Vermont House advances FY25 budget after lengthy floor presentations; third reading ordered after 104-39 roll call

The Vermont House ordered third reading of H.883, the fiscal year 2025 budget, after extended floor reports from the House Appropriations Committee and a roll-call vote of 104-39.

The Appropriations Committee's reporting member emphasized that the House's recommendation remains close to the governor's proposal, noting the chamber accounted explicitly for a $12 million "pension-plus" payment to improve long-term retiree funding and kept reserves fully funded. "This budget is balanced," the member reporting for the committee said, adding that the House restored a $9 million base funding line for childcare that the governor had proposed to remove.

Why it matters: The budget frames the state's fiscal priorities for the coming year and includes policy language and targeted appropriations that affect education, human services, housing, public safety and capital projects. Committee speakers walked members through hundreds of pages of web-report B-numbers and highlighted both base and one-time investments intended to maintain core programs while positioning the state for future federal matches.

Key elements and committee priorities included restored investments for childcare and education fund payments to school districts; $10 million to Vermont State Colleges as part of a multi-year bridge commitment; ARPA reallocations to support FEMA match and hazard mitigation; $30 million in ARPA for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board; and targeted increases for mental-health crisis specialists within public safety and embedded services for the judiciary and health programs.

Committee members also identified several policy and administrative provisions in the bill: direction for the Department for Children and Families on a new family-services IT system funded with a mix of state carryforward and matching federal money, language enabling summer EBT implementation, and adjustments to the education fund formulas cited by page and B-number for reference.

Process and next steps: The Appropriations Committee presented a multi-member floor report comprising sequential section highlights. After amendments and motions were considered on the floor, the House approved third reading on the roll call. With third reading ordered, the bill moves to the Senate for further consideration under the Legislature's schedule.

What was not decided: Lawmakers debated several floor amendments during the day, including process and funding questions tied to flood recovery and housing. A separate package of housing legislation (H.829) was discussed but not finally acted on during this session; it remains before the House with multi-committee amendments attached. The Appropriations Committee and the joint fiscal office will continue to provide fiscal notes and implementation detail as the bill advances.

The House recessed for dinner with further consideration of housing items and bill order to follow.