Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Senate Government Operations panel pauses H.935 after concern that $2.5M was directed to Central Vermont project
Summary
Lawmakers in the Senate Government Operations committee on May 5 pressed the Vermont Department of Public Safety for clarification after the Appropriations Committee directed the final $2.5 million of a 2022 emergency-communications appropriation to a Central Vermont project. The committee asked DPS for written follow-up and indicated it would hold H.935 pending conference negotiations.
The Senate Committee on Government Operations paused consideration of H.935, the Emergency Management bill, on May 5 after members raised concerns that the Appropriations Committee had directed the last $2.5 million from a 2022 $11 million appropriation to a specific Central Vermont project rather than preserving the funds for a statewide public-safety communications plan.
Representative Lisa Hango, the bill sponsor, provided a Joint Fiscal Office flow chart showing a remaining allocation of $2,542,366 from the original appropriation and read bill language she said authorizes the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to request use of any remaining monies at the end of the statutory period. "The total remaining available allocation is $2,542,366," Hango said, and she told the committee that the bill's language includes guardrails requiring legislative authorization before DPS may spend any remaining funds.
Daniel Batesi, deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Safety, told the committee the public-safety communications task force had recommended a statewide infrastructure approach and that the department was concerned about appropriations directing funds to a single part of the state. "Our concern primarily is that the Appropriations Committee has pushed some money specifically to one area of the state," Batesi said, adding DPS would provide a written summary clarifying how it envisioned the appropriation's use.
Committee members and staff reviewed the funding history during the hearing. Batesi said the $2,500,000 in question is the final tranche of the original $11,000,000; the department previously spent roughly $2,000,000 on a comprehensive plan and technical work, and additional funds remain subject to request and legislative approval. Members emphasized that because DPS was asked to 'check in' with the legislature to request further funds, the balance should not be characterized as extra or unneeded resources.
The panel also noted testimony earlier in the session from representatives of the Central Vermont Planning Commission and the deputy fire chief of Barre, who had asked that the appropriation be made available to their project. Hango said neither witness left written testimony on April 17, and the committee agreed to provide any written material to the conference committee considering the budget language.
An agency participant flagged that two grant programs in the bill were created without accompanying appropriations, and committee members discussed how those programs would be implemented only if funding is found or provided. The committee asked DPS to submit a concise written explanation of the department's view of the appropriation and its remaining work.
After hearing from witnesses and staff, several members said they preferred to hold H.935 for further clarification rather than advance it immediately. The chair said the committee will convey its concerns to members of the conference committee, which was scheduled to meet the following day; no formal committee vote on the bill was recorded at the session's close.
The committee took a break and planned to resume with S.298, the Voting Protection Act, and additional witnesses after the pause.
