Forest and Economic Development Committee hears cross-committee updates on housing, environment, workforce and CTE planning

The Vermont House Committee on Forest and Economic Development met Friday, March 14, 2025, and received a series of briefings from committee members about legislation and agency work underway in other House committees that could affect commerce, land use and workforce programs in Vermont.

Committee members said the Agriculture and Food Resiliency Committee is working to consolidate three land-use proposals into a single bill that would ease the process and reduce the cost of withdrawing parcels from the "current use" program to make small parcels available for affordable housing. The same committee is advancing legislation, sponsored by a member identified as John, to exempt small food producers and preparers with annual gross receipts of $30,000 or less from some oversight requirements to support local food businesses while aiming to avoid added public health risk.

Members reported two bills touching the…