Appropriations committee moves amendment to S.328 that strips several appropriations and positions

The Senate Appropriations Committee on March 19 moved an amendment to S.328 that removes multiple appropriation and position provisions from a broader housing bill.

Cameron Wood of the Office of Legislative Council briefed members on the amendment, which strikes a planned extension and increase — from $250,000 to $350,000 annually — of tax credit authority for the Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s down‑payment assistance program. The draft also removes per‑diem language tied to creating a permanent advisory council for housing for individuals with developmental disabilities and strips three proposed Department of Housing and Community Development positions and related appropriations, including a $250,000 municipal and regional planning resilience grant line and a recommended $5 million boost to the Vermont Housing Investment/Loan program cited in the bill text.

Wood said the amendment is intended to limit new or ongoing obligations in the bill and to leave funding decisions to the annual appropriations process. Members flagged one section concerning designated downtowns and village centers that could affect eligibility for stepped grant benefits and sales‑tax reallocation; fiscal staff explained the provision could allow certain new town centers (for example, South Burlington) to qualify for step‑three benefits that carry marginal fiscal impacts.

Committee members moved and reported the amendment favorably. The clerk called the roll and several senators recorded affirmative votes; the amendment will be carried to the floor by the committee reporter. Members noted they may follow up on particular program sections if they decide those provisions present a hidden fiscal exposure.

The amendment as reported removes specific appropriation and position language but leaves other policy sections of the bill for future deliberation.