Conference committee leaves SSI/SSDI license‑fee change open while exploring funding and timing

Negotiators discussed a House‑Senate difference over license‑fee reductions for individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The Senate had proposed reduced license fees for those benefit recipients; the House removed that reduction from its draft.

Committee members noted the fiscal impact: staff estimated a $309,000 cost if the fee reduction were implemented in the current fiscal cycle. One member suggested moving the effective date out by a year to spread or mitigate the hit; counsel said the change could be drafted but that conference negotiators had a stated goal of protecting transportation funds from offsets.

Members indicated support for the policy objective of helping low‑income or disabled Vermonters but questioned whether transportation funding should absorb the cost. The item was left open in the conference draft for further discussion; members said they would bring the issue to their floor and consider alternative funding sources or an adjusted effective date rather than adopting the fee cuts immediately.