Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced action on the 13 following bills, passed by the General Assembly. This includes the Universal School Meals Act, S.100. The bill requires all Vermont students to have access to two meals per day during the 2022-23 school year.
During the past two years, the federal government paid for meals for all students through pandemic waivers — this program expires in June, and without state action, 40,000 children would have lost access to school meals this fall.
With S.100 enacted, the state will provide reimbursement to schools for Universal School Meals. The Joint Fiscal Office estimates the one-year cost at about $29 million based on a range of factors. It could be lower or higher.
The Legislature extended the meals for one year to allow time to establish the true cost. The bill does contain language for processes to continue meals permanently.
The governor supported despite the cost and uncertainty because it's only for one year. He has been more supportive of a compromise that could include perhaps a breakfast-only universal plan.
In the meantime, the cost and student participation should become clearer. Some school districts already provide universal meals and many others simply right off the bad debt, so the total cost is still uncertain.
On May 31, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:
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H.729, An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures
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H.742, An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Milton
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S.53, An act relating to changes to Vermont corporate income tax and conformity to federal tax laws
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S.90, An act relating to establishing an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis registry
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S.91, An act relating to the Parent Child Center Network
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S.100, An act relating to universal school meals
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S.139, An act relating to nondiscriminatory school branding
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S.140, An act relating to prohibiting civil arrests at courthouses
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S.148, An act relating to environmental justice in Vermont
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S.161, An act relating to extending the baseload renewable power portfolio requirement
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S.173, An act relating to the State House art collections
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S.181, An act relating to authorizing miscellaneous regulatory authority for municipal governments
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S.188, An act relating to regulating licensed small cannabis cultivation as farming
To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2022 legislative session, click here.
5.31.2022. Montpelier www.vermont.gov
