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Senate adopts special fund to channel cannabis sales tax to after‑school programs after heated debate
Summary
After extended debate over local control and nondiscrimination safeguards, the Senate voted to amend H 839 to create a special fund directing cannabis sales‑tax revenue to statewide after‑school and summer program grants; the Appropriations amendment passed in recorded votes and the bill was ordered to third reading.
The Vermont Senate adopted an Appropriations Committee amendment to H 839 that creates a special fund to hold and distribute cannabis sales‑tax revenues for after‑school and summer programs, the chamber decided after more than four hours of floor debate and a series of roll‑call votes.
The amendment, reported by the Senator from Caledonia, restores language the sponsor said had been intended when the legislature enacted cannabis tax and regulation: to dedicate a portion of sales tax revenue for grants to after‑school and summer programs administered through a statewide process and advised by an existing advisory committee. "We created the advisory committee to the secretary of education," the Senator from Caledonia said during floor remarks, describing the proposal as a fiscal vehicle to protect dedicated prevention funding and to allow nonprofits and LEAs to access grants.
Supporters said the special fund is…
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