S.106, a Pilot Program for Self-Governance Authority, Voted out of Committee
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Alert or Update
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VLCT issues Legislative Alerts when legislators need to hear from municipal officials about a particular issue, and when time is of the essence. Legislative Updates typically provide the status of legislative activity when information needs to be provided immediately and the Weekly Legislative Report timeline does not suffice. They are chiefly informational and do not require you to contact your legislators. Alerts and Updates posted here reflect the current biennium only. Please contact VLCT Advocacy for documents from earlier legislative sessions.
Education Property Taxes: The Reason for the Special Session
Governor Scott called the legislature back for a special legislative session on May 23. In a special session, all bills under consideration are new bills with new numbers – although their content is from the regular session. The governor’s objective is to eliminate the need for property tax rate increases in the next fiscal year. Addressing the constant increase in education property taxes was an issue that he – and most legislators – campaigned on two years ago.
Oppose Citizen Right of Action in H. 559, Section 12
Legislative Action Alert, May 8, 2018. H.559 is a bill that would make numerous amendments to environmental statutes, some of which would be helpful to municipalities, but none of which must pass. The bill is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Annual Renewal of Liquor and Tobacco Licenses
Legislative Action Alert, April 24, 2018. The Vermont Department of Liquor Control is asking the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee to revise the schedule for renewing annual liquor and tobacco licenses. Under current law, all locally issued liquor licenses expire on April 30.
H.143, the Vehicle-for-Hire Bill
Legislative Action Alert, April 24, 2018. The House is taking up a bill that looks to move Vermont towards a uniform regulation of all vehicle-for-hire companies and drivers. Several towns and cities currently regulate taxi or “jitney” businesses pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 2031. The bill, H.143, would prevent municipalities from adopting any ordinance, resolution, or bylaw that regulates transportation network companies that is inconsistent with the requirements of the bill.
Potential Loss of Cell Phone Coverage to Rural Vermont
Legislative Action Alert, March 21, 2018
Fire Department Rosters due to PACIF 1/1 or 1/10
If your FD gets its workers’ compensation coverage through PACIF, its 2017 roster – with complete role and pay information – is due at the beginning of the year! Departments in which no one receives any kind of pay for any fire department activities must submit their rosters by January 1st. Departments that have any personnel who receive pay – whether it is per-call, per-training, a stipend, or wages – have until January 10th.
