Vermont’s Bold Legislative Moves

Vermont just shut down its legislative session with a whirlwind of bold moves: it became the first state to ban paraquat, a Parkinson’s-linked herbicide, phasing it out by 2030 with special-use permits. Healthcare got a shot in the arm with a bill to implement reference-based pricing for hospitals—though Governor Scott may veto it, claiming regulators already have the tools. Transportation’s $33 million shortfall is being tackled by cutting DOT jobs and shifting sales tax from car purchases to fund roads, while EV owners will pay mileage or flat fees starting 2027. Housing got $83 million to overhaul emergency shelters, prioritizing access and new models—but providers fear motel cuts before alternatives are ready. Civil rights expanded with new lawsuits against federal officials for constitutional violations, plus a push to ban immigration arrests in schools and houses of worship. And in a nod to rural voices, they partially rolled back a controversial land use law from two years ago. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5a98e1a08daa825f