[{"_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",[32,76],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6198812,"mediaKeyId","3842288-7eb21790937116fc459e8d5e0657968f","parentId",3842288,"title","Vermont House adopts conference report on H.454 to overhaul education governance and finance; sends bill to governor","audioSeconds",8665,"startMs",5000,"endMs",8670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842288-7eb21790937116fc459e8d5e0657968f&start=5&end=8670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842288-7eb21790937116fc459e8d5e0657968f/thumbnail_5000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6198812/Vermont/Vermont-House-adopts-conference-report-on-H454-to-overhaul-education-governance-and-finance-sends-bill-to-governor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198812-c52e7b3d8c3d220147999ce479de5f59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141360&Signature=kp2JXIko3tfQXH~QtL~3vndUOSgbFOZCa9c6EXHHkUhsDqwr2SXgZfsJsvexOJ95ZDh0W~HjW4UPdClMOZEaH3GP0IVSYuGC2Sm5AQjkkrB9hgQUl4d40iXzalMIr0hneNlQvJNrbORaNxP8ECWstAdN27PLiRPICa-M0zI3qHpcZ6E4U8-NphiZJ2ajkXuShifXBwyw-XnjrYWa-OYLcNCYKzxHehmDsuIaccc5yYOjYQ~tXbuWX0xJU5xO1mmkabMZV2Ybz52Lj5T~JEF~IdU8-udiAhkOWFREHmF0ctG6BkdSqXSw08QGKQtZm80npHuRsT437ivgad7p2bCXZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vermont Legislature","date","2025-06-16T21:12:13Z","article","The Vermont House on Monday adopted the committee of conference report for H.454, an act “relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems,” and voted 96–45 to deliver the bill to the governor.

The measure, the product of months of committee work and a committee of conference after the two chambers disagreed, maintains the foundation formula passed by the House, creates a multi‑year transition for education opportunity payments and tax rates, and includes new limits on public funding flowing to independent schools. The House initially suspended its rules to take up the conference report and later adopted the report before voting to deliver the bill to the governor by roll call.

Representative from Cornwall, the member presenting the conference report, told the chamber the bill is aimed at stabilizing funding and “assure[ing] that a Vermont child’s address does not dictate the quality of the school experience they receive.” She summarized the measure’s main pieces: preserving the scientifically based foundation formula the House created, keeping a new homestead tax exemption, creating a standalone school‑district redistricting task force, and resourcing a state commission to oversee future district design and implementation. She described compromises reached in conference, including changes to class‑size minimums, special rules for rural schools, and new limits on public tuition to independent schools.

Representative from Brattleboro, who addressed the tax and finance sections, said the bill “stabilizes and lowers property taxes in communities around the state,” and outlined multiple contingencies and studies that must occur before some provisions take effect. The bill includes a five‑year transition during which education opportunity payments and related tax rates ratchet up or down 20% a year, contingent fiscal findings, and requirements that the Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) study weights and costs for different grade levels and special education categories.

Key implementation elements described on the floor include:

- A requirement that the Agency of Education and the Joint Fiscal Office study and report on foundation weights, special education and extraordinary special education costs, and whether secondary students cost more to educate than primary students; the conference report includes a $400,000 appropriation for several of those studies and a $2,865,000 appropriation to support AOE transition staffing and contractor services. (Representative from Brattleboro)

- A provision to change the rules for approved independent schools receiving public tuition, effective July 1, 2025, so that an approved independent school must have at least 25% of enrolled students attending on public tuition during the 2024 school year and be located within specified supervisory district arrangements; students enrolled at currently approved independents that may no longer qualify would be allowed to finish out at their schools. (Representative from Cornwall)

- Adjustments to class‑size minimums and an expanded waiver process for geographically isolated schools; a rulemaking role for the State Board of Education on some sparse‑area definitions and class‑size procedures. (Representative from Cornwall)

- Creation of a school construction special fund concept and multiple references to conforming changes for implementation timing and appropriation sources; the bill clarifies that certain school construction funding would come from a general fund appropriation, but does not fully fund a statewide program within the conference report. (Representative from Cornwall)

On the floor there were both strong endorsements and sharp objections. Supporters said the bill addresses long‑standing inequities across districts, would bring increased per‑pupil resources to underfunded schools and provide predictable funding for planning. Representative from Berry City said the bill would bring more than $2,000 per pupil for some districts and called it “transformative” for students facing trauma, poverty and unstable housing.

Opponents argued the bill threatens small and rural schools, erodes local control and could lead to closures and long bus rides for students. Representative from Glover called the measure a “slow death of rural education,” warning about loss of local democracy and community harms. Several members said the conference process and the pace of final action damaged public trust; another member raised a parliamentary point of order under Mason’s rule 771‑2 saying the conference report exceeded differences between the two chambers. The Speaker found the point of order well taken and required a separate suspension of rules to permit consideration; the House agreed with that suspension 113–26 before adopting the conference report.

Procedural record of formal actions taken on H.454 in this session:

- Motion to suspend rules and take up the committee of conference report: moved by Member from Poltenay; the body suspended rules by voice and took up the conference report for immediate consideration.

- Suspension to permit consideration after point of order: roll‑call on the motion to suspend rules to permit consideration of the report passed 113 yes, 26 no.

- Adoption of the committee of conference report on H.454: adopted by the House (voice vote; chair announced that the ayes have it).

- Motion and roll‑call to deliver H.454 to the governor: moved by Member from Poltenay; roll‑call result — 96 yes, 45 no — the House ordered H.454 delivered to the governor forthwith.

The bill is complex in its timing and contingencies: multiple provisions are conditioned on future studies, rulemaking by the State Board of Education, or legislative action in subsequent years. That includes provisions about supplemental district spending, secondary education weights, special education reimbursement, a professional judgment panel to advise on base and weights, and deadlines that were moved to meet compromise positions reached in conference.

Representative from Montpelier raised the parliamentary objection that the committee of conference had inserted language beyond the differences between the chambers; the Speaker agreed the objection required a suspension of rules before the House could consider the report, prompting the 113–26 suspension vote.

What happens next: the bill is now on its way to the governor’s desk. Several members said they expect to return in future sessions to continue detailed implementation work — including mapping new districts, refining tax multipliers, and completing the JFO studies required before some provisions take full effect. Where provisions are contingent on future rulemaking or studies, local boards and the Agency of Education will be responsible for creating procedures and implementing changes that could affect district maps, tax classifications and tuition for independent schools.

The debate and the final votes demonstrate both the policy stakes and the political divisions the measure carries: strong support from members emphasizing equity and predictable funding, and strong resistance from members emphasizing rural community impacts and process concerns.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Session: 2025-06-16-5:15 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","The Vermont House on Monday adopted the committee of conference report for H.454, a sweeping education governance and finance reform package, and voted 96–45 to send the bill to the governor.","taxTitle","HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",29454,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":46,"_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":74,"_75":74},6198807,"House concurs in Senate changes to H.480; bill adds phone‑ and social‑media‑free school model policy and other education amendments",1717,10387000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842288-7eb21790937116fc459e8d5e0657968f&start=8670&end=10387","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842288-7eb21790937116fc459e8d5e0657968f/thumbnail_8670000.jpg","/articles/6198807/Vermont/House-concurs-in-Senate-changes-to-H480-bill-adds-phone-and-socialmediafree-school-model-policy-and-other-education-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198807-31ef7069f044983f32ae8cb86908df8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141360&Signature=eP4DlmKDrhjjkj~lMln8hkaREDTI6LTA6Y~tiArWcQRaVAMnU4AZwxwelDiCkZKAbhFA2PDhFe2ZMs61nUeqROGyMILAO2jc-psvVc6CimQuPS-FSG3kNyskkkFvA02IaY~0g7jemiUYiBNfuGNLnaEIymhlbbKS~8kRNvVHeBrMu~p559aH0xK7TCPPEDnBfViN2FERU42l07YAo~6e03CXwRvZtnVaKUyllNm059H4hpXf4M6PeWoFJaLRBpM4KmSauNbdLV9kQOvxvOvT3vaQ2eTZWmFGGh~SbyVWrWLoD5ICJUla~HmiBgi8OxxPR2AT1NYVm6WrObcANrvUCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont House on Monday concurred in the Senate’s amendments to H.480, a miscellaneous education bill, and ordered that measure to the governor.

The bill makes a range of statutory changes and additions affecting school safety, student supports and operations. Among the most visible provisions, the Senate added a new subchapter requiring the Agency of Education to develop a model policy for “bell‑to‑bell” cell‑phone restrictions and restricting how schools may use social media to communicate directly with students. The House accepted the Senate changes and sent the bill on to the governor.

Representative from Williston, who reported the Senate’s proposal of amendment, summarized the bill’s main elements: a one‑year delay in some behavioral threat assessment implementation deadlines originally set by last year’s school safety act (Act 29); new requirements that schools maintain cardiac response and athletic emergency plans in templates maintained by the Vermont School Safety Center; the expansion of the Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program under existing appropriations; an energy performance contracting change allowing contracts up to 20 years without voter approval; clarifications on library material selection procedures; and the social‑media and phone provisions added by the Senate.

On the phone and social‑media provisions, floor remarks and committee testimony emphasized balance between protecting students and practical implementation. The conference timeline requires the Agency of Education, in consultation with the Vermont School Boards Association, the Vermont Independent Schools Association and representatives of phone‑free advocacy groups, to develop a model policy by January 1, 2026. School boards must adopt policies at least as stringent as the model by July 1, 2026, so the rules would be effective for the 2026–27 school year. The model policy is required to permit limited exceptions: use where necessary for a student’s individual health plan, an IEP or Section 504 plan, administrator‑approved short academic or co‑curricular uses, or where required under the McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

The bill also prohibits schools and supervisory unions from using social media to communicate directly with students unless the district approves an archival, non‑editable platform that preserves records of all communications; it also prohibits districts from requiring students to use social media for out‑of‑school assignments or extracurricular activities.

Representative from Williston, a longtime teacher, told the House he reluctantly supports a statewide model policy after years of classroom experience and testimony, saying uncontrolled social media and unregulated screens constitute “a massive uncontrolled experiment on our kids.” He cited testimony from Vermont schools that already adopted bell‑to‑bell policies and reported reductions in bullying and improved school culture.

A proposed floor amendment to remove references to “personal electronic devices” (beyond cell phones) was filed and then withdrawn by its sponsors after discussion on implementation burdens for teachers and administrators. The sponsors said including every wearable or non‑phone device risked imposing enforcement duties on staff that would harm implementation.

Other notable changes included:

- A one‑year extension for identifying members of behavioral threat assessment teams and a later completion deadline for all implementation steps; the Agency of Education asked for the change. (Senate amendment to Act 29.)

- Cardiac response planning and athletic emergency action plans required to be included in school emergency plan templates, developed in consultation with the American Heart Association Vermont chapter. Public and independent schools with athletic programs must have cardiac response plans in place for the 2026–27 school year.

- Energy performance contracts for school districts may run up to 20 years without voter approval (current law requires voter approval at 10+ years).

The House voted by voice to concur in the Senate amendments; leadership then moved and the chamber ordered H.480 delivered to the governor forthwith.

What happens next: the Agency of Education must complete the model policy and convene specified stakeholders for the work; school boards are responsible for adopting and enforcing local policies at least as stringent as the state model. The bill places implementation burdens on local districts — particularly for policy development, communications archiving and exception handling — and the House record shows legislators and witnesses discussed those demands during committee hearings and floor debate.","The Vermont House concurred in the Senate’s amendments to H.480 on Monday and sent the bill to the governor; the package requires the Agency of Education to develop a model policy for bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone restrictions and restricts schools’ use of social media for direct student communications.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Vermont House adopts conference report on H.454 to overhaul education governance and finance; sends bill to governor

House concurs in Senate changes to H.480; bill adds phone‑ and social‑media‑free school model policy and other education amendments