requested that the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development shall contract with a qualified marketing consultant to assess the viability of increasing demand for Vermont dairy products in major metropolitan markets. On Tuesday the House and Senate Agriculture committees heard from Karen Karp & Partners, a New York based food system consulting group. KK&P used both qualitative and quantitative methods in research. Some of their work included conducting interviews, studying past and current reports regarding the Vermont dairy brand, and reviewed state or place-based branding efforts in other parts of the country. The final report provided and in-depth review of national consumer and cultural trends, what the dairy sector in Vermont looks like, a stakeholder perspective of the Vermont “Brand” and their recommendations of what might work.

This bill proposes to define adequate natural shelter, adequate constructed shelter, and adequate ventilation for the management of livestock animals. The bill also would require livestock animals confined in enclosed areas to be provided adequate exercise. In addition, the bill would require a livestock animal on a leash, rope, or chain to be affixed in a manner that prevents the livestock animal from becoming entangled or injured and permits the livestock animal access to adequate shelter, adequate food, and adequate water.

This bill passed the House and is headed to the Senate. This bill has been discussed in previous years but had never made it to the Governor’s desk. Not sure it will make it this time.

This bill proposes to authorize the use of biochar in agricultural waste storage facilities for the purposes of odor control and nutrient retention. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets to submit to the General Assembly a report recommending additional uses of biochar in farming in Vermont. Similarly, the bill would require the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation to report to the General Assembly regarding the feasibility of establishing or enhancing the production of biochar in the State.

The House Agriculture committee took more testimony regarding the benefits and challenges of biochar.

This bill proposes to grant tree wardens the authority to manage shade trees within a public place or public way and establish notice and hearing procedures related to the cutting of shade trees by a tree warden.

The above paragraph is the new language that Commissioner Snyder introduced last Thursday in House Agriculture. There is a definition of “shade trees.” The Vermont League of City and Towns has not testified on this new language. The committee will take the bill up after the Town Meeting break.

S-54 An act relating to the regulation of cannabis

Last Wednesday the House passed S-54 on a vote of 90 to 54. If the Senate agrees with the House changes the retail of sale of cannabis could be an option in Vermont. A difference between the House and Senate version’s is the absence of a local option tax in the House bill. The bill sets up a five-member cannabis control board. There is a 6% sales tax and then a 14% excise tax rate. Revenues from the taxes will be directed to and afterschool education program and prevention. The fees associated will cover the cost of regulation. The bill also sets up labeling and testing standards. There was an effort from the House floor to add a roadside saliva test but that went down on a vote of 27 to 117. The Governor has indicated that he could not support a bill that did not have a roadside saliva testing program.

The House overrode Governor’s Scott veto of S-23 on Tuesday. The bill raises the minimum wage to $11.75 by January 1, 2021 and $12.55 January 1, 2022. The vote was 100 to 49.