House Appropriations Committee advances H.952, expanding loan help for mobile home park water systems

The House Appropriations Committee approved H.952, the capital budget adjustment act, on April 1, 2026, advancing bonded and cash-funded projects and several policy changes to the full House.

John Gray, legislative counsel, told committee members the bill is presented as a budget adjustment that amends last year’s capital act and combines general obligation bonding, a new cash fund and reallocated prior appropriations to finance projects. Committee members were shown spreadsheets and totals, with counsel noting approximately $122.695 million in bonded capacity and about $36.8 million in cash fund authorizations for the two-year window, yielding an approximate combined capital total of $159,550,000.

Why it matters: the bill revises program eligibility and financing rules that affect municipal and community infrastructure projects. One substantive policy change expands a revolving water loan program so that certain privately owned nonprofit or resident‑owned mobile home park water systems may qualify for 40‑year loan terms. Under the change the Secretary of Natural Resources would set the interest rate and administrative fee for those loans, constrained so the rate shall not exceed +3% or be less than -3% in effect. Committee discussion described the longstanding use of the negative‑rate formulation as a mechanism that has historically operated to provide substantial subsidy or forgiveness to lower‑income districts.

Other provisions highlighted in committee:

• Little River State Park: section 13 would permit the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation to enter a long‑term lease with the Vermont Huts Association for a park structure, specifying initial 20‑year terms and optional 10‑year renewals and standard lease conditions.

• Southern State Correctional Facility parcel: the bill would allow transfer of roughly 23 acres to the town of Springfield for municipal or economic development, subject to zoning and other local approvals; that transfer authority would lapse on July 1, 2030 if not completed.

• Green Mountain Youth Campus: section 16 reiterates reporting requirements and prohibits DCF or BGS expenditures in FY27 on the campus until joint fiscal approval during adjournment or authorization when the General Assembly reconvenes.

• State correctional facilities Wi‑Fi: a roughly $3 million cash authorization for Wi‑Fi installation at corrections facilities was discussed at length. Committee members and DOC representatives said broader Wi‑Fi would support staff operations and expand access to courses already provided through limited institutional networks; the Agency of Digital Services (ADS) declined to testify, saying detailed planning was premature.

• Reallocations: staff explained that previously appropriated general fund capital dollars that have gone three years without encumbrance are reallocated back into the fund; committee staff flagged a DCF stabilization facility that has not yet encumbered appropriations and is therefore subject to reallocation until an agreement is finalized.

The committee discussed design and repair funding for the Capitol complex, including a multi‑million‑dollar project related to 120 State Street and a reconfigured single point of public entry; members placed design funding in the bill while noting vehicle access and parking issues will need later resolution.

Representative Alice Emmens, chair of the House Corrections and Institutions Committee, thanked staff and members for their work during the review. A motion to approve H.952 "as introduced" was made and moved by Tom Wayne; the clerk called the roll and the committee recorded affirmative votes and approved the bill for floor consideration.

Next steps: H.952 will proceed to the House floor for further debate and final action.