Vermont - From the Peoples House

Representative Dobrovich’s Weekly Newsletter Week of February 18, 2025 - February 21, 2025 Dear Constituents, As we conclude another week at the State House, I'm pleased to share updates on our legislative activities, focusing on the House Education Committee, House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry, and House Committee on Environment.   Weekly Recap House Education Committee ●  H.180: An Act Relating to the Closure of an Elementary School  Presentation by Representative Herb Olson and Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel. Discussions focused on a data-driven approach to school closures, offering an alternative to attendance-based closures. Committee members examined how the budget aligns with ongoing education reforms, potential impacts on local-state power struggles, and the legal complexity of the proposal. ●  H.130: An Act relating to Expanding the Membership and Duties of the Advisory Council on Harassment, Ha...

  Representative Dobrovich’s Weekly Newsletter Week of February 11, 2025 - February 14, 2025 Dear Constituents, As we conclude another week at the State House, I'm pleased to share updates on our legislative activities, focusing on the House Education Committee, House General and Housing Committee, and House Corrections and Institutions Committee. Weekly Recap House Education Committee Governor's Proposed FY2026 Budget Presentation by Administration officials outlining the education-related components of the Governor’s proposed FY2026 budget. Discussions centered on funding allocations for Pre-K–12 education, higher education, school construction aid, and special education services. Committee members examined how the budget aligns with ongoing education reforms, potential impacts on property taxes, and funding stability for Vermont’s school districts. State-Level Education Oversight Models Testimony from ...

  Representative Dobrovich’s Weekly Newsletter Week of February 4, 2025 - February 7, 2025 Dear Constituents, As we conclude another week at the State House, I'm pleased to share updates on our legislative activities, focusing on the House Education Committee, House Appropriations Committee, and House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee. Weekly Recap House Education Committee Education Transformation Funding Details: Follow-up discussions with Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education, Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education, and consultants from APA Consulting, Justin Silverstein and Amanda Brown. This session delved into the financial aspects of education transformation, discussing funding models, sources, and the impact on local and state budgets. The focus was on ensuring sustainable funding for educational reforms without increasing the tax burden on Vermonters. H. 129 - An act relating to the State Aid for School Construction ...

  Representative Dobrovich’s Weekly Newsletter Week of January 28 – February 1, 2025 Dear Constituents, As we conclude another productive week at the State House, I'm pleased to share updates on our legislative activities, focusing on the House Education, House Healthcare, and House Judiciary Committees. Weekly Recap House Education Committee This week, the House Education Committee engaged in several key discussions: H.54 - An Act Relating to Cell Phone-Free Schools: On January 29, 2025, Representative Angela Arsenault introduced H.54, proposing the establishment of cell phone-free environments in schools. Highlighting its potential impact on student’s mental health and social emotional wellbeing, as well as student focus and academic performance. Legislative Counsel Beth St. James provided a comprehensive walk-through of the bill through a legal lens. Special Education and Act 173 Updates: The committee received in...