Legislative Updates 2025

Jun 20, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

On June 16, the House of Representatives reconvened at the Capitol to conclude the session. Proceedings wrapped up just before 9:00 p.m., with the Governor delivering the annual adjournment address.

Last week, the Committee of Conference reached consensus on H.454, the education bill. The bill was approved by the House. While I voted in favor, I recognize it is far from perfect and that additional work is needed in the coming months. However, I believe that failure to pass the bill would have represented a missed opportunity for the legislature to advance meaningful reforms that promote both affordability and high-quality education for Vermont's children.

I also want to dispel the misconception that Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and Progressives are adversaries. While we may differ in committee debates or on the House floor, we often greet each other warmly in the halls, share meals, and engage in thoughtful conversations beyond the Capitol walls.

Please continue to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Jun 4, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

Legislative Update – May 27–30

Throughout last week, the following bills passed on the House Floor:
S.123 – An act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws concerning motor vehicles
S.127 – An act related to housing and housing development
S.69 – An act establishing an age-appropriate design code
S.45 – An act regarding an elective pass-through entity income tax and credit
S.122 – An act addressing economic and workforce development
S.124 – An act covering miscellaneous agricultural matters

On Friday, I had hoped that H.454—an act aimed at transforming Vermont's education governance, quality, and finance system—would pass out of the Committee of Conference. However, the House Speaker dismissed us just before midnight, determining that no compromise had been reached.
Speaker Krowinski announced that we would reconvene on June 16, the date reserved for addressing any gubernatorial vetoes. Over the next two weeks, I hope the committee will reach a mutually agreeable solution—one that satisfies both legislators and Governor Scott. Ideally, this extra time will be spent refining the final draft of H.454 to create an effective plan for Vermont's children while remaining affordable for taxpayers. It would be encouraging to see a proposal that earns support from a bipartisan majority in both the House and Senate.

Please feel free to reach out to me.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

May 25, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week, legislative floor sessions have been extending in length, leading to the passage of several bills:
S.12 – An act relating to sealing criminal history records
S.53 – An act concerning the certification of community-based perinatal doulas and Medicaid coverage for doula services
S.109 – An act addressing miscellaneous judiciary procedures
S.59 – An act revising Vermont's Open Meeting Law
S.126 – An act focusing on health care payment and delivery system reform

On Friday evening, the Senate passed H.454, which I anticipate will be sent to a committee of conference. This committee, appointed by the House Speaker, is responsible for negotiating changes to the bill in an effort to create legislation that both the House and the Governor can support.

Additionally, if you know of any civic-minded 8th-grade students interested in serving as a legislative page for the 2026 session, I encourage them to submit an application by September 30, 2025.
Committee Updates
The Human Services Committee, which I serve on, discussed the following bills:
H.91 – An act related to the Vermont Homeless Emergency Assistance and Responsive Transition to Housing Program
S.127 – An act focusing on housing and housing development
S.123 – An act addressing miscellaneous motor vehicle laws

Additionally, the Head Start Director provided an update regarding potential funding cuts, and we attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Champlain Place Shelter in Burlington.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

May 19, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

Legislative and Education Committee Update: May 13–16

This week, four bills passed on the floor:
S.125 – Workers' compensation and collective bargaining rights
H.46 – Rare Disease Advisory Council
S.63 – Modifications to Green Mountain Care Board regulations
S.117 – Rulemaking on safety and health standards, plus employment practice corrections
Additionally, two key budget-related bills moved forward:
H.494 – Capital construction and state bonding
H.493 – Appropriations for government support (state budget)
These bills originated from the Committee of Conference reports and will now proceed to the Governor's desk for action.

Committee Updates
The Human Services Committee heard testimony on several critical topics:
S.127 – Housing and housing development
Conflict-Free Case Management
Early Childhood Education
Employee Morale within the Department for Children and Families

Meanwhile, H.454, which focuses on transforming Vermont's education governance, quality, and finance systems, was reluctantly voted out of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees. Many lawmakers expressed concerns about its provisions but ultimately advanced the bill, believing that making some progress was preferable to inaction. H.454 go to the full Senate for a vote. Given the significance of this legislation, considerable debate is expected.

 Please feel free to reach out to me.
Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

May 12, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week, the legislative floor was more active, with seven bills successfully passing:
S.56 – An act relating to the creation of an Office of New Americans
S.51 – An act relating to the Vermont unpaid caregiver tax credit
This bill also includes an exemption for U.S. military retirement and survivor benefit income from state taxes.
H.50 – An act relating to the approval of amendments to the charter of the City of Rutland
S.44 – An act authorizing certain immigration agreements
S.87 – An act relating to extradition procedures
H.248 – An act relating to supplemental child care grants and the Child Care Financial Assistance Program
H.230 – An act addressing the management of fish and wildlife
In the Human Services Committee, we continued hearing testimony on H.30, an act concerning the use of seclusion and restraint on children and youth in the custody of the Department for Children and Families.

It is always a pleasure to welcome constituents to the Capitol. On Thursday, Jennifer Simpson, PT, DPT, OCS, Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, and Vermont APTA Federal Affairs Liaison for the Vermont Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, was recognized—along with her organization—on the legislative floor.

Next Saturday, May 17th, there will be a Legislative Forum at the Milton Public Library from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. I encourage my Westford constituents to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to engage with me, other legislators, and Senator Mattos.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

May 3, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week on the House floor, the following bills were passed:
S.36 – An act relating to Medicaid coverage of long-term residential treatment for co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health conditions.
S.50 – An act relating to increasing the size of solar net metering projects that qualify for expedited registration.
H.505 – An act relating to the approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Barre.
H.96 – An act relating to increasing the monetary thresholds for certificates of need.
S.27 – An act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports.
S.36 – An act relating to the Medicaid payment model for residential substance use disorder treatment services.

Additionally, H.454, an act aimed at transforming Vermont's education governance, quality, and finance systems, has advanced out of the Senate Education Committee. The bill will now proceed to the Senate Finance Committee, where further input on the funding formula will be provided. You can find the 109-page version of the bill that was passed in the Senate at this link: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/Senate%20Education/Bills/H.454/Dra[...]pdf

This week, the Human Services Committee, on which I serve, worked on the following bills:
H.46 – An act relating to the Rare Disease Advisory Council.
H.120 – An act relating to the study and design of a long-term care trust fund.
H.143 – An act establishing a support service program for individuals who are DeafBlind.
H.248 – An act relating to supplemental childcare grants and the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
H.30 – An act concerning the use of seclusion and restraint on children and youth in the custody of the Department for Children and Families.
Additionally, the committee heard from representatives of DAIL (Developmental Disabilities Services Division) regarding updates on the Policy of Payments to Parents and the Adult Services Division (Meals on Wheels) program.

I encourage constituents to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding these bills. If I do not have the answer, I will consult the appropriate committee to obtain additional information.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Apr 26, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week was relatively quiet on the House floor, with only one bill passed—S.27 An Act Relating to Medical Debt Relief and Excluding Medical Debt from Credit Reports.

In the Human Services Committee, we worked on the following bills:
H.46 – An Act Relating to the Rare Disease Advisory Council
S.36 – An Act Relating to the Medicaid Payment Model for Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services
H.120 – An Act Relating to the Study and Design of a Long-Term Care Trust Fund
H.248 – An Act Relating to Supplemental Child Care Grants and the Child Care Financial Assistance Program
H.13 – An Act Relating to Medicaid Payment Rates for Home- and Community-Based Service Providers

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of hosting 20 homeschooling students and their parents from Franklin and Chittenden counties. It was wonderful to see such enthusiastic young learners interested in the workings of our government. Their visit began with a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Rodgers, who shared insights into his role. Following that, David Schutz, the Curator of the Vermont State Capitol, led a tour. The weather was beautiful, and the group enjoyed lunch on the Capitol's front lawn. I had the privilege of introducing them on the House floor as they observed proceedings from the balcony.

The Eagle Scout annual Recognition Day ceremony took place at the capitol recognizing the young men and women on their achievements. Two Milton scouts were congratulated, Devin Schlegel-Barber and Evan Kaigle. Representative Taylor presented the scouts on the house floor.

The House and Senate Committees on Government Operations and Military Affairs will hold a joint public hearing on Wednesday, April 30, at 4:00 PM to hear from Vermonters about veteran housing, mental health, access to services, and the Vermont Veterans Home. If you are a veteran, a family member, or an advocate with insights to share, I encourage you to sign up to testify by Sunday, April 27, at 5:00 PM. 

Additionally, the Governor's Office is seeking a student representative for the State Board of Education. This appointment will be for a two-year term—serving as a non-voting member in the first year and a voting member in the second. Rising sophomores and juniors are encouraged to apply via the Application for Gubernatorial Appointment. The deadline for applications is Monday, April 28.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Apr 24, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

My committee, Human Services, heard testimony and worked on the following bills:
S.36 An act relating to the Medicaid payment model for residential substance use disorder treatment services
H.46 An act relating to the Rare Disease Advisory Council
H.496 An act relating to continuing care retirement communities
H.248 An act relating to supplemental childcare grants and the Child Care Financial Assistance Program

On Friday bill S.28 passed on the floor. While I agree that doctors and nurses do need to be protected for care they give their patients, I voted no with concern that a doctor can prescribe an abortion pill over the phone without seeing the patient and not knowing the health of the woman or how far into the pregnancy the woman is.

There isn't a lot to update on H.454 An act relating to transforming Vermont's education governance, quality, and finance systems. It is still being discussed in the senate.

The House Committee on Education & the Senate Committee on Education will hold a joint hearing to hear from students about their perspective about the future of education in Vermont on Friday, April 25 from 1:00-3:00 pm in VT State House Room 11 and online via Zoom.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Apr 13, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week at the State House saw important discussions and legislative progress. On Wednesday, bill S.30, An Act Relating to Updating and Reorganizing the Health Insurance Statutes in 8 V.S.A. Chapter 107, passed on the floor. On Friday, S.3, An Act Relating to the Transfer of Property to a Trust, was also passed, along with H.454, An Act Relating to Transforming Vermont's Education Governance, Quality, and Finance Systems.

Many hours of discussion were dedicated to H.454 throughout the week, highlighting a wide range of perspectives on this critical piece of legislation. While the bill successfully passed, I ultimately cast a no vote due to concerns regarding the proposed framework. Now that the bill moves to the Senate, I remain optimistic that much-needed revisions will be made. My hope is that when it returns to the legislative body, I hope to be able to vote in favor of an improved version.

I align with the statement from Governor Phil Scott regarding the House passage of H.454:
"This bill is nowhere near perfect due to the cost, timeline, and more. However, we all agree that education transformation is needed this session. To accomplish that, passage of this imperfect bill by the House so it can move to the Senate is an important procedural step toward achieving that goal. To be clear, many changes are needed to earn final support from legislators as well as my signature, and we will continue to make our case as this process moves forward.

Having said that, I appreciate the productive conversations we've had so far, and I'm hopeful we can deliver education transformation to ensure all Vermont students have greater access to more opportunities and better outcomes, while Vermont taxpayers benefit from a more predictable, stable, and affordable system."

Press Release on H.454
In a statement released by Rep. Casey Toof, Assistant Minority Leader, Vermont House Republicans expressed clear opposition to H.454 despite acknowledging the urgent need for public education reform. Concerns were raised about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the timeline for implementation.
"Vermont House Republicans were clear and voted against H.454, titled 'An Act Relating to Transforming Vermont's Education Governance, Quality, and Finance Systems.' While recognizing the pressing need for improvements in Vermont's public education system, House Republicans opposed the bill due to concerns regarding a lack of transparency, financial prudence, and the slow timeline."

As this bill moves to the Senate, the hope is that revisions will address these concerns in a meaningful way, leading to an improved final version that legislators can confidently support.

Human Services Committee
This week, my Human Services Committee heard testimony on several important bills:
• H.92 – An Act Relating to Human Services Board Fair Hearing Proceedings
• H.293 – An Act Relating to Health Equity Data Reporting and Registry Disclosure Requirements
• S.36 – An Act Relating to the Medicaid Payment Model for Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services
• H.58 – An Act Relating to Medicaid Coverage for Play Therapy

I appreciate the engagement and discussions surrounding these measures, as they play a crucial role in improving Vermont's healthcare and social services landscape.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Apr 6, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week, we bid farewell to our current Pages, and on Monday, another group of eighth graders will walk through the Capitol doors. These students run errands for representatives and senators, deliver correspondence and legislative materials, and assist with various tasks.

The floor was relatively quiet this week. One of the bills that passed is H.91, An Act Relating to the Vermont Homeless Emergency Assistance and Responsive Transition to Housing Program. This bill originated from my committee, Human Services. I listened to many weeks of testimony on this legislation. While I understand its concept and recognize some positive aspects, I have concerns about the $10 million startup cost, which includes additional staffing to implement the program. My concern lies in what will happen once the $10 million is exhausted—where will the funding come from to sustain the additional staffing?

You can find the Fiscal Note for this bill:https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/GENERAL-381670-v5-2025_H9[...]pdf.

Another issue I raised was the removal of the 80-day cap for the hotel/motel program length of stay. I suggested including language that would allow a re-evaluation process for intake personnel to determine if additional days are needed. Unfortunately, this recommendation was not incorporated into the bill, and there is currently no cap. I still believe the core issue is the need to simplify Act 250 and permitting processes for developers to build affordable housing. Until these challenges are addressed, I fear we are simply kicking the can down the road. Without affordable housing, there will be no long-term housing solutions for the homeless population.

My committee also continued hearing testimony on H.92, An Act Relating to Human Services Board Fair Hearing Proceedings. We heard testimony from: • The Executive Director of End Homelessness Vermont • The Chief Hearing Officer of the Human Services Board • The Chair of the Human Services Board • Staff attorneys from Vermont Legal Aid • Staff attorneys from the Agency of Human Services • A representative from Aging and Independent Living • General Counsel for the Department of Disabilities • General Counsel for the Department for Children and Families • Parents Next week, we will begin marking up the bill.

Additionally, testimony was heard on S.36, An Act Relating to the Medicaid Payment Model for Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services. Those testifying included: • The Medicaid Director of the Agency of Human Services • The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare reporter for the bill • The Executive Director of Northeast Kingdom Human Services • The Executive Director of Recovery House All committees are live streamed. Visit the GoldenDomeVT.com website.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Apr 1, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

On March 28th, Governor Scott issued an Executive Order to extend the Cold Weather Extension for the Hotel/Motel program, originally set to end on April 1st. This extension applies to medically vulnerable individuals, including those using lifesaving devices requiring electricity, undergoing cancer treatment, receiving home-based nursing services, and women in their third trimester of pregnancy. The traditional summer General Assistance program will continue, while the state works to expand shelter capacity for families and individuals experiencing homelessness.

 My committee, Human Services, has the following bills on the agenda for this coming week:
·H.92: An act relating to Human Services Board fair hearing proceedings.
·S.36: An act relating to the Medicaid payment model for residential substance use disorder treatment services.

On the floor, Bill H.218, an act relating to fiscal year 2026 appropriations from the Opioid Abatement Special Fund, was presented. I requested a roll call vote to divide the additional $1.1 million allocated for the Safe Injection Site in Burlington from the bill. Governor Scott vetoed the Safe Injection Site last session, and the supermajority overrode his veto. I supported dividing this section to align with Governor Scott's stance and prioritize funding for recovery sites to help individuals with addiction.

While I disagreed with the Safe Injection Site funding, I supported other initiatives in H.218, including:
· $1.2 million for recovery sites.
· $800,000 for contingency management support.
· $800,000 for homeless shelter programs.
·$309,000 for opioid-related services in Windham County.
·$850,000 for employment services for individuals with opioid use disorder.
·Various smaller grants for training, intervention, harm reduction, and recovery support programs.

The vote to divide the Safe Injection Site funding failed with 87 "yes" and 58 "no," meaning it remained part of H.218. During the third reading on Friday, I again requested a roll call vote. The bill passed 119 "yes" and 24 "no." I voted "no" and explained my decision and emphasized my continued support for Governor Scott's veto and my belief that recovery options are a better use of these funds.
Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Mar 24, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week, my committee voted on H.91, An act relating to the Emergency Temporary Shelter Program. My committee consists of six Democrats, one Independent, and three Republicans. All the Democrats and the Independent voted in favor. I, along with another Republican, voted against the bill, while one Republican was absent.

My primary concern with this bill is the removal of the 80-day cap on the hotel/motel program. I find this proposal to be costly, and I am unsure if it will adequately address the homelessness issue. If you are interested in the financial details of this bill, a fiscal note has been completed. You can view it here:  https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/GENERAL-381670-v5-2025_H9[...]pdf on a related note, I hope Governor Scott's proposal to extend the April 1st deadline for the Cold Weather Exception will be approved, allowing the most vulnerable—disabled individuals and families with children—to remain in the hotel/motel program through the end of June.

The Human Services Committee will be busy this week as we review several additional bills. If you're interested in any of these bills, our committee meeting agendas are posted on the Human Services Committee website, and the meetings are livestreamed. Here is a list of the bills under consideration:

• H.248: An act relating to supplemental childcare grants and the Child Care Financial Assistance Program
• H.15: An act relating to assistance for room and board at a Vermont post-secondary school for students served by foster or kinship care
• H.184: An act relating to establishing a community health center pilot program
• H.46: An act relating to the Rare Disease Advisory Council
• H.269: An act relating to the federal benefits of youth in state custody
• H.414: An act relating to the Vermont Commission on Aging
• H.120: An act relating to the study and design of a long-term care trust fund
• H.195: An act relating to universal basic income payments for homeless and runaway youth
• H.151: An act relating to implementing the Restaurant Meals Program
• H.143: An act relating to establishing a support service program for individuals who are DeafBlind
• H.293: An act relating to health equity data reporting and registry disclosure requirements
• H.39: An act relating to the repeal of authorization for overdose prevention centers

Thank you for staying engaged with these legislative updates. Let me know if you'd like more details on any specific bill.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Mar 18, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week marked crossover week at the Statehouse, signifying the halfway point of the legislative session.

In the Human Services Committee, we continued work on H.91, an act relating to the Emergency Temporary Shelter Program. While I recognize the importance of providing shelter for homeless Vermonters, I am not convinced that H.91 is the right solution. The bill requires significant work, and the plan to finalize it and hold a straw vote by Wednesday feels rushed. I am concerned that this timeline does not allow for a thorough review or the development of an affordable, effective approach.

I firmly believe that addressing homelessness would be more effective through the Housing Committee by revisiting Act 250 regulations to reduce construction costs. This would enable builders to create safe and permanent affordable housing. If we continue to propose costly bills and increase the state budget, we risk driving more Vermonters to relocate—or even exacerbating homelessness.

Additionally, my committee had the following three bills read this week:

H.92: An act relating to Human Services Board fair hearing proceedings
H.30: An act relating to the use of seclusion and restraint on children and youth in the custody of the Department for Children and Families
H.192: An act relating to prohibiting solitary confinement for children

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Mar 4, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

This week a resolution was read on the House Floor in memory of Don Turner from Milton. His family was in attendance. Don was a dedicated public servant, known for his decades of service in the Milton Volunteer Fire Department, his leadership in the State House, his role as town manager, and his service on the Milton Selectboard. He was respected and liked by everyone he met and worked with, treating all with dignity, respect, and kindness. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and improved.

This week, we focused on budget discussions. Each committee received budget recommendations from the governor's office and then prepared a budget for the Appropriations Committee's review. My committee did not adhere to the governor's recommended dollar figure, and I was the only member to vote "no" on the final budget.

One reason for my "no" vote is H-91, an act relating to the Emergency Temporary Shelter Program. This program could become very costly. My experience on the School Board taught me that increasing funding doesn't always solve issues effectively.

Here's the proposed language from my committee: > "(c)(1) General Assistance Emergency Housing shall be provided in a community-based shelter whenever possible. If there is inadequate community-based shelter space within the Agency of Human Services district, the household shall be provided emergency housing in a hotel or motel within the district, if available, until adequate community-based shelter space becomes available. The use of hotel and motel rooms shall be capped at 1,437 rooms per night throughout fiscal year 2026, including during cold weather months."

The cost for 1,437 rooms for one day is $11,496, and for one year, it is $4,196,040. Removing the cap of 80 days I believe could jeopardize emergency housing for families, veterans, and the disabled. One person has been housed in a hotel room for two years through another nonprofit. This scenario could repeat if the cap is removed from the State of Vermont's Emergency Housing Program.

During my time housing the homeless, I received calls to house individuals exiting hospitals or those affected by house fires, etc. There were some budget requests I found beneficial for Vermonters, but the budget needed to be voted on as a whole to proceed.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. 

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady 

Feb 23, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

Highlight of the Week: The Milton Girls Varsity Soccer team walked through the Capitol doors on Friday to be recognized for their second consecutive DII championship title. Representative Morgan introduced them on the House floor. It was wonderful hearing all my fellow legislators applaud our Milton girls. Their coaches, along with Milton's Athletic Director Marcel, accompanied the team. They also had their picture taken with Acting Governor- Lieutenant Governor Rodgers, Senator Mattos, Representative Michael Morgan, Representative Leland Morgan, Representative Chris Taylor, and myself.

Committee Work: I serve on the Human Services Committee, where we have been listening to testimony from several non-profit organizations regarding the high costs associated with maintaining the hotel/motel program. The testimony and funding discussions aim to aid our work on the FY26 budget. Committee members are divided into groups to review different budget sections. One group presented the restaurant program proposal, with Anora Horton, Executive Director of Hunger Free Vermont, asking to allow EBT cards to be used at restaurants. While I understand the concept, I'm concerned about individuals and families potentially running out of their monthly benefits and struggling further. There is already a strain on food shelves, and I can imagine that will become worse if the restaurant program is approved. The cost would be approximately $75K to update restaurant systems and about $100K for an employee to run the program. I recommend listening to the live stream meeting for more information, which can be accessed at http://goldendomevt.com.  

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady Chittenden 25

Feb 16, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

Dr. Mark Levine announced his retirement last week. Dr. Levine has led the state's public health efforts for eight years and worked tirelessly during the COVID era for Vermonters.

Each committee has been busy hearing testimony as we dive into the FY 2026 budget. I am on the Human Services Committee and am surprised by the number of organizations that offer the same services. My concern is the administrative cost, with some directors making six-figure salaries. During testimony, the Deputy Commissioner shared that one family had already used free hotel days from another organization and then received 80 days with the state housing program. Some of these groups are asking for millions of dollars in state funds. One group wants $500 million, with an additional $1 million to hire staff. I imagine other committees are struggling with the same issues; my committee is currently working on (H.91). Another concern I have is that hotels/motels will not offer their establishments to house the homeless due to the stipulations put on them in this bill. They are capped at $80 per room by the state, and any payment will be withheld if there are issues with the room, such as leaks. There already isn't enough space for people who have qualified and are most likely sleeping in their vehicles while waiting for a space due to the motels/hotels being full right now with the Cold Weather Exception program. In my opinion, this bill will come at a high cost to taxpayers.

The Education Committee is also continuing to take testimony from the Agency of Education on the Governor's proposal. They are slowly formulating a path forward. The House and Senate Committees on Appropriations held one of two joint public hearings, with one left on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., in person or via video conference.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-appropriations.  Vermonters are encouraged to provide feedback, questions, and comments on the Governor's proposed education transformation plan

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady 

Feb 9, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

Legislative Update for February 4th – February 7th
This week, the UVM soccer team received recognition on the House floor for their victory, earning the first NCAA Division I National Championship title. Additionally, a constituent from Milton, sixteen-year-old Dominic Barcomb, a high school sophomore, had his heart stop in the middle of a basketball game. He and his mother, along with advocates from the American Heart Association, visited the capital promoting legislation to require all schools and sporting events to have a cardiac emergency response plan and an AED (automatic external defibrillator), a device that delivers electric shocks to restore a person's heart rhythm to normal.

On the floor on February 6th, the Budget Adjustment passed 87-51, including a controversial addition of $1.3 million to extend the Cold Weather Emergency Housing for the homeless through June. The House Human Services Committee heard at least two compromise plans:
1. Allocating $50K to continue housing the most vulnerable population until June 30th.
2. Saving hundreds of thousands by extending funding through May when campgrounds open instead of June 30th.
I was in the 51 that voted "no" I am very conservative with taxpayer dollars and just because there is money left over in the budget - does that mean it has to be spent? I was also had a concern regarding the Cold Weather Exemption until the end of June. I believe it defeats the purpose of creating a bill/policy if it isn't going to be followed. Also, another concern is the population of homeless that have applied to get shelter and now cannot access a room in a hotel/motel because they are full. I would of liked to see a compromise with the extension.

All committee work discussions of bills presented at the capital are live-streamed and thanks to http://goldendomevt.com can easily be found to be viewed.

Respectfully submitted, Representative Steady

Feb 4, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

Legislative update for the week of January 28th- January 31st. Each week at the State House is getting busier.

A few bills were passed on the floor unanimously. They are H.27 – An act relating to coercive controlling behavior and abuse prevention orders and H. 35 An act relating to unmerging the individual and small group health insurance markets.

Many adjustments to the current budget have been sent to the Appropriations committee including the Homeless Winter program being extended until June 30th at a cost of approximately $2 million dollars.

My committee Human Services began working on H.13 An act relating to Medicaid payment rates for home and community-based service providers and designated and specialized service agencies and H.91 An act relating to the Emergency Temporary Shelter Program. This is the link to the Human Services committee page. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2026/16. All handouts can be viewed from the testimony that was heard. It is important to hear from constituents regarding bills. I believe it helps to make informed decisions especially with the costs associated with these bill and the effect these increases have on so many Vermonters. While I understand the creators of the bills have good intentions, my own personal concern is the additional costs to implement them. I realize there are so many people that are already struggling to pay their property taxes. If landlords have to raise their rents to pay their own bills, will this cause more homelessness?

Respectfully submitted,  Representative Steady

Jan 27, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

On Wednesday, Secretary of Education, Zoie Saunders, presented Governor Scott's education transformation policy proposal to the Vermont General Assembly. The proposal aims to improve the quality of education for all students while making the system more affordable for taxpayers. The Governor's plan includes a new funding formula designed to be clearer and more sustainable, ensuring equity and affordability for Vermonters.

I serve on the Human Services Committee and this week we worked on budget adjustments. Now that committees have presented the adjustments to the current budget to the Appropriations Committee, my committee will start working on Bill H-13 and Bill-91 this coming week, I remain optimistic that during the campaign process, Vermonters were heard and all parties will work together to make Vermont more affordable. I have a lot to learn and am committed to working hard for my constituents.

Respectfully  Submitted, Representative Steady

Jan 18, 2025

Brenda Steady • State Representative, Chittenden-25 House District

I completed two weeks of the 2025 legislative session. I was appointed to the Human Services committee. I have much to learn. I have met many people, I am hoping can all work together. The Education Committee has a big task but I have confidence that they will bring a good creative funding system to Vermonters. Of course, I think Vermonters were loud and clear during elections that affordability is a priority. I will post updates as I hear them.

Respectfully Submitted, Representative Steady