Vermont Business Magazine Today, the House overrode Governor Scott’s veto of the FY24 state budget (H.494) on a vote of 105 to 42 and the universal child care bill (H.217) on a vote of 116 to 31. The bills were then sent to the Senate for their consideration. The Senate then overrode the child care bill 23-7. For the budget, some Democrats and Progressives had suggested that they could sustain the veto because the budget did not contain enough funds for the homeless. However, lawmakers are working on a plan to extend the hotel/motel program for some homeless people. The Senate later Tuesday overrode the budget veto on a vote of 25-5.
See below all the bills taken up during the veto session.
Following the votes, Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski made the following statements:
"Our budget prioritizes the well-being of our communities in all fourteen counties, enhances vital infrastructure, and improves programs and services that Vermonters rely on in their daily lives. It’s a fiscally responsible budget that reflects the values and priorities expressed by Vermonters across the state. This budget stands as a commitment to Vermonters: We hear your voices and stand by your side. It includes appropriations that benefit every Vermonter, including significant investments in housing; high-quality, affordable child care; Medicaid rate increases for healthcare, mental health and substance use disorder providers; community resilience and climate initiatives; broadband access, and others. We were disappointed that the Governor vetoed the budget and that the critical funds earmarked for vulnerable groups were delayed in getting out to Vermonters and community organizations for several weeks.
“Additionally, we have worked with the Administration and our Senate colleagues to successfully identify key areas of agreement that will significantly bolster support for vulnerable Vermonters during their transition into alternative housing opportunities. I am hopeful these new resources, combined with the funding and resources provided in the budget, will further support positive outcomes for our communities and all Vermonters. Through rigorous discussions with a broad group of voices, we have worked to find additional opportunities for safe and reliable alternatives while we transition away from the pandemic-era General Assistance Emergency Housing benefit. By combining the expertise of our community partners and hearing from those impacted during this difficult transition, we are hopeful that this will lead to a more sustainable and compassionate system that addresses the immediate needs of individuals while also providing long-term support and stability.
“By overriding the Governor’s veto of the child care bill, we are addressing the pressing issue faced by families throughout Vermont who struggle to balance child care responsibilities with their work. By providing the necessary support and ensuring access to high-quality early educators, we aim to empower struggling families to grow their careers while ensuring the safety and educational development of their children and fair pay for our early childhood educators. This bill sets us on a path to create a more robust, thriving economy and shows that Vermont is a state that supports working families through our comprehensive and inclusive child care system for all."
You can learn more about H.494 - making appropriations for the support of the government here.
You can learn more about H.217 - an act relating to child care, early education, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance here.
Bills Acted Upon June 20, 2023:
- H.494:: An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government (the budget) VETO OVERRIDDEN
- H.305: An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation VETO OVERRIDDEN
- S.39: An act relating to compensation and benefits for members of the Vermont General Assembly BILL TABLED BY SENATE AND SENT BACK TO COMMITTEE
- H.217: An act relating to child care, early education, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance VETO OVERRIDDEN
- S.6: An act relating to law enforcement interrogation policies (related to young adult perpetrators) BILL TABLED BY SENATE AND SENT BACK TO COMMITTEE
- H.386: An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Brattleboro (voting age) VETO OVERRIDDEN
- H.509: An act relating to approval of amendments to the voter qualification provisions of the charter of the City of Burlington (rental rules) VETO OVERRIDDEN
Source: Montpelier, Vt. – 6.20.2023. Speaker of the House. Speaker’s Website
