TODAY IS EXPECTED TO BE THE áLAST DAY OF THE VERMONT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. LAWMAKERS ARE RECONVENING IN MONTPELIER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAY 30-TH. we’re learning at this hour that the house has passed the education bill. now they’ll be sending it to the governor. the bill WILL DRASTICALLY CHANGE HOW EDUCATION WORKS IN THE STATE. NBC 5’S STEPHEN BIDDIX IS LIVE IN THE STATEHOUSE. STEPHEN, IT’S BEEN A LONG DAY ALREADY. WHERE DO WE STAND NOW? BRIAN, LIZ. IT’S BEEN 5 AND A AT THIS MOMENT THE FUTURE OF HOW VERMONT SCHOOLS POINT, THE HANDS OF THE SENATE. UNDER THIS BILL UNDER THIS BILL VERMONT WOULD HAVE NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND A FOUNDATION FORMULA IMPLEMENTED FOR THE 2028-2029 SCHOOL YEAR WHERE THE STATE DECIDES HOW MUCH MONEY DISTRICTS GET. FOR THE HOW MUCH MONEY DISTRICTS GET. ROUGHLY 20 TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE WOULD SEE A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BUT MORE MONEY TO THEIR SCHOOLS, WHILE THE REST WOULD SEE PROPERTY TAX DECREASES. THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON A RALLY TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE THE STATEHOUSE BY EDUCATORS TO DISPLAY THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT ELIMINATING LOCAL CONTROL, AND WHAT THE FUTURE OF RURAL EDUCATION IN THE STATE COULD LOOK LIKE. 15;48;01;23- 15;48;19;14 Sen. Phil Baruth, <it had to turn spending at some level to the state what I like about the equal opportunity payment is that is is equal so every district is going to get the same amount but weighted for the equal so every district is going to the equal opportunity from underneath us whether through a foundation formula or we expect the results that we’re being promised.> IT’S ALSO WORTH NOTING TODAY THE SENATE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR A TAX CREDIT PROPOSAL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE TAX ON MILITARY PENSIONS FOR THOSE MAKING LESS THEN 125,000 DOLLARS, EXPAND THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, AND EXPAND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT. IF THE EDUCATION REFORM BILL IS APPROVED IT WILL GO HOUSE. <ADLIB LATEST OF WHERE WE STAND.> HOUS
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Lawmakers send sweeping education transformation plan to Gov. Phill Scott
The bill which is headed to Gov. Phil Scott’s desk would create new school districts and implement a foundation formula starting in the 2028-2029 school year.
Vermont lawmakers reconvened Monday for the final day of the legislative session, marking the culmination of a five-and-a-half-month process. At the center of Monday’s agenda was a vote on an education reform proposal that would significantly transform the way schools are funded in the state.The bill which is headed to Gov. Phil Scott’s desk would create new school districts and implement a foundation formula starting in the 2028-2029 school year. Under the plan, the state would determine how much funding districts receive. According to lawmakers, approximately 20 towns would experience property tax increases, but would get more funding for local schools, while most other towns would see a decrease in property taxes.Outside the Statehouse, educators held a rally voicing concerns over the proposal, including opposition to reducing local control and the potential impact on rural education. Kaitlin Macleod-Bluver, Vermont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, criticized the bill, saying, “It’s not what’s best for our small communities and our schools. H.454 was rushed from the beginning. When my students do rushed work, I ask them to do it again.”Support for the bill came from Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck, R-Caledonia, who emphasized two key benefits: “One, it reduces the property tax burden on Vermonters and, two, it designs a far more efficient system where a higher percentage of the dollars actually get to the kids and provide opportunities to those kids.”Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth also reminded lawmakers throughout their deliberations the message that was sent by voters on Election Day this past year.Additionally, lawmakers sent a separate tax credit proposal to the governor earlier in the day. The measure includes eliminating taxes on military pensions for individuals earning less than $125,000, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, and broadening the child tax credit.
Vermont lawmakers reconvened Monday for the final day of the legislative session, marking the culmination of a five-and-a-half-month process. At the center of Monday’s agenda was a vote on an education reform proposal that would significantly transform the way schools are funded in the state.
The bill which is headed to Gov. Phil Scott’s desk would create new school districts and implement a foundation formula starting in the 2028-2029 school year.
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Under the plan, the state would determine how much funding districts receive. According to lawmakers, approximately 20 towns would experience property tax increases, but would get more funding for local schools, while most other towns would see a decrease in property taxes.
Outside the Statehouse, educators held a rally voicing concerns over the proposal, including opposition to reducing local control and the potential impact on rural education. Kaitlin Macleod-Bluver, Vermont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, criticized the bill, saying, “It’s not what’s best for our small communities and our schools. H.454 was rushed from the beginning. When my students do rushed work, I ask them to do it again.”
Support for the bill came from Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck, R-Caledonia, who emphasized two key benefits: “One, it reduces the property tax burden on Vermonters and, two, it designs a far more efficient system where a higher percentage of the dollars actually get to the kids and provide opportunities to those kids.”
Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth also reminded lawmakers throughout their deliberations the message that was sent by voters on Election Day this past year.
Additionally, lawmakers sent a separate tax credit proposal to the governor earlier in the day. The measure includes eliminating taxes on military pensions for individuals earning less than $125,000, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, and broadening the child tax credit.
