House Appropriations Committee proposes reallocating $14 million for housing, courts and cold-weather aid

The House Appropriations Committee met Jan. 30, 2025, and the committee’s presenter, Robin (Committee member), outlined a proposal to reallocate roughly $14,000,000 that had previously been planned to revert to the state treasurer. Robin said the committee would not decide the matter that day and planned to hear from the treasurer later in the afternoon.

The proposal would eliminate planned reversions to the judiciary — two items Robin identified as roughly $800,000 and $50,000 for courthouse infrastructure and accessibility — and direct funds to a small set of priorities: a judiciary wiring and accessibility upgrade, a $1,900,000 extension of a cold‑weather general assistance program through June 30, and about $2,800,000 to housing programs tied to a three‑house demonstration pilot and regular pipeline support for housing organizations. Robin summarized the math as coming to about $14,050,000 with approximately $140,000 remaining unallocated.

Why it matters: committee members said the reallocation would directly affect housing projects that are in development, courthouse facility work and temporarily extend help for households affected by winter housing policy changes. Robin said the reallocation would allow some housing projects in the pipeline to move forward before the next fiscal‑year appropriation.

Details of the plan and committee discussion

- Judiciary: Robin described two reversions that the proposal would neutralize — an approximately $800,000 line for wiring upgrades across courthouses (moving to Category 6 cabling and related materials) and an approximately $50,000 line for a handicap‑accessible bathroom. Committee members discussed whether wiring had been included in prior network upgrades and whether additional allocation would be needed.

- Cold‑weather program: The presenter said the committee would consider $1,900,000 to extend the General Assistance cold‑weather housing program through June 30. A committee member noted the legislature and governor had already agreed to end winter rules on April 1 but extend assistance for another quarter and said colleagues raised concerns about the policy and fiscal effects.

- Housing pipeline and pilots: Robin said roughly $2,800,000 would be routed through VHCB/BHCB (as described in the meeting record) to complete a three‑unit demonstration pilot (referred to in the transcript as ACQUA 186) for individuals with disabilities and to support ongoing VHCB pipeline work. Committee members asked about operating and service funding; Robin said Champlain Housing Trust would operate one of the demonstration buildings and that Medicaid and agency support (referred to in the discussion as provided through Dale/the designated agencies) would cover some service costs, while residents also pay a share.

- Existing housing funds and pipeline: Robin reported that the housing entity referenced as EHC had about $13,000,000 on hand and a pipeline of 13 projects totaling roughly $40,000,000; combining the current cash with the proposed reallocation would cover an estimated portion of that pipeline, allowing additional projects to move forward before the FY26 budget appropriation.

Process and next steps

Robin stated she would not seek a committee vote that day; the treasurer was scheduled to appear by Zoom at 3 p.m. to discuss the availability and timing of the funds. Committee staff (Grady/Grama and Emily were named) were preparing bill language related to other items and had circulated technical amendments from the Agency of Human Services for language covering a separate $10,000,000 matter; committee members indicated that language would close out once finalized.

No formal motions or votes on the $14 million proposal were taken during the portion of the meeting in the transcript; members discussed clarifying questions and signaled the matter or a variation of it could appear as an item for a vote at the committee’s next session.

Quotes from the meeting

- "I am going to present a proposal. It's not something we haven't decided on today, but I'm gonna present a proposal that $14,000,000 that's been hanging out that I've said that we're not gonna close it yet," Robin (Committee member) said as she opened the discussion.

- "They have 13 projects in the pipeline totaling about $40,000,000," Robin said when describing the housing entity's pipeline and current cash on hand.

Ending

The committee paused the discussion to hear the treasurer and to receive finalized language from staff and the Agency of Human Services. Members indicated they expected to return to the item and that a vote or a modified proposal could be scheduled at a subsequent meeting. No final appropriation or binding decision was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.