February 2, 2023
Rural Omnibus:
-Coordinating the top 10 bills into one “Rural Omnibus”
-A list of the top ten will be on our website shortly
-If you had any proposals that did not make the top 10, the deadline to submit to legislative counsel was yesterday
-The group will draft a press release and announcement
-Press conference to come, date TBD, everyone is welcome to join. Will likely be in the Cedar Creek Room
-All recreation-related bills are going into their own recreation omnibus bill
-None made it into top ten for rural omnibus
-Lots of encouragement from committee
-Three bills: Green Mountain Recreation fund, trails accessibility, and one on increased VOREC funding
Budget Adjustment Act:
-There is currently one amendment right now, might be more
-$3 mil in technical assistance for rural communities provided, governor worked with Speaker of the House and were both very supportive
-Gov and Speaker agree it is a priority and have tried to move quickly
-Rep McCarthy worked hard to get amendment through
-2 components are important to this caucus: the $3 mil in rural technical assistance, and also $9.2 mil for organic dairy
-Vermont chamber and VLCT have been very supportive!
Member updates, updates from other committees:
-Rep. Terri Williams:
-Education committee has been discussing school choice and independent schools. Rural Vermont has lots of independent schools, could be hit pretty hard if bills restricting private/independent schools end up passing. No specific bills yet, still looking into it
-Rep. Tristan Roberts:
-Corrections and Institutions has been working on a two-year capital bill. Lots of infrastructure improvements and capital investments. Bonding capacity will be down a little bit (to $108mil for two years). The Governor is proposing an influx of capital spending to deal with long-term issues around correctional facilities around the state, most of which are out of date.
-Moment of silence for recent youth suicide in Rep. Robert’s community. Need to address mental health in youth.
-Rep. Jed Lipsky:
- Lots of dialogue in the ag committee after the last rural caucus. Confusion around final consensus. Ag and food resiliency and forestry committee unanimously supports one time $9.2 mil for org farmers. Very compelling testimony around dairy in committee.
-Some misinformation about an insurance program that organic milk producers were not eligible for?
-Rep. Hango: Amendment has been drafted that has been agreed on by gov ops, ag, and commerce committee chairs.
-Rep. Morris:
-Environmental committee is taking testimony on H126, a conservation bill for forests,. Current 75% of VT is forested. The goal is to permanently conserve 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2050. Approx 24% is permanently conserved now by different agencies and orgs.
-Rep. Templeman: will ag committee see H126? Answer: potentially! Forest production is considered in this bill.
-Rep. Lipsky: Lots of discussion around the “30 by 30” initiative. Preservation and conservation are very different. Another concern is aging forest ownership across the state. 80% of forests are owned by private landowners. Transition of ownership will happen soon.
-Rep Sims: Forestry tours for rural caucus members last fall led to a “Forest Future Strategic Roadmap. Maybe we can have someone come in and talk about it to caucus
Potential topics for next meetings:
-Christine Mcgowan (VSJF): Runs forest program, currently working with Habitat for Humanity and VT Woodworks Council. Would like to come in and talk about progress on roadmap/report
-Discussion on universal school meals
-Proposed changes in childcare and how they might impact rural vermont, pre-k in particular
-UVM has a new rural program- institute for Rural Partnerships. Less urgent than current moving bills
-Rep. Sims: “Rural Lens” Caucus can brainstorm on important questions to bring to committee.
-Rep.Sibilia: Given current forest interest, maybe we can bring forest perspective to our next meeting?
-Rep. Lipsky: Universal school meals have been discussed heavily in committee. It’s a critical issue, and rural communities really need it!
-Rep. Templeman: USM can be a platform to inspire young people about food, what food can do for vermont. Kids get to see/experience food in ways they haven’t before. Could inspire more people to come into agricultural and land related industries.
-Rep. Hango: Young farmers in district are very encouraged about USM
-Amy Shollenberger (Action Circles): SNAP awareness day on Feb 16, lots of questions around boosted 3SquaresVT ending this month. Press conference will be at 10am, Cedar Creek room. Materials will be available by email for everyone, handouts also to share with constituents.
-Rep. Chapin: Rural ems issues, will this be coming up?
-Rep. Hango: Nothing has come through gov ops yet about this but there are conversations happening
-Rep. Priestley: Rural mental health is a topic that should be discussed
-Rep. Hango: Rep. Gregroire sent a message about a constituent of his who was visited during the rural caucus forest tour last year. Would like to come in and talk about the effects of Act 250. Owns a mill.
-Rep. Sibilia: If you feel strongly about things we’ve been talking about, it would be great to send an email to leadership. We’ll start contacting speakers or visitors tomorrow.