Members of the House Appropriations Committee gave legislative staff the go-ahead to produce an up-to-date bill that incorporates the decisions made over the last few weeks. The panel is expected to review and formally sign off on it Monday.
The legislation would enact one of the most generous paid family and medical leave programs in the country, but the price tag is significant.
With federal funding for its motel programs nearly gone and homelessness climbing higher, the question before state budget writers in the Legislature is this: Now what?
Craig Bolio, Gov. Phil Scott’s commissioner of taxes, has pointed out that, based on preliminary data, the poorest families have thus far been the greatest beneficiaries of the tax credit.
The bill sets almost $19 million aside to keep those currently in hotels there until May 31. After that, eligibility will narrow.
An analyst with the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office told lawmakers on Friday that preliminary estimates pegged the combined annual cost of paid leave and child care subsidies at about $190 million in 2025, which would be the first full year of operation.
A fragile coalition backing the Senate’s omnibus housing bill is beginning to fracture after a panel made new amendments Wednesday that would reduce the scope of proposed exemptions to Act 250.
The senator said her amendment would offer 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents, apply to all genders and be available in the case of both births and adoptions.
“One of the things that we heard in testimony is how if we took all the 4-year-olds out categorically right away, it would devastate child care facilities,” said Sen. Ginny Lyons, one of the bill’s sponsors.
With nowhere else to go — and even fewer rights than a typical renter — Vermonters relying on a state-run program for shelter have had little recourse when they’ve run into poor treatment or conditions.