Lawmakers Hear Tax, Land-Use, Health and Budget Measures Across Multiple Committees
Lawmakers and witnesses across House and Senate committees on Feb. 13 discussed proposals touching tax rates and taxes on solar capacity, land‑use permitting (Act 50), conservation and housing funding, PCB testing in schools, a licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians, and agency budget changes tied to federal funding.
Ways & Means
Members of the House Ways & Means Committee heard testimony on tax measures and revenue proposals tied to spending priorities. Witnesses described a proposal to raise the uniform capacity tax on solar arrays from the current $4 per kilowatt to $16 per kilowatt. A 20‑megawatt system that one speaker said currently pays roughly $80,000 annually under the existing uniform capacity tax would see payments rise to about $320,000 under the proposed rate, the witness said, while remaining below what the property would be taxed if appraised like a conventional power plant.
Testimony also addressed income tax changes and revenue allocation. One presenter described a short bill to increase marginal income tax rates on high earners, saying it would raise rates by 1 percentage point for couples with income above $400,000 and by an additional 1 percentage point above $800,000, with half‑rate thresholds for individuals. Committee members and witnesses connected proposed revenue to implementation of Act 48 and other priorities; one witness cited an estimate of $400,000,000 in annual state revenue referenced by universal primary care advocates as a figure tied to potential health care funding. Act 73 was referenced in testimony on income distribution effects from prior legislative changes.
The bill list for the meeting included S.60, and several witnesses discussed property tax and Farm Security Fund allocations tied to tax changes, with one estimate of about $7,300,000 in additional tax revenue and a suggestion that roughly $5,000,000 could be directed to the Farm Security Fund.
Natural Resources & Energy
The Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee held extended discussion of land‑use permitting and the implementation of Act 50. Witnesses and panelists reviewed jurisdictional triggers that require Act 50 permits, including activities such as exploration beyond reconnaissance for fissionable materials, drilling oil or gas wells, withdrawal of more than 340,000 gallons of groundwater per day, and the construction of private roads longer than 800 feet (or a combined length exceeding 2,000 feet). The committee also discussed exemptions and the long statutory definition of “development” and “subdivision” that determine when permits are required.
Speakers described the 32 subcriteria used in review and noted specific elements such as primary agricultural soils and recently added criteria addressing forest blocks and habitat connectors. Testimony included perspectives from conservation organizations, engineering firms, and statewide groups on rulemaking, timelines, and impacts on projects including transportation and housing. The session included a hearing on S.224 and references to Act 50 and Act 181.
At an earlier Natural Resources session, conservation districts and The Nature Conservancy described projects funded in part by Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) and Act 59, and the Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District described federal NRCS funding flows and a FY27 budget request figure for district operating support.
Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs
The Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee heard numerous witnesses advocating for continued or increased funding for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Multiple presenters urged support for the governor’s recommended base funding level of $37,600,000 for VHCB; testimony described projects using VHCB funds, senior and assisted living developments, partnership loans (one cited $8,000,000 provided to Roots of Rutland then distributed in smaller loans), and examples of historic preservation and community‑driven projects. The committee discussed the role of VHCB loans and revolving funds, the Rural Economic Development Initiative, and coordination with municipal planning and zoning efforts, including references to Act 47 in enabling increased in‑town density for senior housing projects.
Education
The House Education Committee reviewed a bill that would repeal the PCB air‑quality testing requirement for public and independent schools established under Act 74 of 2021. Legislative counsel summarized that Act 74 required testing and that the deadline for testing had been extended previously to 2027. Witnesses and members debated funding availability for testing and remediation, with one participant stating roughly $4,500,000 remained in related funds and questioning whether that would cover needs for schools already tested or for new remediation needs arising from infrastructure failures. The committee discussed proposals from the Agency of Natural Resources to tie PCB testing into school capital planning and to create a special fund for remediation going forward; witnesses noted ongoing litigation and a Vermont Supreme Court decision referenced regarding medical monitoring in PCB cases.
Health & Welfare
The Senate Health & Welfare Committee took up S.142, legislation creating a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians and medical graduates. Committee discussion and witness testimony described a multi‑step pathway in the draft: a provisional license with supervision, a two‑year limited license that may be renewed once, and eligibility for a full, unrestricted license after successful completion of the limited license and required examinations. Testimony outlined applicant criteria in the draft, including possession of a medical degree earned outside the U.S., prior licensure or authorization to practice in another country for at least three years, evidence of recent clinical practice (three of the last five years), and passing U.S. Medical Licensing Examination steps. Several healthcare providers and advocacy groups testified in favor of the pathway as a means to increase primary care capacity, particularly in rural areas; committee members and witnesses also discussed rulemaking authority for the Board of Medical Practice, implementation timelines, and resources needed for administering any provisional licensure program.
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The Senate Health & Welfare committee also scheduled votes on bills H.545 and H.5, and discussed draft language and committee procedures.
Appropriations and Agency Budgets
House Appropriations and related testimony covered the Agency of Natural Resources FY27 budget. Witnesses presented a governor’s recommended budget near $300,000,000 for FY27 and outlined a roughly 12% decrease from the prior year largely driven by federal grant and infrastructure funds tapering off. Testimony detailed that about half the ANR budget is pass‑through funding and that significant portions of recent prior year funding came from IIJA/BIL and ARPA. Committee discussion included changes in personnel funding, internal service charges (ADS increases of roughly $1,450,000 gross), and special fund operating statements for agencies such as Fish & Wildlife.
Other appropriations‑linked items discussed in multiple committees included funding requests and allocations tied to conservation and housing programs described above.
Human Services — Opioid Abatement Funding
The House Human Services Committee reviewed a draft tied to the Opioid Abatement Special Fund with specific FY27 appropriations laid out in session draft language. The draft lists allocations including $455,000 to the Department of Health for 26 outreach or case management staff positions within a preferred provider network; $1,600,000 for recovery residency certified by VTAR; and $850,000 for syringe services. The draft also included an intent provision that certain program levels be funded annually at not less than FY27 levels and a proposed pause on accepting new funding proposals from the special fund for FY28 so the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council could review outcomes and sustainability of previously funded programs. Committee members discussed outstanding questions about allocations, timing, and program access.
Energy & Digital Infrastructure
The House Energy & Digital Infrastructure Committee voted favorably on H.710, an act defining electricity generating facilities and related language about commercial and utility‑scale solar arrays. Committee action was reported as a favorable vote with amendment 630; committee members noted the Public Utility Commission convened stakeholders to refine definitions for larger solar projects and to consider siting on previously disturbed land.
Government Operations & Military Affairs
The House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee considered a committee strike‑all draft creating a pilot Government Accountability Committee. The draft establishes administrative support from legislative offices and requires interim and final reports to legislative committees, with report deadlines of Nov. 15, 2027 and Nov. 15, 2028. The draft consolidates prior proposals and removes certain other measures while providing the committee with authority to examine governmental operations and make recommendations.
Corrections & Institutions
Witnesses appearing before Corrections & Institutions described VHCB‑supported conservation and affordable‑housing projects, including adaptive recreation and conservation acquisitions. One witness said VHCB support had enabled property conservation and associated community benefits across Vermont towns and cited S.125 among the bills noted for the meeting.
Conclusion
This article covers committee hearings and testimony held on Feb. 13 across House and Senate panels including Ways & Means; Natural Resources & Energy; Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs; Education; Health & Welfare; Appropriations; Human Services; Energy & Digital Infrastructure; Government Operations & Military Affairs; and Corrections & Institutions. Discussions addressed tax proposals and solar capacity taxation, Act 50 permitting triggers and zoning implications, conservation and housing funding requests (including repeated calls for $37.6 million for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board), PCB testing requirements for schools, a licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians, agency budget changes tied to federal funding, and specified Opioid Abatement Fund appropriations.
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