Vermont State Youth Council urges repeal or long extension of Act 109 sunset; committee signals support

Members of the Vermont State Youth Council and their advocates told the Senate Government Operations Committee on Thursday, Jan. 30, that the panel should repeal or extend the statutory sunset for Act 109, the law that created the council, which now expires Feb. 1, 2026. The council asked that the sunset be repealed or extended to Oct. 1, 2032, and committee members signaled bipartisan support and a plan to pursue legislative action.

Nicole Miller, executive director of Vermont After School, said the council is supported administratively by her organization and reminded the committee that Act 109 currently sets the council to sunset on Feb. 1, 2026. "The state youth council is here today to speak about their current sunset, which is set, in Act 109 as February 1, 2026," Miller said. She and council members asked the committee to consider a longer timeline so youth can focus on making recommendations rather than frequently advocating to keep the council in existence.

Harmony Beldevo, chair of the Vermont State Youth Council, described the council’s structure and recent work. "The council is currently composed of 26 youth," Beldevo said, and it operates five subject committees — youth voice, education, equity and anti-racism, climate change, and youth mental health — that prepare recommendations for legislators and the governor. Beldevo told the committee the council has drafted bylaws, held a public hearing, and surveyed students to broaden representation.

Young council leaders told senators they want more opportunity to testify and meet with lawmakers on topics the council follows. Aster Glongstress, chair of the council’s climate change committee, told the committee the council provides youth a route to influence state policy and urged the extension to preserve that channel. Bridal Otterman, chair of the youth voice committee, described the council’s organizing process and said losing the council would silence roughly a quarter of Vermont’s population that are young people.

Committee members asked practical questions about timing, funding and operations. Senators and staff discussed the council’s proposed Oct. 1, 2032 date, which council staff said was chosen to align with the federal fiscal calendar that funds the council’s staff support. "Our staff time and all the council expenses are paid through a grant with the Department of Health, which starts in October," Miller said, explaining the October date was intended to align with that funding cycle.

Senators also reviewed budget and stipend details. Council staff said the annual operating budget is "just over $100,000," covering stipends, mileage for in-person events, venues and staffing costs. Amy Schallenberger, who also represents Vermont After School, told the committee an October expiration would provide the legislative session that year to act; a February expiration, she said, could compress the time available for lawmakers to pass an extension.

Committee members raised questions about long-term funding and whether federal funds or the Department of Health contribution would continue; council staff and committee members agreed the Department of Health should give formal testimony about funding. The committee chair said senators would take that Department of Health testimony next week and work with council representatives and Vermont After School to draft legislation or include extension language in a vehicle bill.

No formal vote or motion to repeal or extend the sunset was recorded during the Jan. 30 hearing. Committee members repeatedly expressed bipartisan support and an intent to move forward. The chair said he expected to ask the committee to vote to repeal or set a new expiration date after the Department of Health testimony and further drafting.

Next steps: the committee will take testimony from the Vermont Department of Health, coordinate with Vermont After School and council liaisons, and pursue legislative language to repeal or extend Act 109’s sunset. Council leaders said they will finalize and share their written recommendations with the legislature so senators can consider them during the next session.