The legislation would enact one of the most generous paid family and medical leave programs in the country, but the price tag is significant.
Final Reading: House advances paid family leave
Author: Lola Duffort
Lola Duffort is a political reporter for VTDigger, covering Vermont state government, the congressional delegation and elections. She previously covered education for Digger, the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire and the Rutland Herald. She has also freelanced for the Miami Herald in Florida, where she grew up. She is a graduate of McGill University in Canada.
With state poised to scale back motel housing, an alternative has yet to materialize
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?
To pay for child care, state senators propose killing child tax credit
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.
Spending package extending emergency housing becomes law without Scott’s signature
The bill sets almost $19 million aside to keep those currently in hotels there until May 31. After that, eligibility will narrow.
Senate panel advances $190 million child care and parental leave bill
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.
New Senate housing bill amendments draw opposition from Vermont League of Cities and Towns
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.
Sen. Jane Kitchel proposes parental leave and child care deal, sets up showdown with Vermont House
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.
Vermont Senate Democrats poised to punt full-day pre-K to study
“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.
In housing program, motels named their price. What did Vermont’s most vulnerable get in exchange?
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.
Lobbying PAC hosts ‘meet and greet’ for Balint campaign
Balint’s campaign manager did not respond to a list of questions sent by VTDigger, except to insist that the event was “not a fundraiser.”