At the beginning of each legislative session, the legislative team of the League of Women Voters of Vermont sets priorities. Members receive weekly updates alerting them of bills making their way through the legislative process and encouraging them to contact their legislators to express support or concern about pending legislation. If you would like to work on any of the legislative issues listed below, please contact Kate Rader.
2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
The League of Women Voters of Vermont will have five priorities for the 2024 state legislative session.
Elections and voting remain our top priority. Other issues are Ethics, Health Care, Environment, and Basic Human Needs (Housing and Paid Family Leave). Should any new gun safety bills be filed, this will be added to our list.
ELECTIONS / VOTING
- S.32. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for presidential primary elections
Passed the Senate last year. The House Committee on Government Operations tacked the RCV bill onto another elections bill that the League and a majority of senators did not support. Nevertheless, S.32 still exists. The House could choose to take it up again or incorporate it into another elections bill.
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this issue, email Betty Keller.
ETHICS
▪ 24-0461. Creating a uniform Municipal Code of Ethics
▪ 24-0229. Executive; Governmental Ethics; State Ethics Commission; State Code of Ethics
In draft form. Contact LWVVT for updates.
HEALTH CARE
Improves access to health care by raising income eligibility limits for Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) who have difficulty paying Medicare premiums and Medicare cost sharing H.118 is incorporated into H. 721, a larger Medicaid reform bill that proposes changes in eligibility for Medicaid, mostly for Vermonters under 65.
The League is a member of the Medicare Affordability Coalition, working to pass this bill. The Coalition is collecting stories about Vermonters who would benefit from increasing access to MSPs. For more information, contact Lila Richardson.
Transfers certain duties from the Green Mountain Care Board to the Director of Health Care Reform in Agency of Human Services and modifies or eliminates other Board duties. This bill proposes changes that are controversial. The League has joined other advocates concerned about the bill and has signed onto a letter opposing S.211.
The two health care reform bills listed below were introduced by Rep. Farlice-Rubio, House Health Care Committee. The League’s new position on Privatization of Health Care is applicable to 24-0539.
- 24-0539. Prohibits for-profit entities from purchasing health care facilities in Vermont and provides authority for the State Auditor to review budgets of all entities regulated by the Green Mountain Care Board.
- 24-0540. Directs the Department of Health to develop and administer a statewide electronic medical records system, with goals of improving individual and population health outcomes, protecting patient privacy, eliminating the need for multiple interfaces, and minimizing administrative burden on health care providers.
In draft form. Contact Betty Keller for updates.
ENVIRONMENT
Due to worldwide increase in public health and environmental concerns about PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” Vermont legislators are considering 11 bills on regulating and banning these toxins from products and from discharge into our water, air, and soil | Learn More | Vermont PFAS Roadmap 2023
- S.197. Procurement and distribution of products containing perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and monitoring adverse health conditions attributed to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances
- H.152. Regulating products containing certain chemicals and chemical classes
If you are interested in this legislation, contact Marguerite Adelman.
BASIC HUMAN NEEDS
- H.66. Paid family and medical leave insurance
Passed the House last year and is currently in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. The League is a member of the Paid Leave Coalition.
HOUSING
Bills to increase affordable housing options are under development.
To track bills related to our priorities, observe agendas and written testimony for House and Senate committees, or view House and Senate sessions or Committee hearings live or recorded, visit the Vermont Legislature website. You can also track bills and learn how the Legislature works at the Vermont Digger 2024 Vermont Legislative Guide.
