House committee reviews S.127 changes to Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program, keeps 5-year option and voucher language

The House Committee on Housing on April 15 reviewed the Senate-passed S.127 and debated several substantive changes to the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program (VHIP), including whether to keep a five-year forgivable-loan option, how to treat fair-market rent and utilities, and a minimum set-aside for certain populations.

Committee chair opened the session by describing S.127 as “the senate analog to our committee housing bill,” and turned the walk-through to Cameron Wood of the Office of Legislative Council. Wood summarized the document as “the unofficial version as passed by the senate” and guided members through differences from the committee’s House bill.

At issue was the Senate’s removal of a five-year forgivable-loan option. The House bill had retained both five-year forgivable loans and ten-year forgivable loans; the Senate language removes the five-year forgivable-loan form while leaving five-year grants. Members noted the administration’s explanation that, in practice, the agency typically…