In the Statehouse

[June 2022: Page to be updated soon!]
[Well, haven’t gotten around to it. See 2022 Legislative Report, or email or call me!]

In addition to committee work, legislators generally join caucuses focused on specific issues.

I participate in several caucuses:

• Climate Solutions Caucus

• Rural Economic Development Working Group

• Social Equity Caucus

• Working Vermonters Caucus

• Older Vermonters Caucus

As part of the Climate Solutions Caucus, I used my background in energy efficiency and housing to chair a “Thermal [Building] Efficiency Working Group” with other legislators. We held four meetings last summer (2019), heard from two dozen stakeholder organizations, and drafted recommendations and four priorities for the 2020 session. The first two priorities are included in a bill I proposed, H.719. Unfortunately, the covid crisis effectively stopped new initiatives. If re-elected, I will try again next year.

What I’ve Been Working On

I serve on the House Energy & Technology Committee.

One of our key bills in 2019 was the “Broadband Bill” H.513, which became Act 79. It sets out a path to empower local groups to fill the gaps in Internet access in their communities.

Over summer and fall, I assisted the effort to form a Communications Union District (CUD) with 26 other NEK towns, as envisioned by Act 79.

At the 2020 March Town Meeting ballot, all 27 towns including St. Johnsbury voted to join an NEK-wide CUD. This is the first step on a long road of many years, but it is a really important first step! In the recovery period after the crisis, NEK Community Broadband will be positioned to benefit from any rebuilding funds that become available.

The priority in front of us in the 2020 session was confronting the climate emergency. We drafted what is known as the Global Warming Solutions Act (H.688), though obviously Vermont cannot “solve global warming.” It is actually about preparedness, resilience, mitigation and taking responsibility for our contribution to the problem. See my commentary published 9/11/20.

The Governor vetoed H.688 just after that commentary appeared. In the waning hours of the covid-extended 2020 session, House and Senate overrode the Governor’s veto. The bill is now law.

At this writing, two days after the end of the session on 9/25, I am turning my attention to bills for the next biennium. I will again search for ways to build consensus to raise building energy performance standards, and to further build-out and affordability of broadband.