House Appropriations backs substitute to allow Office of Racial Equity to contract with Vermont Language Justice Project

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday supported a substitute to S.243 that would let the Office of Racial Equity (ORE) contract with the Vermont Language Justice Project to prepare informational materials for Vermonters who speak languages other than English, including for disease outbreaks, natural disasters and other public-health emergencies.

The committee chair opened the session saying the committee would withdraw its earlier amendment and hold two straw polls. Ray D'Arfano, who introduced himself as representing House student services in Essex and Essex Junction, told members the substitute was intended to broaden access across state agencies rather than limit the funds to a single department. "The money that's sitting with the Office of Racial Equity ... is an allowable use for that money," D'Arfano said, noting the committee was not adding new funding but seeking to make roughly "$150,000" available in fiscal year 2027 from ORE funds if needed.

The substitute language, read into the record by a presenter for Human Services, would replace section 2 of the Human Services Committee report so that "in fiscal year 2027, the Office of Racial Equity may contract with the Vermont Language Justice Project to prepare informational materials at the request of state agencies and departments as needed." The language also directs Buildings & General Services (BGS) to assist the Vermont Language Justice Project in navigating the state's approved-contractor process so agencies can access the group's services more quickly in emergencies.

Committee members pressed on procurement and legal concerns. One member warned that naming a specific organization in statute could create an appearance of favoritism and open the state to legal challenge; the member suggested authorizing ORE to contract for the service type without identifying the entity. A presenter and D'Arfano responded that naming the Vermont Language Justice Project was a policy choice by Human Services and that the substitute softens previous language by framing BGS's role as assistance rather than guaranteeing automatic listing as an approved contractor. The presenter said the substitute does not remove normal procurement requirements.

On procedure, members clarified the provision would operate as session law limited to fiscal year 2027 and debated whether the group must be an approved contractor before receiving funds. Presenters said they would confirm the sequencing; committees noted that agencies can also contract through regular procurement (RFP/bid) if the Vermont Language Justice Project wins a competitive process.

The committee then held two straw polls. The chair called for a motion to withdraw the committee's earlier amendment; the motion was moved by "John" and seconded by "Dave," and the clerk announced a tally recorded as 10 yes, 0 no, 1 absent. The committee then polled on supporting the substitute amendment; after the roll call the chair indicated the committee would return the measure to the floor for action.

Members and presenters emphasized the substitute's intent to make existing ORE funds available for timely multilingual communications across state agencies, particularly for emergencies, while preserving procurement safeguards. The committee returned the bill to the floor for further action; the chair said the Senate would take it up next and thanked the presenters for attending.