[A]s legislators return to Montpelier this week, they’ll have a balanced budget on the table with an extra $113 to boot.
After months of collaborating with legislators across House committees, the Appropriations Committee passed a budget bill Monday afternoon that will likely hit the House floor Thursday in a morning and afternoon session.
Before House lawmakers tackle the big bill, though, they have several other major pieces of business to tackle.
The transportation bill will likely be on the floor Wednesday. The legislation balances a $6.6 million gap from a loss of revenue due to falling gas prices. The bill also establishes a floor on the 2 percent tax on the retail price of gasoline.
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s gun bill will be on the Senate floor Wednesday. Although the legislation does not have the controversial universal background check provision (that language died in committee last month) the new bill will likely generate spirited floor debate. The legislation would prohibit convicted felons from owning guns, and it would require that people with mental illness who are deemed to be dangerous to themselves or others be reported to an FBI database.
The Senate will also take up S.29, which would allow same-day voter registration.
In tandem with the budget, likely on Thursday and Friday, the House will take up the revenue bill, which would raise $30 million in new revenues to help fill a $113 million budget gap.
Meanwhile, the capital bill, which provides funding for state infrastructure, is in the House Corrections and Institutions Committee. The bill relieves pressure on General Fund budget by shifting monies for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to the capital bill.
Other big legislation will likely be put on the back burner until next week. The education reform package, H.361, and the water quality bill, H.35, will be on the agenda for next week.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the transportation bill establishes 2 percent gas tax. The bill sets a floor for the 2 percent tax.
