Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Appropriations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate approves H.493 appropriations bill after hours of debate; two attempts to add non‑germane amendments fail
Summary
The Vermont Senate passed H.493 (the appropriations bill) in concurrence with proposal of amendment by roll call, 20–10. The session included extended debate over spending levels, a pair of failed motions to suspend rules to consider non‑germane amendments, and committee explanations of contingency measures for possible federal funding cuts.
The Vermont Senate passed H.493, an act relating to making appropriations for the support of government, in concurrence with a proposal of amendment by roll call, 20–10. The vote followed hours of debate over state spending levels, amendments offered from the floor and procedural motions to bring non‑germane language into the budget bill that failed on roll call.
Senators spent the floor debate focused on the scale of spending in the proposal and contingency steps the Appropriations Committee built into the bill. A companion effort by the senator from Caledonia sought to introduce an amendment that would have repealed the clean heat standard, created new reporting and fuel‑tax data requirements, and removed a private right of action in the Global Warming Solutions Act; the senator asked the amendment be divided into two votes. The chair ruled the amendment not germane. The senate voted on a motion to suspend the rules and take up that non‑germane amendment; the motion failed on a roll call, ayes 13, nays 17. A later effort to suspend the rules to allow a separate non‑germane amendment delaying California’s zero‑emission vehicle compliance schedule from 2026 to 2028 also failed, ayes 14, nays 16.
Why it matters: H.493 sets appropriation priorities and policy triggers that will affect state operations and local programs in the coming fiscal year. The bill also includes contingency language the Appropriations Committee said is intended to allow limited action if significant federal funding is withdrawn while the Legislature is out of session.
On the floor, senators raised several substantive fiscal concerns. The senator from Essex criticized the overall size of the spending package, saying “it’s just too much,” and argued voters and taxpayers will face increased pressure from added positions and higher recurring spending; in that speech the senator referenced an increase in base funding and a $77 million transfer cited for property‑tax relief. Other senators voiced narrower concerns about housing costs, construction per‑unit funding levels, and program priorities.
Senator Miller, identified on the floor as the chair of Appropriations, explained steps the committee included to respond to potential federal cuts: delaying some rate increases for designated agencies until Nov. 1 so they could be revisited if federal funding is reduced; setting aside $45 million as a contingency reserve rather than immediately spending expected receipts; and granting the Joint Fiscal Committee and the Emergency Board expanded discretionary authority to act if specified federal funding triggers occur. Miller noted these were deliberate choices to avoid both premature hiring and sudden clawbacks.
Other budget items discussed on the floor included: - An increase to base funding that several senators said totaled tens of millions of dollars; one senator described a $50 million addition to base funding and noted 35 new positions were included in the bill. Those figures were raised on the floor by senators objecting to the bill’s scale and were presented as the basis for opposing the bill. - Child‑care subsidy adjustments: the bill includes a CCFAP (child‑care financial assistance program) reimbursement increase; the Appropriations sponsor said the increase uses child‑care special fund dollars and is intended to help infant and toddler slots. - Housing funding tradeoffs: senators debated dollars directed to perpetually affordable housing versus other, shorter‑term affordable units and infrastructure loans intended to speed projects to completion.
Procedural and next steps: after the roll‑call passage, the Senate voted to suspend its rules and message the action on H.493 to the House forthwith (voice vote "ayes have it"). The bill will move to the next stage of the legislative process, including any conference committee with the House.
Ending: Sponsors and committee leaders said they expect further negotiation in conference and possible adjustments before the final enacted budget. The Senate adjourned following routine messaging and committee scheduling.
