Representative Dobrovich’s Newsletter

Week of January 27th

Dear Constituents,

This week saw increased floor activity, more bill introductions, continued Act 73 discussions in Education, and valuable input from superintendents. Here’s a concise recap to keep you updated. I’ll share more as things progress. Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Week in Review

72 new bills were introduced this week, bringing the biennium total to 846.
(Full bill texts: https://legislature.vermont.gov — enter the bill number.)

The floor picked up with six bills passed over to the Senate for review (possible amendments, then Senate debate/vote; if changed, back to House):

  • H.648 — Banking, insurance, and securities
  • H.516 — Amendments to Town of Essex charter
  • H.270 — Confidentiality in peer support for emergency providers
  • H.532 — Mandatory retirement of college professors
  • H.508 — Amendments to City of Burlington charter
  • H.790 — Budget Adjustment Act (mid-year FY2026 update: adjusts revenue forecasts, property tax rebates, Medicaid, adds funds for public safety overtime/housing, reserves for future needs). Passed House unanimously 133-0.

In last week's session, I reluctantly voted no on H.R. 12, which supported Governor Scott's statement on federal ICE operations in Minnesota. The two deaths of U.S. citizens during these events are tragic losses that should never have occurred and demand thorough review. That said, the resolution overlooks a key contributor to the volatility: inflammatory rhetoric from some political leaders and others urging confrontation, disruption, or even violence against federal law enforcement. This goes beyond peaceful protest and has fueled dangerous on-the-ground tensions, putting protesters, officers, and bystanders at serious risk through reckless escalatory rhetoric and tactics.

Two things can be true at once: these deaths are unacceptable and must be acknowledged with full accountability, while we also need to address all factors that escalate these situations. Moving forward, de-escalation is essential for everyone's safety—through pragmatic cooperation between federal, state, and local officials and law enforcement, directives to avoid unnecessary engagements with agitators, a focus on high-priority enforcement targets, and efforts to reduce rhetoric and interference that heighten risks.

My Introduced Bills

Four more of my bills were introduced on the floor for first reading last week and referred to committee. Short summaries highlighting their intentions:

  • H.754 — Repeat violent offenders, assaults against protected professionals, and victim input on plea agreements (Judiciary)
    Strengthens penalties for repeat violent offenders and assaults on protected professionals (e.g., teachers, nurses, first responders); ensures greater victim input in plea agreements. Intentions: Enhances public safety, protects vulnerable professionals, and gives victims a stronger voice in the justice process.
    https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.754
  • H.756 — Termination of residential rental agreements based on criminal activity and increased penalties (General and Housing)
    Allows landlords to terminate rentals for serious criminal activity; increases penalties for crimes committed within dwellings. Intentions: Improves safety in residential communities, provides tools for landlords to address threats, and deters criminal behavior in homes.
    https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.756
  • H.780 — Establishing mandatory minimum sentences of incarceration for retail theft and drug trafficking (Judiciary)
    Imposes mandatory minimum prison terms for certain retail theft and drug trafficking offenses. Intentions: Deters serious property crimes and drug distribution, strengthens accountability for repeat or large-scale offenders, and enhances community safety.
    https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.780
  • H.781 — Filing certain juvenile offenses in the Criminal Division (Judiciary)
    Allows specific serious juvenile offenses to be filed directly in the Criminal Division rather than Family Division. Intentions: Ensures appropriate handling of grave juvenile cases, promotes consistency in justice for serious offenses, and balances accountability with rehabilitative considerations.
    https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.781

House Education Committee

We continued advancing Act 73 discussions while introducing several bills. Key activities from the week included:

  • Tuesday, Jan 27: State Board of Education update; committee discussion on Act 73; joint FY27 budget hearing with Senate Education (featuring Agency of Education witnesses on overall budget).
  • Wednesday, Jan 28: Educational Service Agencies testimony; introduction/walk-through of H.779 (updating Flexible Pathways Initiative); FY27 PCB funding discussion and continued work on H.542 (terminating school PCB testing); introduction/walk-through of H.750 (school construction during moratorium).
  • Thursday, Jan 29: Joint hearing on Higher Education Endowment Trust Fund; field trip to Vermont Superintendents Association luncheon in Montpelier (committee joined for Q&A with the chair and smaller group/individual conversations—superintendents shared regional feedback on Act 73 implementation, including what's working, challenges, and ideas for flexibility, funding stability, and governance); Mental Health Advocacy Day testimonies from school counselors and advocates; Human Rights Commission recommendations from 2025 Civil Rights Summit.
  • Friday, Jan 30: Introduction and walk-through of H.640 (adding voting student members to school boards), with student witnesses; H.616 (right to enroll full-time in virtual learning); H.802 (adjusting census grant for inflation); Higher Education Endowment Trust Fund discussion.

The direct engagement with superintendents and students provides crucial context for Act 73 refinements and new proposals.

H.640, which would add student members to school district boards (voting for grades 9–12 and nonvoting for grades 7–8), has drawn recent media interest. The importance of including student perspectives in board discussions is evident and worthwhile. At the same time, the proposal raises important practical questions—particularly around participation in executive sessions, handling of confidential information, and votes on sensitive matters like budgets and personnel—that would benefit from thorough examination and thoughtful safeguards.

Eyes Up: Looking Ahead

This week (February 3–6), the House Education Committee agenda includes:

  • Tuesday, Feb 3: Governor's Institutes of Vermont update; introductions/walk-throughs of H.618 (school counselors) and H.777 (Vermont Skier Development Scholarship); Act 73 discussion.
  • Wednesday, Feb 4: Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators on Act 73 effects (Zoom witnesses); UVM annual update; Vermont State Colleges update.
  • Thursday, Feb 5: Joint hearing with House Ways and Means on Special Education Report (Room 11).
  • Friday, Feb 6: TBA.

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:

I will continue my strong effort to provide important and timely updates on a weekly basis, however, there may be occasional weeks when an update isn’t possible due to workload or scheduling, but I’ll do my best to keep you informed on a regular basis.

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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