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CONSERVING VERMONT'S NATURAL LANDS

On Friday March 24, the House passed H.126, a bill addressing community resiliency and biodiversity protection, with overwhelming support. This bill builds upon the important conservation work and policies in Vermont to ensure we conserve the necessary elements of our natural landscape.

Vermont biodiversity has been declining at an alarming rate in recent decades. The state continues to lose forest cover, and the remaining forest land is increasingly fragmented. This bill establishes the conservation goals of 30% conserved land by 2030 and 50% conserved land by 2050. More than 100 countries, including the United States, have signed onto these conservation initiatives.

H.126 supports Vermont’s leading work in conservation efforts and charts a path to ensure Vermont is able to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts - for both human and natural communities. Additionally, conserving an intact and connected landscape will benefit our economy in the short and long term. Open space and access to the outdoors are the foundation of our lifestyle and the Vermont brand and essential to our natural and working lands and outdoor recreation economies. Conserving these spaces will also reduce the economic impacts from climate stressors, like increased flooding and prolonged drought, and help to reverse biodiversity loss.

Next steps: The bill heads to the Senate for additional consideration.
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CONSERVING VERMONTS NATURAL LANDS

On Friday March 24, the House passed H.126, a bill addressing community resiliency and biodiversity protection, with overwhelming support. This bill builds upon the important conservation work and policies in Vermont to ensure we conserve the necessary elements of our natural landscape. 

Vermont biodiversity has been declining at an alarming rate in recent decades.  The state continues to lose forest cover, and the remaining forest land is increasingly fragmented.  This bill establishes the conservation goals of 30% conserved land by 2030 and 50% conserved land by 2050.  More than 100 countries, including the United States, have signed onto these conservation initiatives.  

H.126 supports Vermont’s leading work in conservation efforts and charts a path to ensure Vermont is able to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts - for both human and natural communities.  Additionally, conserving an intact and connected landscape will benefit our economy in the short and long term.  Open space and access to the outdoors are the foundation of our lifestyle and the Vermont brand and essential to our natural and working lands and outdoor recreation economies.  Conserving these spaces will also reduce the economic impacts from climate stressors, like increased flooding and prolonged drought, and help to reverse biodiversity loss.

Next steps:  The bill heads to the Senate for additional consideration.

HOUSE PASSES BILL TO MAKE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM PERMANENT IN VERMONT SCHOOLS

On Friday the House gave final approval to H.165, a bill to make the currently operating universal school meals program a permanent program in Vermont schools.

For the past three years, Vermont students have benefited from a universal school meals program that provides a healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch during the school day to all students. Universal school meals eliminate hunger and erase stigma in our schools by ensuring that two healthy meals are available to all hungry students. Under the old pre-pandemic program, not all food-insecure students qualified for free or reduced price school lunch because the existing federal income thresholds were too low to meet the existing need. As many as 40% of children living in food insecure households did not qualify for free school meals under the old model.

Numerous studies have confirmed the academic and health benefits of a universal school meals program. One study by the Center for Policy Research in New York City found that a universal school meals program improves performance in both math and English language arts by up to 10 weeks of learning. A University of Vermont study also found that universal school meals programs were associated with “improved readiness to learn among students overall.” Beyond academic performance, universal school meals improve students’ mental health, reduce instances of both anxiety and depression, and reduce visits to the school nurse.

The pandemic exposed the cracks in our current systems of support around food insecurity. Vermont’s universal school meals program has been up and running successfully for three years, it is effectively serving the needs of students, and school food service directors and teachers overwhelmingly support continuing it. Food for hungry students is about more than just nutrition, universal school meals also promote community building and belonging for students.

The bill now heads to the Senate for additional consideration.
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HOUSE PASSES BILL TO MAKE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM PERMANENT IN VERMONT SCHOOLS 

On Friday the House gave final approval to H.165, a bill to make the currently operating universal school meals program a permanent program in Vermont schools.  

For the past three years, Vermont students have benefited from a universal school meals program that provides a healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch during the school day to all students.  Universal school meals eliminate hunger and erase stigma in our schools by ensuring that two healthy meals are available to all hungry students.  Under the old pre-pandemic program, not all food-insecure students qualified for free or reduced price school lunch because the existing federal income thresholds were too low to meet the existing need.  As many as 40% of children living in food insecure households did not qualify for free school meals under the old model.  

Numerous studies have confirmed the academic and health benefits of a universal school meals program.  One study by the Center for Policy Research in New York City found that a universal school meals program improves performance in both math and English language arts by up to 10 weeks of learning.  A University of Vermont study also found that universal school meals programs were associated with “improved readiness to learn among students overall.”  Beyond academic performance, universal school meals improve students’ mental health, reduce instances of both anxiety and depression, and reduce visits to the school nurse.

The pandemic exposed the cracks in our current systems of support around food insecurity.  Vermont’s universal school meals program has been up and running successfully for three years, it is effectively serving the needs of students, and school food service directors and teachers overwhelmingly support continuing it.  Food for hungry students is about more than just nutrition, universal school meals also promote community building and belonging for students.  

The bill now heads to the Senate for additional consideration.

HOUSE PASSES SUICIDE PREVENTION BILL 104-42

On March 23, the House passed H.230, a suicide prevention bill. The bill approaches Vermont’s high rate of suicide as a public health crisis, and it implements several critical, data driven measures to prevent suicide by reducing access to lethal means, specifically firearms.

Vermont’s rate of suicide is 35% higher than the national average, and each year nearly 60% of suicides are completed with a firearm. It is extremely rare for someone to survive a suicide attempt in which a firearm is used, and this is why this bill focuses on this particular means of harm reduction by requiring the following:

Secure storage of firearms - the firearm must be kept separate from ammunition and in a locked container that is equipped with a tamper resistant lock or other safety device when a child or prohibited person is likely to gain access to the firearm. (There are practical exceptions for personal carry or when a firearm is kept within close proximity.)

A 72-hour waiting period for firearms transfers - transfers cannot take place until 72 hours after a licensed dealer is provided with a transfer identification number or 7 business days have passed since a background check was initiated.

This bill also expands access to the process for obtaining extreme risk protection orders to those who are in the best position – family or household members – to know if someone is a danger to themselves or others.

H.230 now moves over to the Senate for additional consideration.
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HOUSE PASSES SUICIDE PREVENTION BILL 104-42

On March 23, the House passed H.230, a suicide prevention bill. The bill approaches Vermont’s high rate of suicide as a public health crisis, and it implements several critical, data driven measures to prevent suicide by reducing access to lethal means, specifically firearms.  

Vermont’s rate of suicide is 35% higher than the national average, and each year nearly 60% of suicides are completed with a firearm.  It is extremely rare for someone to survive a suicide attempt in which a firearm is used, and this is why this bill focuses on this particular means of harm reduction by requiring the following:

Secure storage of firearms - the firearm must be kept separate from ammunition and in a locked container that is equipped with a tamper resistant lock or other safety device when a child or prohibited person is likely to gain access to the firearm.  (There are practical exceptions for personal carry or when a firearm is kept within close proximity.) 

A 72-hour waiting period for firearms transfers - transfers cannot take place until 72 hours after a licensed dealer is provided with a transfer identification number or 7 business days have passed since a background check was initiated. 

This bill also expands access to the process for obtaining extreme risk protection orders to those who are in the best position – family or household members – to know if someone is a danger to themselves or others.

H.230 now moves over to the Senate for additional consideration.

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It’s a start…thank you!!

Its Tourism Day at the State House! So great to see my longtime friend and Arlington constituent Margot Page here in Montpelier, repping the Vermont Lodging Association!

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Fantastic!!!!

BENNINGTON COUNTY BUSINESSES: REGISTER TODAY FOR THE NORTHSHIRE CAREER EXPO AT BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY ON APRIL 10!

More than 70 local employers attended last year's pilot program. After surveying attendees, we're improving the 2023 event in several key ways:

1. All BBA students in grades 9–11 will be required to attend, and will come prepared to engage with you! The event is optional for seniors.

2. The first 2.5 hours (11 am to 1:30 pm) will be a career expo — a chance for you to inform interested students about your field, the career pathways it offers, and what training, credentials or postsecondary education they need to prepare. The final hour (1:30 to 2:30 pm) will be a job fair, focused on summer employment and opportunities for seniors who are entering the workforce after graduation.

Like last year, we're inviting leading Bennington County employers, post-secondary institutions and economic development organizations to join the event as table presenters. We hope you'll send a rep to share information about your company or organization and the career opportunities you offer to the next generation of Vermont's workforce! (This year's event is focused solely on career pathways and employment for students; adult job-seekers are not invited this time around.)

Please register today, and reach out with any questions. We'll be in touch in the coming weeks with more details for registered attendees. Hope to see you there!

REGISTER TODAY:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/…
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BENNINGTON COUNTY BUSINESSES: REGISTER TODAY FOR THE NORTHSHIRE CAREER EXPO AT BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY ON APRIL 10! 

More than 70 local employers attended last years pilot program. After surveying attendees, were improving the 2023 event in several key ways:

1. All BBA students in grades 9–11 will be required to attend, and will come prepared to engage with you! The event is optional for seniors.

2. The first 2.5 hours (11 am to 1:30 pm) will be a career expo — a chance for you to inform interested students about your field, the career pathways it offers, and what training, credentials or postsecondary education they need to prepare. The final hour (1:30 to 2:30 pm) will be a job fair, focused on summer employment and opportunities for seniors who are entering the workforce after graduation.
 
Like last year, were inviting leading Bennington County employers, post-secondary institutions and economic development organizations to join the event as table presenters. We hope youll send a rep to share information about your company or organization and the career opportunities you offer to the next generation of Vermonts workforce! (This years event is focused solely on career pathways and employment for students; adult job-seekers are not invited this time around.)

Please register today, and reach out with any questions. Well be in touch in the coming weeks with more details for registered attendees. Hope to see you there!

REGISTER TODAY:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmO8pdEKFNYd7otc2F28QDVj-u3l84XmcPTWNoFRXS39Ou7A/viewform

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Glad to see that this happened.

READ MY LATEST NEWSLETTER:

Town meeting report, independent schools update, high-speed internet coming to our towns in 2023, adjusting the FY23 budget, managing household hazardous waste, guide to civics and democracy in Vermont, and check your eligibility on our regions broadband rollout list! Click here to read: 

https://mailchi.mp/leg.state.vt.us/tmr-broadband-early-march

HANDLING HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUSE WASTE: H67

On March 2, the House passed H.67 and moved it to the Senate consideration. What's this bill and why does it matter?

For years, Vermont consumers have been footing the bill for the management and disposal of household hazardous waste (HHW) through taxes and disposal charges. These products — like furniture strippers, paint thinners, glues, adhesives, kerosene, car wax, pool and hot tub chemicals and other items under your kitchen sink and in your garage — have cost us $2.2 million over the last year to dispose of properly.

On top of that, not all of these toxic, dangerous, poisonous, reactive, corrosive, and flammable materials actually make it to our solid waste facilities. The last waste composition study showed that 855 tons of HHW went to the landfill.

H.67 is similar to other “Extended Producer Responsibility” programs (for batteries, electronic waste, mercury thermostats and lights). Manufacturers of these products work within a stewardship organization to plan and fund the proper disposal of this waste.

With this bill, homeowners will still bring household hazardous waste to collection events or their local solid waste management facility. But we will also see these benefits:

- An improvement in diverting HHW from landfills through public outreach and education requirements and performance goals;

- A reduction in financial costs on solid waste management districts and Vermont homeowners;

- A lessening of environmental and public health risks; and

- A placing of the burden of household hazardous waste management with the manufacturers.

Stay tuned as this bill moves through the Senate!
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HANDLING HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUSE WASTE: H67

On March 2, the House passed H.67 and moved it to the Senate consideration. Whats this bill and why does it matter?

For years, Vermont consumers have been footing the bill for the management and disposal of household hazardous waste (HHW) through taxes and disposal charges. These products — like furniture strippers, paint thinners, glues, adhesives, kerosene, car wax, pool and hot tub chemicals and other items under your kitchen sink and in your garage — have cost us $2.2 million over the last year to dispose of properly. 

On top of that, not all of these toxic, dangerous, poisonous, reactive, corrosive, and flammable materials actually make it to our solid waste facilities. The last waste composition study showed that 855 tons of HHW went to the landfill. 

H.67 is similar to other “Extended Producer Responsibility” programs (for batteries, electronic waste, mercury thermostats and lights). Manufacturers of these products work within a stewardship organization to plan and fund the proper disposal of this waste. 

With this bill, homeowners will still bring household hazardous waste to collection events or their local solid waste management facility. But we will also see these benefits: 
 
- An improvement in diverting HHW from landfills through public outreach and education requirements and performance goals;

- A reduction in financial costs on solid waste management districts and Vermont homeowners;

- A lessening of environmental and public health risks; and

- A placing of the burden of household hazardous waste management with the manufacturers. 

Stay tuned as this bill moves through the Senate!
What a great day at BBA with Rep. Mike Rice! Talked about universal school meals and tax policy with a very engaged group of students in Jillian Joyces CP World and American History class and then attended assembly, where it was WONDERFUL to watch my friend Manny Matarese, a BBS grad who now works as a BBA paraeducator, accept the RISE (Respect. Integrity, Service, Excellence) award ... chosen by by students and faculty!

We also met with headmaster and assistant head Mark Tashjian and Meg Kenny to provide a legislative update on a critical issue ... the future of our longstanding town tuitioning program. A bill under consideration by the House Education committee offers a balanced path forward, and all of our regions state reps — me, Mike Rice, Seth Bongartz and Kelly Pajala — are working hard to be sure our communitys voices are heard. Stay tuned. 

Mike Rice for State Representative Burr and Burton AcademyImage attachmentImage attachment
Manchester Town Meeting underway at MEMS. Our first in-person meeting since the pandemic and turnout is good!Image attachmentImage attachment

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The way I see it, 91 residents made decisions about our town & our taxes in a town of approximately 4,000. I know I had the right to attend but I don’t have a minimum of 4 hours on a Saturday to devote to this. My business would suffer if I were to attend. 😟

Where was this meeting announced? I must have missed a mailing now that they don't send out the report to houses anymore 🙁

I thought the roads were bad…?

Town Meeting Week: And so it begins! Great constituent coffee hour this morning — with me, Seth and Rep. Dave Durfee — at Bonnie and Clyde’s Corner Market with spirited conversations on housing, water and sewer infrastructure, the Affordable Heat Act, and the spraying of Vermont lakes. Thanks to Bonnie Curtis and Kylie Allen for hosting us, and to local folks for showing up! Over the next few days, well attending town meeting in all four towns we represent, plus a bunch of other meetings. Great to be home from Montpelier!

Jessica Twardy Roberts Michael Hayes Tammy WCImage attachment

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Sorry I missed this meeting. Thanks to both you and Seth for stopping by the Arlington Town Meeting. I was online, otherwise I would have said, Hi. I need to find the schedule for the coffee meetings so that I can get to the next one.

Thanks to the Chamber of Southwestern Vermont and local business leaders for hosting this mid-session breakfast! A great chance for our legislative delegation to provide updates from the statehouse and take questions, too. Appreciate the invitation and the opportunity. As always, great coverage by Greater Northshire Access Television. 

https://gnat-tv.org/the-news-project-legislative-update-at-chamber-breakfast/

Comment on Facebook

Where is the coffee hour in East Arlington, March 4