On Wednesday, January 8th, the Vermont Legislature began its 2025-2026 biennium, starting a new legislative session marked with significantly changed power dynamics. In addition to overall turnover (51 of the House’s 150 representative are first-year legislators; 18 of 30 senators are freshman or sophomores), the loss of a Democratic supermajority levels the playing field between Democrats and Republicans and the Legislature and Governor.
These new and returning legislators are faced with a daunting to-do list that includes issues such as school funding, housing affordability, cost-of-living, and healthcare costs and accessibility.
VtPHA is excited to announce that we will be bringing our members and supporters along for a ride into the 2025-2026 legislative maelstrom. With the support of University of Vermont’s Legislative Intern Program, VtPHA will provide legislative tracking and updates for this session’s public-health related bills. Sarah Kelleher (UVM ’25) is working closely with the Legislature’s Public Health Caucus and VtPHA to monitor and report on all bills of interest to the public health community. We will be sharing updates biweekly and as necessary for more time-sensitive issues.
Follow this link for an updated list of public health-related bills that have been introduced so far this session. If you are aware of any bills that you feel we’ve missed, let us know at [email protected]. And if you are looking for ways to follow legislative action more directly, bookmark the following pages:
This biennium promises to be consequential for so many issues at the heart of what supports the health and wellbeing of Vermonters. Consider becoming a member of VtPHA so that, together, we can continue this important work in Montpelier.
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