Representative Dobrovich’s Weekly Newsletter

Week of May 6 – May 9, 2025

Dear Constituents,

As we conclude another productive week at the State House, I'm pleased to share updates on our legislative activities.

Weekly Recap

House Education Committee

This week, the House Education Committee engaged in several key discussions:

  • Advancing H.54, the Cell Phone-Free Schools Bill: The committee continued its work on H.54, a bill aimed at creating cell phone-free school environments to enhance student focus and mental health. Students from Colchester High School provided their perspectives on the bill. Laura Marquez-Garrett from the Social Media Victims Law Center discussed social media’s impact on our youth. Additional insights came from Oliver Olsen (Vermont Independent Schools Association) and Agency of Education officials (Jill Briggs Campbell, Lisa Helme, Lindsey Hedges). The committee also reviewed draft mark-ups (4.1 and 5.1), refining the bill’s language.

    H.54 requires the Agency of Education to develop a model policy prohibiting student cell phone use during the school day, except in cases of documented medical or educational needs. The bill also bans schools from requiring social media use for homework, sports, or extracurricular activities. The finalized language will be sent to the Senate Education Committee, which may propose changes and potentially incorporate it into a miscellaneous education bill. View the full text sent to the Senate here: https://tinyurl.com/3kd39ze2. 

  • Medicaid Funding in Education: A joint hearing with the Senate Education Committee examined Medicaid funding’s role in education, with testimony from Cassandra Ryan (Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education), Kate Smith (Education Medicaid Director), and Ashley Berliner (Director of Medicaid Policy, Agency of Human Services). An important part of the discussion centered on Medicaid funding, which supports many school-based services for students with disabilities. While earlier concerns highlighted instability in federal Medicaid support, new information suggests Vermont is in a stronger position than anticipated. By aligning more closely with federal Medicaid eligibility guidelines, if necessary, the state can better absorb potential changes. Although possible impacts to the system remain, they are expected to be far less severe than originally feared. Stable Medicaid funding is critical to avoid property tax increases and sustain services like special education.

  • Joint Hearing on Special Education Funding: On Friday, we held a joint hearing with the House Ways and Means Committee to examine special education funding and its transition under the new pupil-weighted funding formula enacted in H.887 (Act 183). Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst from the Joint Fiscal Office, presented data showing Vermont’s special education spending grew 74% from FY2015 to FY2025, driven by rising student needs and staffing costs, with projections indicating continued cost pressures. Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, clarified federal Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirements under IDEA, noting that districts must maintain special education spending levels to avoid penalties, which complicates cost containment under the new formula. These insights are critical as we navigate the formula’s implementation to ensure equitable funding without compromising services.

Week in Review

Tax Relief for Veterans and Working Families (S.51):

  • The House passed S.51, a transformative act delivering substantial tax relief to military veterans, working families, and seniors, reinforcing Vermont’s commitment to affordability and fairness. The bill fully exempts U.S. military retirement and survivor benefit income from state taxes for Vermonters with federal adjusted gross income under $125,000, with a phased reduction up to $175,000, providing significant financial relief to veterans who have served the nation. It also introduces a refundable tax credit for low-income veterans, further easing economic burdens. Additionally, S.51 expands the Vermont Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, offering critical support to working families with young children, helping them thrive in a high-cost state. Enhanced tax exemptions for Social Security recipients provide further relief for seniors on fixed incomes.

    I strongly support S.51, which is built on long-standing advocacy to align Vermont with most states that fully exempt military retirement benefits, honoring veterans’ sacrifices and boosting the state’s appeal to retirees. However, I am disappointed that the bill did not fully exempt all military retiree pensions, a missed opportunity to provide even broader relief! Now under Senate consideration, S.51’s passage could pave the way for future discussions on extending similar tax relief to first responders and other public servants, fostering a more equitable tax system.

Eyes Up: Looking Ahead

As the legislative session approaches its conclusion, the House Education Committee and the House are diligently navigating the final weeks to advance essential legislation. The committee is focused on finalizing discussions and moving key bills forward, but a detailed agenda for next week is still being developed. Please visit the committee’s web page at https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/agenda/2026/1985 for the latest agenda updates. You can read the full text of any bill by visiting the Vermont General Assembly website at https://legislature.vermont.gov and entering the bill number in the search bar.

Stay Engaged

For more detailed information about all things happening in the legislature, please refer to the official Vermont General Assembly website. Here are some helpful links:

Your input is invaluable. Please feel free to reach out with your questions, concerns, or suggestions. Together, we can work towards a better future for our community and state.

Warm regards,
Joshua Dobrovich
jdobrovich@leg.state.vt.us

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