Vermont Legislature

The House Committee on Ways and Means has spent the last three weeks crafting proposals that would raise income taxes on households that earn more than $586,000 a year. Though the legislation has no chance of becoming law this year, some Democrats hope the debate will resonate with voters heading into the midterm elections.

Regulators believe a little-known federal rule is costing some Vermonters on Medicare tens of millions of dollars a year.

For years, Rep. Debbie Dolgin and her husband brought cases before an assistant judge who issued arrest warrants to collect unpaid debts from their tenants. As a major landlord-tenant bill is actively debated, Dolgin says she sees no conflict in her roles.

The proposed buydown is by far the largest discretionary line item in the state budget that cleared the Senate this week. And it could emerge as one of the biggest sticking points as the Legislature and the governor negotiate a final version of the $9.3 billion spending plan.

Vermont is following in the footsteps of a small handful of states who have expanded prescribing authority, which is typically reserved for psychiatrists, in hopes of alleviating provider shortages.

Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law this week that extends the time limits for prosecuting voyeurism cases. The law was prompted by a Vermont Public story about a filmmaker who avoided criminal charges for recording two teenagers without their knowledge.

Though federal law allows citizens to sue state and local officials for excessive use of force, unlawful searches and other constitutional breaches, there’s no comparable recourse for transgressions by federal officials.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott says he won’t let a state budget go into law unless the Legislature approves an education reform bill that includes mandatory school district consolidation. House lawmakers have refused to budge on forced mergers, and they've begun preparing for a government shutdown over the issue.

Lawmakers want municipalities to use less road salt. Republican Gov. Phil Scott worries the measure could expose towns and cities to costly lawsuits.

Scott bypassed nominees from the Burlington Democratic Committee in favor of a more conservative candidate recommended by a fellow Republican.