[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6243745,"mediaKeyId","3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1","parentId",3237771,"title","Conferees approve study of ultra‑low‑volume vehicles; seek flexible approaches to emissions requirements","audioSeconds",130,"startMs",3636000,"endMs",3766000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1&start=3636&end=3766","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1/thumbnail_3636000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6243745/Vermont/Conferees-approve-study-of-ultralowvolume-vehicles-seek-flexible-approaches-to-emissions-requirements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243745-f155f4300452bb503414e25a033d1617/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191536&Signature=o5cN8HvQMRA9l~aO9BtvFI1lXfNfAt7ZJmv4Aj3K9VDo8qdER~cwbBb9xrg1EOdd1xqaW~ERK2IU-ORwN8iFt0bPrTXN5RTBmcgzdurwBBEznvxnEgNCu9LsSMiinVd22lSTjigfmNwmTBelf0uBvtawd1N91lWjrNVk57z5Ze-0dwa7NP8OEnxXFXgvsgYhLBkOwI2CYKG4qy8x0CpSkX8Yfv~xy5gKFU0Se6Su2taET-8M9XKvg4ow-ORRis0TqN4vikC-Bq0JknwbijA2C92fznB4rWnvs1SQ2YNPfSwATnGsqp-kZ5~pfX4-Gpq9WAptF-mXUQfjQJ2JxAFP6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-08T14:04:51Z","article","Conferees agreed to language directing review of regulatory approaches for ultra‑low‑volume vehicles (ULVs) and to clarify the scope of that review so it covers waivers and other methods states use to address motor‑vehicle emission requirements for such vehicles.

Members noted a Vermont company building small, specialized vehicles and said the study should be flexible enough to examine waivers, alternative compliance paths and other regulatory approaches used in other states. Conferees amended the draft language to ask AOT to examine “how other states address motor vehicle emissions requirements” for ULVs rather than only examining potential waivers.

Outcome: conferees accepted the revised language and asked counsel to incorporate the suggested clarification. Conferees said the change would allow a broader set of options for regulating ULVs while preserving state air‑quality and motor‑vehicle standards.

Next steps: counsel will update the bill text and conferees will review the revised language in a subsequent meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of Conference H 488 2025 05 07 10 00AM","oneSentenceSummary","Conferees agreed to language that would direct study of how other states regulate ultra‑low‑volume vehicles and consider broader approaches to emissions requirements rather than only waivers.","taxTitle","Transportation, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35155,"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},6243750,"Conferees debate replacing 10(g) reports with a transportation dashboard; some members want both",346,290000,636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1&start=290&end=636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1/thumbnail_290000.jpg","/articles/6243750/Vermont/Conferees-debate-replacing-10g-reports-with-a-transportation-dashboard-some-members-want-both","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243750-214dfdc5b621a3162571e479f2d595a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191536&Signature=WbbIUGixbXfjfdKa5FVccCyZfgYjQHGaS2A6YE4rC6U-rzdqe9hBLG~ziqr~aBFdlG1gj9IceAApVFJ762WIU2iMFSFU0CuLZV6OZw-tktoGOwfKFHb5sNZKg7BNwexyy01KUdc-3lftECyi1I9y435m7qYJ-woAOhUmyAD7XBJ9lY4T2lci8eIU~r-zlyWnvtm0IEwrpr27ite8536v6uTOWezI2VJbR7DRZcrar0~1YjyapN9uRlw2PzDX8jx-Kc43Phaqk2KMrWLExY-8Rpn7PeGon8vZZCGp7JN9NddHQAhVf0j54tWhLerxDNsIo~tJd0qIENsk-3zvjqfS7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate and House conferees discussed sections that would create a dashboard for transportation project tracking and repeal the existing statutory 10(g) reports.

Proponents said a dashboard could provide project‑by‑project detail and be more accessible than the 10(g) format. Opponents — including members who rely on the 10(g) reports to track district projects — cautioned that asking AOT to produce both a dashboard and statutory 10(g) reports would be more work than the agency can reasonably absorb. Several conferees recommended keeping the 10(g) reporting requirement or, at minimum, ensuring the dashboard supplies the same level of detail.

Conferees agreed to leave the provision open for further negotiation; some suggested combining dashboard and 10(g) requirements or phasing changes to preserve the informational value of the 10(g) reports while piloting a dashboard.

Next steps: conferees will refine the language to ensure the legislature’s information needs are met without imposing unreasonable ongoing workload on AOT.","Conferees discussed language to create a project dashboard and repeal existing 10(g) reports; members expressed value in the 10(g) reports and urged keeping or complementing them with a dashboard.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6243755,"Conferees back $600,000 for volunteer driver recruitment, call for working group on nonemergency Medicaid transport",464,3104000,3568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1&start=3104&end=3568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1/thumbnail_3104000.jpg","/articles/6243755/Vermont/Conferees-back-600000-for-volunteer-driver-recruitment-call-for-working-group-on-nonemergency-Medicaid-transport","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243755-5fc67b9d8abce5e6550e0fb33b21add1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191536&Signature=WWE-g99lHOhaz4nopHjzssCKZKpDTHB0aE-A1i8m~J2M9n4qwd7sa173GrulLOmfxQXvfxULB4MRMAJUx4J6wtVmV3arh-6tBkx6cuTVw8NIISoZExsiAW4KynxRwCzbF5dZFdhHnZilXXlT66t-yRi5zng8H3QMgPz91Uw-25XCWX28opnjaXYEgvzj~HgKEZumLs3dc2Mal9eWhhqnWnhysvvbHFoHvlUqkO~1Tfq7bXGT-xyXxTLMgzxQY6qmFKQy698CSRZt6Z4V~LUGMPSldMUOVdfjBkHPXq4VpIAZtWfpuh0q7NlD1XzV2IJXEOYf8mx1WMu8GkBqqQS-ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Conferees on the transportation bill approved a five‑part approach to strengthen demand‑response transportation: $600,000 in one‑time transportation funds for grants to hire coordinators to recruit and retain volunteer drivers; reports from the Agency of Transportation and the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) on Medicaid nonemergency transportation; a review of background‑check barriers; publicity and outreach through DMV; and a working group convened by the AOT secretary, in consultation with DVHA, to improve coordination between health care and transportation services.

Conferees emphasized that volunteer drivers are critical in rural areas and that participation dropped during the pandemic. One conferee said there were about 300 volunteer drivers statewide in early 2019, that number fell sharply during COVID and has only partially recovered. Conferees said the current contract for NEMT is in its final year and that program rebids and Medicaid enrollment changes could affect operational arrangements.

Discussion highlighted friction between public transit agencies, AOT and DVHA around background checks, advertising, and operational coordination. Conferees said the statute language is intended to get the parties to the table and that the package is an attempt to start practical improvements rather than immediate system overhaul.

Outcome: conferees approved the funding proposal and directed the AOT and DVHA reporting and the convening of a working group to pursue operational solutions, including whether some costs can be covered through Medicaid in communities with substantial Medicaid populations.

Next steps: AOT and DVHA will produce the directed reports, stakeholders will be invited to the working group, and conferees said they expect the issues to require ongoing attention beyond the current session.","Conferees included $600,000 in one‑time funds for grants to recruit and retain volunteer drivers for demand‑response transportation and directed multiple reports and a working group to improve coordination between public transit, AOT and Medicaid nonemergency transportation (NEMT).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6243760,"Conferees back study to assess municipal road conditions and prioritize state funding",608,1102000,1710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1&start=1102&end=1710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1/thumbnail_1102000.jpg","/articles/6243760/Vermont/Conferees-back-study-to-assess-municipal-road-conditions-and-prioritize-state-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243760-38ac7bd02addad3207bfc27e4e8ec4ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191536&Signature=dGKOREKG3ECSqw28z8ZifRPOpSP31VCZ3jwY5IaavBw3rUMg9QYKKo0UsXOW~TF7JK~rnOkCiKCtQEWSaDJ8OUASUmul33jPcTAsNnoGdw8vEfRSmYFF3A3dnuHEY74CQVqwqGIgLykd6C8eRMPDtutqOjBJK564cVq0DMagyQtS-vr~AS2wqKg9NVnWKCod19ZvH0LRT8W5emKhU1QDytL3B9aepdkZ5SAAQLQFcA2urJfPPKT9f1bZH7fOO0tPlGI8hVdQ3mYUe4KrJv3H9B~vs29h~egVDkXIj2sIo8OuxkOXGPb83wvxVpDhaUTAXKR7PiG7qmw4ydzynz3vzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate and House conferees on the transportation bill agreed to language directing the Agency of Transportation (AOT), working with the Vermont League and regional planners and a consultant, to review municipal practices for planning, maintenance and upgrades, and to develop a framework to assess municipal transport network condition and prioritize state funding.

The proposal would produce a two‑year report outlining a system to assess local road conditions and a prioritization process to guide state-directed repair and maintenance funding. Conferees said the objective is to base funding decisions on measurable need rather than anecdote.

Discussion focused on practical capacity and equity. Several members noted small towns lack staff and technical capacity; conferees explicitly said the language is intended to require state‑level data collection and facilitation rather than force towns to create new departments. Examples cited during discussion included structural grants that can take three to five years to fund and the priority impact when a state route closure diverts traffic onto smaller town roads. One conferee described a small town with under 700 residents facing an $800,000 culvert replacement this year as an example of local fiscal strain.

Conferees said technology — including drones, sensors and other remote inspection tools — may reduce cost and improve data collection over time, but they emphasized the need to keep funds directed at road work rather than administrative overhead.

Outcome: conferees agreed to require AOT, in consultation with the League and regional planners and with consultant assistance, to develop the two‑year assessment and prioritization framework. They flagged potential cost and implementation questions, and said the requirement could be revisited as data collection begins.

Next steps: the conferees intend to monitor the consultant’s scope and costs, emphasize state‑led data collection and explore technology options to limit demands on small municipalities.","Senate and House conferees agreed to require the Agency of Transportation, in consultation with municipal and regional planners and a consultant, to develop a framework for assessing municipal transportation assets and prioritizing state funding; conferees discussed capacity and cost concerns.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6243764,"Conferees advance mileage-based user fee language, leave broader coverage undecided",354,1826000,2180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1&start=1826&end=2180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237771-456c9c4907e03123e19ef5928e37d8e1/thumbnail_1826000.jpg","/articles/6243764/Vermont/Conferees-advance-mileage-based-user-fee-language-leave-broader-coverage-undecided","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243764-7f5426e8eea96a9d6e68ad35347ab65c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191536&Signature=Bu9xfuDeulwfs-F3ZrQVrg6YET85glS328ucamiBdjFKOcWBjznNH8iXmtZBzu5Du5g1q96qyo7AWtl5oqRCRrb-nyOWqxLGutb5nJ3cJ7xtNGU86Phq1mPGyVzLe8UP05qmYKi7zNECrWRVGAaNWboPCpZ9rus9kFgQ3DmUhBkP0GMQt0KpOxAYURtXkmwGuLArpOTYgw10UcicowYOG~cvyPthFCPhinZQz8H-ntFCKNd~7I6-ECOXyhS~5bOMsdhZkiFwaCp2mSWyiqhrchyIfzuIKH0ajImHGYDFMWAoJtsYEHg4YYLIFfaOlA~WkJFGdbMtpz9tihpkPxyb7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate and House conferees on the transportation bill moved forward on the section governing a mileage-based user fee (MBUF), agreeing to the senate’s later default implementation date and several technical changes while postponing debate on broader coverage and intent language.

The MBUF discussion matters because it is a proposed replacement for declining gas-tax revenue streams and could change how drivers — including electric vehicle owners — are charged for use of Vermont roads.

Conferees said the principal differences involved timing and the base for setting the fee. The House version set a target implementation date of July 1, 2026; the Senate text used an “on or before Jan. 1, 2027” date. The Senate language also substituted “fuel tax” for “gas tax” to include diesel, and added that the MBUF would not be collected until the General Assembly enacts and makes effective implementing legislation that establishes the fee and any necessary authorization language. The two sides also differed on whether the fee should approximate combined state and federal gas-tax revenue (House language) or roughly the average amount collected by the state alone (Senate language). The Senate added intent language describing the MBUF as “an interim step” toward expanding the fee to all motor vehicles.

Members expressed policy and equity concerns during the discussion. Some conferees warned that charging EV drivers alone could be unfair while the MBUF remains limited to a subset of vehicles; others said delaying action reduces transportation revenues, which they estimated are falling by “$2 million to $3 million” and could grow to roughly $7 million annually when fully implemented. Conferees also flagged practical problems: capturing mileage from out‑of‑state plug‑in vehicles and the potential political framing of per‑mile charges as limiting mobility.

Michelle Bloomhower, representing the Vermont Agency of Transportation, said a pending federal proposal could affect state plans: “it looks like yesterday, they settled on a fee of $250 for all electric vehicles and a hundred dollars for plug in hybrids,” and federal reconciliation language could provide up to $2 million per state to set up collection systems, funds that Vermont might use to support state implementation.

Outcome: conferees indicated agreement to move forward with the senate version of the implementation timing and other technical edits for the section identified as 18 (senate) / 11 (house), while leaving the related section (19 in the senate / 12 in the house), which includes some coverage and intent language, on hold for further work.

Next steps: conferees said they will continue to reconcile the remaining language in follow‑up meetings and monitor federal developments that could provide funding or influence design choices.","Senate and House conferees on the transportation bill agreed to advance a mileage-based user fee provision with a later implementation date in the senate text, while leaving related coverage and intent language — including expansion to all vehicles — unresolved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Conferees approve study of ultra‑low‑volume vehicles; seek flexible approaches to emissions requirements

Conferees debate replacing 10(g) reports with a transportation dashboard; some members want both

Conferees back $600,000 for volunteer driver recruitment, call for working group on nonemergency Medicaid transport

Conferees back study to assess municipal road conditions and prioritize state funding

Conferees advance mileage-based user fee language, leave broader coverage undecided