Vermont’s new land-use framework is reshaping the state’s economy, not just its maps. By concentrating growth into a narrow footprint, pressuring towns to opt in or face higher regulatory costs, and advancing land-use designations before al
On January 28, state officials told Vermont senators that a new land-use planning system is already reshaping where growth is encouraged and where land is classified as Rural Conservation. Regional maps are being approved now, even as the c
A Vermont Senate bill would raise the gasoline excise tax from 12.1 cents to 28 cents per gallon starting July 2025 and then automatically increase it each year with inflation. Supporters call it stability for transportation funding. Critic
A newly introduced Vermont bill would dramatically speed up residential evictions, cutting notice periods to as little as three days and tightening court deadlines. Supporters say it brings efficiency and predictability; critics warn the co
Five years after Vermont adopted legally binding climate targets, the state’s Climate Council is still narrowing its focus. At recent meetings, officials introduced new “Top 10” priorities and described the Climate Action Plan as a framewor
Vermont taxpayers spent over $500 million on climate programs in five years. The result? The state missed its first legally binding emissions target, transport fuel sales are trending upward, and the global temperature impact is literally z
Vermont’s Act 181 doesn’t change who owns the land, but it does change who draws the lines that matter. A five-member Land Use Review Board now approves regional maps that decide where Act 250 eases off and where it tightens, using state da
Vermont says it needs thousands of new homes, but the new regional land-use map quietly shrinks the places where towns like Pittsford can actually build them. Large swaths of working farms and upland fields are rebranded “rural conservation
Vermont’s legislature claims its policies serve the public good, but decades of restrictive regulations, rising taxes, and inaction on crime and addiction tell a different story. Are these decisions mere incompetence, or deliberate neglect
Vermont families are nearing their financial breaking point, with rising taxes, high energy costs, and strict regulations making the state unaffordable for many. Lawmakers must prioritize affordability and economic growth before more reside
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) control drug pricing through opaque practices like rebates and spread pricing, driving up costs for patients, taxpayers, and insurers. Reform is needed to ensure transparency and prioritize affordable health
Vermont’s nonpartisan fiscal analysts are warning of softening revenues, unreimbursed SNAP costs, looming transportation funding gaps, and a projected 12% jump in property taxes. Lawmakers now face a basic choice: raise more money, cut serv
