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PAC hears updates on pending bills: H.5 for regional plans and H.42 to extend remote meetings
Summary
Staff reported on upcoming legislation including Representative Seth Bongartz’s H.5 to strengthen coordination of regional plans and H.42 to extend remote-meeting flexibilities through July 1, 2024; members asked about other proposed housing bills and energy-code efforts.
Taylor Newton, planning program manager for CCRPC, briefed the committee on several legislative items during the Jan. 11 meeting.
Newton said Representative Seth Bongartz is preparing a housing and zoning reform bill and has introduced H.5, which would strengthen the effectiveness and coordination of regional plans and land-use maps. Darren Schibler, senior planner, updated members on H.42, explaining the bill would extend pandemic-era remote-meeting flexibilities that would otherwise expire on Jan. 15, 2023; if passed quickly, H.42 would extend the flexibility through July 1, 2024 and allow fully remote meetings for public bodies (including options for Town Meeting postponement).
Joss Besse asked about a reported Senate bill from Sen. Ram-Hinsdale that might restrict municipal zoning or permitting in designated areas; Alex Weinhagen said the senate effort was likely to incorporate language proposed by Rep. Bongartz and possibly include unrelated provisions. John Alden noted that AIA Vermont is pursuing legislation to improve compliance with energy codes and CCRPC staff said they are collaborating with Energy Futures Group on a Department of Energy grant application to study jurisdiction and structural changes for energy-code implementation.
What’s next: Staff will circulate drafts of the Bongartz bill and track developments on H.42 and other proposed legislation.
