Legislative Update 03.14.24
Table of Contents
FULL 03.14.24 WEEKLY AUDIO RECORDING (roughly 6 minutes)
(includes all sections of the legislative summary)
H.706 Neonicotinoid Pesticides
Modeled after legislation that passed in New York last year, H.706 would prohibit the use of
field crop seeds (corn, soy, wheat, and cereal) treated with neonicotinoids ("neonics") starting in 2029, restrict outdoor uses of neonics that are harmful to pollinators, and require best management practices for allowed neonicotinoid uses. H.706 has passed out of the House Agriculture Committee and is expected to be up for a full House vote by Friday this week.
Status: H.706 was voted on in favor by the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry and was voted on in favor earlier this week by the House Committee on Ways and Means (8-4-0).
H.603 Selling Uninspected Parted Poultry
Vermont statute limits the marketability of uninspected poultry to whole birds only. The Poultry Map and Chart of the Farm-To-Consumer Legal Defense Fund shows what’s legal state by state regarding on-farm processing of poultry without inspection. It shows that many states allow for the sale of uninspected poultry in parts in alignment with standing USDA Guidance. This bill proposes to allow for the sale of poultry in parts and would boost direct-to-consumer margins and sales.
Status: H.603 passed the House and hearings in the Senate Committee on Agriculture began.
H.612 & H.549 Cannabis
H. 612 is the miscellaneous cannabis bill and H. 549 is a bill around outdoor cannabis production. The Cannabis Equity Coalition is advocating to address directly funding racial and social equity with money from the cannabis excise tax and how that relates to ag, land, housing, and food; the need to address market equity for producers and manufacturers related to direct sales of plants, seeds, and the products they produce; and a number of ways in which the committee could work to further institutionalize outdoor cultivation as agriculture in VT in order to support producers and address substantial barriers.
Status: H. 612 is still being discussed in the House Committee on Ways and Means and on their agenda for Thursday 9am; H.549 is in the House Committee on Environment and Energy with no hearing scheduled for this week.
S.197 Procurement and distribution of PFAS
Due to adverse health conditions attributed to PFAS, this bill would charge an inter agency collaboration to propose a program requiring the State to identify and restrict the sale and distribution of consumer products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that could impact public health and the environment.
Status: Voted unanimously in favor by the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare 3/12
H.626 Animal Welfare
This bill proposes to establish a new Division of Animal Welfare at the Department of Public Safety to develop, implement, and administer a centralized program for investigating and enforcing animal welfare requirements on and off farms in the State. The bill would also amend or establish best management standards for the operation of animal shelters and animal rescue organizations. In addition, the bill would amend or establish requirements for the importation or transportation of animals into the State.
Status: This bill is up for vote in the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs on Thursday at 2pm.
H.128 Accessory On-Farm Businesses
H.128 clarifies the definition of "accessory on-farm business" and exempts those businesses, as well as small forest products manufacturers, from needing an Act 250 permit.
Status: It has passed out of the House Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry Committee and has been referred to the House Environment & Energy Committee. It's unclear whether this bill will make the crossover deadline.
H.813 Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program
H.813 proposes to establish the Tree Fruit Farmer Assistance Program to provide grants to tree fruit farmers who suffered production losses in calendar year 2023 due to freezing or frost conditions.
Status: The bill is currently in the possession of the House Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry Committee and not yet scheduled for a vote in that committee.
H.687 Reforming the Natural Resources Board
This bill seeks to reform the name, functioning and composition of the Natural Resources Board (NRB) to review appeals to Act 250 permitting in the future as the Environmental Review Board. Any appeal to the Supreme Court would then accept the Board’s findings unless clearly erroneous. The new board would retain current duties of the NRB and also review applications of the planned growth area designations, review future land use maps or regional plans - including those that establish rural and working lands areas.
Status: This bill has been worked on for many years and has gone through multiple revisions this session as well. It’s up for vote in the House Committee on Environment and Energy on Thursday at 1pm.
NOFA-VT Food Access Program Funding (Budget Request)
NOFA-VT is seeking an appropriation of $478,500 in base funding in FY25 to support two local food access programs, Crop Cash (Plus) and Farm Share, that enhance food security while supporting farm viability.
Status: The funding request was supported by the House Agriculture Committee and is being considered by the House Appropriations Committee as they draft their version of the FY25 budget.