House adopts committee-of-conference report on $883 million FY2026 transportation program
May 21, 2025 | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont
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The Vermont House of Representatives adopted the committee-of-conference report on House Bill 488, an act relating to the fiscal year 2026 transportation program and miscellaneous transportation law changes, on May 21, 2025. The bill funds transportation infrastructure statewide at $883,000,000.
The Member from Swanton, presenting the conference report, said the bill responds to a growing shortfall in transportation revenues and rising construction costs: "it was $883,000,000 towards the transportation infrastructure of Vermont," and "transportation revenues are of dire, need and construction cost and fixed, human resources costs are increasing and construction bids are in the 30-40% higher." The presenter said the Senate made only one substantive financial change in conference: converting $1,100,000 from pilot funds into nonfederal town disaster funds and into T funds to support a program to coordinate volunteer medical transport drivers.
The report adds a number of policy provisions, including a delay in a mileage-based user fee rollout for electric vehicles tied to federal grant timing, and a two-year plan directing the Agency of Transportation, in coordination with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and municipalities, to inventory and prioritize roads, culverts, bridges and other assets. The presenter said the inventory work "will all be done with current agency resources" and that the conference added reporting and clarification on project cancellation procedures.
The House adopted the conference report by voice vote after the presenter reviewed the changes and recommended concurrence. The conference report was signed by the committee and recommended adoption on the part of the House.
Key numeric details presented on the floor: total program amount $883,000,000; construction bids reported as 30–40% higher than prior benchmarks; volunteer medical transport drivers down from an estimated 400–500 pre-COVID to about 175 currently; $1,100,000 shifted to support volunteer medical transport coordination; and an overall $1,150,000 increase over budget numbers previously passed by the House, according to the presenter.
The Member from Swanton, presenting the conference report, said the bill responds to a growing shortfall in transportation revenues and rising construction costs: "it was $883,000,000 towards the transportation infrastructure of Vermont," and "transportation revenues are of dire, need and construction cost and fixed, human resources costs are increasing and construction bids are in the 30-40% higher." The presenter said the Senate made only one substantive financial change in conference: converting $1,100,000 from pilot funds into nonfederal town disaster funds and into T funds to support a program to coordinate volunteer medical transport drivers.
The report adds a number of policy provisions, including a delay in a mileage-based user fee rollout for electric vehicles tied to federal grant timing, and a two-year plan directing the Agency of Transportation, in coordination with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and municipalities, to inventory and prioritize roads, culverts, bridges and other assets. The presenter said the inventory work "will all be done with current agency resources" and that the conference added reporting and clarification on project cancellation procedures.
The House adopted the conference report by voice vote after the presenter reviewed the changes and recommended concurrence. The conference report was signed by the committee and recommended adoption on the part of the House.
Key numeric details presented on the floor: total program amount $883,000,000; construction bids reported as 30–40% higher than prior benchmarks; volunteer medical transport drivers down from an estimated 400–500 pre-COVID to about 175 currently; $1,100,000 shifted to support volunteer medical transport coordination; and an overall $1,150,000 increase over budget numbers previously passed by the House, according to the presenter.
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