[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6241543,"mediaKeyId","3255530-c7dc9bbd57150144b9b687e810e4099d","parentId",3255530,"title","Senate committee backs bill to formalize ‘Vermonters Feeding Vermonters’ grant program to support local food distribution","audioSeconds",381,"startMs",531000,"endMs",912000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255530-c7dc9bbd57150144b9b687e810e4099d&start=531&end=912","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255530-c7dc9bbd57150144b9b687e810e4099d/thumbnail_531000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241543/Vermont/Senate-committee-backs-bill-to-formalize-Vermonters-Feeding-Vermonters-grant-program-to-support-local-food-distribution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241543-f4066ec1757ef45d7d3195b3c245c5a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776239930&Signature=AzzrQ0YHTEANUqLn5pvTGoGOta~q87MaQI9rBS9Cc23LwiMYgPXk2OfQLwHmztlJTuz5iPzsHkctOOPxPVsAvVZnBesV9EtvKGSjDMPxZ39vpqLGhN7iGhRY4GJOCJ9MRqg86Oa06yGHp3j5zl2AcMuuAqTeyIWedp1EPrOrDWSwDWHVPSquoPY6FqBv7ZlvdVHpAMV85ktjDG7lTc9xNalexbwd2BkjxyYvwfC5rmaTgsAv-yyGX~jah5RNtMMaCKD7zUjAVERscBfCVRxOPSdIZ9nAcxokCs-X2MNHpHGcym98aNjKWCJbOiWMpWiiQ~dzgpjZ5~2Ic5YJR9BD6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-09T17:51:42Z","article","The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to act favorably on H.167 on May 9, a bill that would establish a recurring Vermonters Feeding Vermonters grant program in the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and authorize subgrants through the Vermont Food Bank to local food suppliers and distribution partners.

James Duffy of the Joint Fiscal Office explained that the bill “establishes a new grant program within the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets. This would be the Vermonters Feeding Vermonters grant program,” and that the measure is intended to “regularize, routinize” funding that in past years has often been handled as a direct legislative appropriation to the Vermont Food Bank.

Duffy said the House originally included a recurring $2 million appropriation for the program, but that recurring language was removed in House Appropriations and implementation was made contingent on an FY‑26 appropriation. “There is a $500,000 appropriation in the one‑times to AAFM in the FY '26 budget,” he said, and he added his understanding is the committee of conference budget includes that $500,000 as well.

Amy Schaltenberger, representing the Vermont Food Bank, told the committee the Food Bank has operated this model for years and the bill would create a formal partnership with the Agency of Agriculture. “The money is allocated through the agency to the Food Bank, and they use it for two things, primarily,” she said: contracting with Vermont growers to purchase mostly produce for distribution through food shelves, and providing small grants to network partners so very small food shelves can purchase or receive local produce.

The bill explicitly authorizes the Food Bank to make subgrants to distribution partners and places primary reporting responsibility on the Food Bank rather than imposing additional reporting duties on agency staff. Committee members asked whether the subgrantees currently receive budget money; testimony in the hearing did not provide a definitive, itemized list of current subgrantees or past funding recipients.

The committee recorded a 4‑0‑3 roll and moved H.167 favorably. Committee discussion noted that the funding the bill would rely on appears in the FY‑26 budget as a one‑time appropriation, and that any recurring appropriation beyond FY‑26 would be subject to future legislative action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations – 2025-05-09 – 1:30PM","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted to report favorably on H.167, which would create a recurring grant program in the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to fund the Vermont Food Bank’s purchases from local growers and subgrants to distribution partners; implementation is contingent on appropriations in the FY‑26 budget.","taxTitle","Appropriations, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",36948,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6241548,"Senate committee advances bill creating impaired‑driving task force and tightening warrant‑based blood draws",258,16000,274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255530-c7dc9bbd57150144b9b687e810e4099d&start=16&end=274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255530-c7dc9bbd57150144b9b687e810e4099d/thumbnail_16000.jpg","/articles/6241548/Vermont/Senate-committee-advances-bill-creating-impaireddriving-task-force-and-tightening-warrantbased-blood-draws","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241548-e3af2959acf98652e7fca0b5e23c152d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776239930&Signature=W5qXJS0iNM0rwpWg3gKZs3CsEhsYWpIYB8nrU9WFNRVtxoy5TffXV-WE4JXBg7GAIZoZowuDsVvEYbD-ssV1iJy~1oq7q2NdiFqPypkxh4qJXTp0~T~OSFGqlUNuq5em2gXhyyDV1vUuy~4Cpdxh14GfRbog2~oYL1hnNk40ez2TFDX82Ha5tjgpdJ3uoqb1moCQD4MFFf0v3iaZbZ4E7Tde5OppDU~MQsNyrcEkSz7A3V76q0kVCTglfqav649JtMI7sx6bawlwTnR6CD8lmrDIeMv0NuG9Xz9yMS9WKgQwHsD2Ax7z9QLqmf2xghEnZNanODjbC8ZxCM7ZEHI19Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to act favorably on H.44 on May 9, advancing a bill that creates an impaired‑driving task force and requires submission to warrant‑based blood draws when a warrant is issued.

The bill, described by Ben Novogrossi of the Office of Legislative Council as “inaccurately miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing impaired driving,” makes mostly technical changes and establishes a seven‑member impaired driving process and task force charged with recommending ways to reduce the duration of roadside holds and the paperwork burden on law enforcement.

Novogrossi said the bill also “adds a mandate to submit to the blood draw when there’s a warrant, and then, a criminal refusal penalty is created if they can knowingly hinder the law enforcement’s ... execution of that warrant.” He said the task force will examine constitutional and statutory limitations related to implied consent, methods to minimize roadside detention while remaining constitutionally compliant, and other issues it deems appropriate. The group must convene its first meeting by Aug. 1 and may meet up to six times; it must file a report with the House and Senate judiciary committees by Nov. 15.

James Duffy of the Joint Fiscal Office told the committee the fiscal impact tied to the bill is limited to the study group’s expenses. “JFO estimates it would probably be about $3,500 to $4,000 cost to cost all study commission members,” he said, and characterized that amount as de minimis relative to the Department of Public Safety budget.

Committee discussion focused on the difference between roadside implied‑consent tests (which can be refused) and warrant‑required blood draws (a more invasive procedure that requires judicial authorization). Novogrossi noted practical medical‑practice considerations: even with a warrant, a health care provider may seek consent before drawing blood. The bill also provides that members not otherwise entitled to reimbursement may receive compensation under the applicable statute.

The committee recorded a roll call of 4‑0‑3 and moved the bill forward favorably. The committee did not take additional policy amendments during the proceeding.

The task force created by H.44 will include designees from the chief judge of the superior court, the defender general, the commissioner of public safety and the commissioner of motor vehicles; the executive director of the Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs (or designee); the president of the Vermont Sheriffs’ Association (or designee); and a representative from the Vermont Police Association (or designee).","The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to act favorably on H.44, which creates an impaired‑driving process task force, adds a mandate to submit to warrant‑based blood draws and establishes a criminal refusal penalty for obstructing execution of those warrants.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee backs bill to formalize ‘Vermonters Feeding Vermonters’ grant program to support local food distribution

Senate committee advances bill creating impaired‑driving task force and tightening warrant‑based blood draws