Crossover in the legislature is the deadline for the House or Senate chambers to pass bills they’ve introduced and send them to the other chamber to agree, amend, or let the bill die before the end of the session. That day was last Friday for policy bills and this Friday for “money” bills that require consideration from the appropriations committees. If a bill does not pass out of its chamber by now, it’s effectively dead unless a special rule suspension occurs. Rule suspensions are extremely rare and require mitigating circumstances to be considered.

Being an election year, with Governor Scott having the support to sustain vetoes, on top of the end of COVID funding from the federal government, we saw some pause out of Montpelier. Gone from introduction (with some exceptions) are wild policy bills with expensive price tags and tepid support from a wide swath of Vermonters. What made it through were mostly “must-pass” bills like the basic budgets and some other rather “tame” bills compared to years past. Of the 30–40 bills being tracked by ABC NH/VT, only a handful passed, and the pundits are optimistic for a quick adjournment with few surprises.

ABC NH/VT participated in and testified on several labor bills introduced by the unions. Some created employer mandates such as a “right to sit,” and some attempted to use law to expand unionization. These bills that would have impacted contractors are now effectively dead due to ABC NH/VT’s and others’ opposition, but staff will continue to monitor them to prevent them from being tacked on to other bills.

The abolition of “non-compete agreements” and “pay or stay agreements” failed to pass out of the Commerce Committee. Matt Musgrave of ABC NH/VT participated in lobbying efforts and sat on a study group opposing the bill. ABC NH/VT’s opposition focused on protecting “stay or pay” agreements between employers and workers. Those agreements include employers funding advancement training or hiring bonuses with the expectation that employees stay with their company or pay back the costs.

Another extension to exceptions of Act 250 has advanced, which was another win for contractors. The newest housing bill continues funding state NGOs like the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, which finances large housing projects. Although the process is moving in the right direction, some will be assembling on the State House lawn next week to ask for the repeal of Act 181, which created a tiered system for defining property types and permit requirements. Proponents of Act 181 say the tiered system offers clarity to developers, but most developers disagree, citing that the tiers are subjective and cut off land that should be developed.

The Senate passed a bill to improve the Career and Technical Education system in Vermont. The bill is largely built on the framework that a study committee—of which ABC NH/VT participated in—put together to help fund and expose young people to CTE programs. The House is expected to continue adding policy and refining the Senate proposal.

Adjournment is expected in late May, which will force legislators to work quickly through the coming weeks vetting and debating bills that crossed over, then setting committees of conference to agree—or not—to the terms of the bills crafted. It’s likely we will see one or more vetoes from Governor Scott, which would lead to a couple-day veto session likely held in June.

If you have any questions about Vermont’s advocacy work, please contact matt@abcnhvt.org.