Secretary of State details IT upgrades, voter guide and staffing needs; flags OPR deficit and federal grant uncertainty

Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanses told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 14 that her office is three-quarters of the way through major information-technology upgrades and is asking lawmakers for new funding to mail a voter guide, add licensing staff and cover other priorities.

Hanses said the office’s IT platforms are “coming in on time and on budget,” and that the Vermont Election Management System — “the most complex and most consequential” of the projects — will roll out after local clerks complete town meeting and school budget votes. She also told the committee the office reduced office-space costs by about $50,000 a year by accommodating hybrid work and is improving overhead allocation for the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR).

The administration’s supplemental requests include a $1.5 million general‑fund allotment for a mailed, ballot‑specific voter guide to every household of registered voters in general elections and additional general‑fund support this year for staff tied to mental‑health licensure and early‑childhood licensure initiatives. Hanses said the mailed voter guide would require planning in fiscal 2026 and is intended to reach voters who did not access the digital guide.

On professional licensing, the Office of Professional Regulation asked for a mental‑health executive officer to help consolidate mental‑health professions, streamline licensing pathways and speed application review. Hanses said OPR currently has three attorneys covering 53 professions and that consolidating mental‑health professions will require statutory and rules work and sustained stakeholder engagement.

Hanses described long licensing pathways for mental‑health professions and said the office would use a multi‑level approach and a six‑year “bridge license” for early‑childhood educators if a Sunrise Report bill moves forward. She said the Sunrise Report (chapter 57) concluded licensure was appropriate and recommended a phased approach so current workers who want licensure could obtain it.

The office is also seeking to increase a grant described in testimony as the VAN (public access television) grant from $1,000,000 last year to $1,350,000 this year to sustain local public‑access services as cable fee revenue declines. Hanses described that grant as a pass‑through administered by the Secretary of State’s office and said the agency does not currently place use restrictions on the funds.

Hanses warned of two funding risks: the possible end of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants, which historically covered roughly 60% of the elections division (about $1 million annually), and uncertain continued support from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which provides cybersecurity and physical‑security assistance for clerks and elections infrastructure. She said the office was working with the congressional delegation and national associations to advocate for continued federal support.

On OPR finances, Hanses said OPR runs a multi‑year deficit that she placed at about $1.2 million to $1.3 million but added the deficit has improved by roughly $600,000 since last year because the office has cut discretionary IT spending and travel. She said some licensing compact arrangements result in fees paid to other states while Vermont retains complaint and enforcement costs, which contributes to OPR’s budget pressure.

Hanses described modernization plans for the Safe at Home program (replacing paper forms and Excel spreadsheets with an IT system that will allow participants to update addresses and exchange system messages) and highlighted other supplemental asks tied to pending legislation, including licensure for doulas and early‑childhood educators. Several committee members pressed for clarity on whether OPR positions would be funded by fees or general fund; Hanses said the office is requesting general‑fund support this year but hopes fees will cover ongoing costs in future years.

The committee asked clarifying questions on duplication of public‑access recording versus online streaming and on whether the Secretary’s office imposes conditions on pass‑through grants. Hanses reiterated the office’s current role is financial administration for that grant and that administration currently does not retain funds to pay for oversight.

The Secretary’s presentation ran longer than the half hour originally scheduled and drew multiple follow‑up questions from committee members about the OPR deficit, the voter‑guide timeline and the mechanics of expanding licensure for early‑childhood educators. Hanses closed by inviting committee members to follow up with any outstanding questions.

While the presentation contained several funding requests, the transcript records no formal committee votes during this appearance.