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It wouldn’t be March in Vermont without a messy snowstorm. It was a bit of a messy week in Montpelier as we spent most of our time on the house floor. You can track our activity at https://legislature.vermont.gov/. We archive all sessions on YouTube which can also be found by following the link above.
Please reach out to me ([email protected]) or Representative Dolan ([email protected]) at any time. We are always happy to answer questions and share perspectives. Your engagement helps ensure we are informed about what is important to you. YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SERIES Please join your Essex House delegation during the legislative session for "Community Conversations," a monthly forum for updates on bills, committees, caucus activities and more. We welcome your concerns, questions and a spirit of open, respectful dialogue. SAVE THE DATES: SAT APR 12 9-10:30 VIRTUAL SAT MAY 10, 11-12:30 THE NEST GOVERNOR SCOTT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER The Governor’s Executive Order issued Friday afternoon will extend the hotel/motel program for families with children and people with acute medical needs. As of March 24, 1439 households are housed. This executive order will allow approximately 424 households to stay until June 30th. Another approximately 700 households have some of their 80 days of benefit left. What do all these numbers mean - approximately 315 households will be unhoused starting April 1st with another 700 households exiting over the days and weeks to come. These numbers are people - pregnant women not in their 3rd trimester, those fleeing domestic violence, veterans. This program had been scaled back significantly to house only our most vulnerable, now we are putting many of them on the streets when the administration has the $1.8m to keep them housed through June 30th. This action isn’t just morally wrong but also financially irresponsible. Our unhoused Vermonters will seek shelter and care in emergency rooms driving up hospital costs and local municipalities will be burdened with additional costs - the human consequences will be visible on the streets of Vermont. We agree with the Governor that the hotel/motel program is not a long-term solution. Our House Human Services Committee this week passed out a bill that begins the shift from motels to a community-based, service-supported housing model—a long-term solution that will truly help Vermonters get back on their feet. Until then we should make the morally right and fiscally sound decision to keep people housed. I’ve linked below several documents if anyone is interested in reading more. https://governor.vermont.gov/sites/scott/files/documents/EO%2003-25%20General%20Assistance%20Emergency%20Housing.pdf https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z8KLYhIt53pk_JXN71BT1NJCuRLYKvme/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100151631503998736683&rtpof=true&sd=true https://vtdigger.org/2025/03/26/rep-doug-bishop-passage-of-the-budget-adjustment-act-is-fiscally-sound-and-morally-right/ https://dcf.vermont.gov/Addressing-and-Preventing-Unsheltered-Homelessness BUDGET AND HOUSING The House passed the FY26 budget with a vote of 104-38. This year’s budget reflects hard work and compromise that centers some of Vermonter’s most critical needs including investing $26m in primary care providers, preserving universal school meals, transferring $77m to the education fund to reduce property taxes, and investing over $60m to develop affordable, middle income and recovery housing. A budget overview is linked below. https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Uploads/GENERAL-381955-v1-FY_2026_Budget_Highlights_-_House_Appropriations_Committee-3.pdf The House passed H.479 a housing bill with bipartisan support on a voice vote. We have a housing emergency in the state—there’s not enough and what’s available is beyond the reach of most Vermonters. This absence of affordable housing makes it hard for companies, schools, and local governments to find new employees. It contributes to our homeless problem. New young people and families cannot come into the state for lack of housing, exacerbating the cost of our health insurance and school financing problems. The House omnibus housing bill addresses these issues. The legislation makes it easier to permit housing and more difficult to use appeals to delay housing projects. The bill makes it easier to finance housing and related infrastructure, and adds to programs that train carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and other members of the building trades. The bill provides funding to assist first-time and first-generation homebuyers and contains funding to develop housing that lower income and middle-income Vermonters can afford to rent and buy. Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community. Rep. Lori Houghton
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