While the legislature may have adjourned a month ago, we are back with a policy update reviewing the record setting veto session that took place on Tuesday, and to share about Common Good VT’s recent trip to the nation’s capitol to participate in the 2023 Nonprofit Lobby Day hosted by the National Council of Nonprofits.
Veto Session
On Tuesday, June 20th, VT lawmakers returned to Montpelier for what was scheduled to be a 3-day Veto Session to determine the fate of the eight bills vetoed by the Governor after the session adjourned. Governor Scott has issued the most vetoes of any governor, but throughout Vermont’s history, only 14 vetoed bills have been overturned. To overturn a veto, both the House and Senate must vote the bill through again with a 2/3 majority. With super-majorities in both chambers, however, lawmakers were able to overturn an impressive five out of the eight vetoes, and still adjourn on day one shortly after 5 pm. The bills that made it through are:
- H. 494: An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government (The Budget)
Leading up to the veto session, majority leaders faced a tricky path to passing the budget – the only legislation they needed to pass to keep the government funded. A block of democrats, enough to threaten the supermajority, planned to vote against the budget if their concerns around discontinuing the emergency motel housing program were not addressed. A last minute deal struck between legislative leadership and the Governor, however, led to a bill that both sides could accept. This bill passed by a 105-42 vote in the House and a 25-5 vote in the Senate. While the agreement will not restore housing for those who have already lost benefits under narrowed eligibility requirements, it will extend shelter to about 2,000 folks until 4/1/24. You can read more about additional changes to the emergency motel housing program included in the deal here. - H. 217: An act relating to child care, early education, workers’ compensation, and unemployment insurance
Legislators overturned the Governor’s veto of this significant legislation by a 116-31 vote in the House and a 23-7 vote in the Senate. In addition to making monumental investments into our childcare system, H. 217 includes the nonprofit unemployment insurance provisions Common Good VT has be advocating around. We expect to be working with the Department of Labor in the coming months to provide outreach and education to nonprofits about their liabilities and options surrounding unemployment insurance…stay tuned for more information! You can read more the childcare legislation here. - H. 305: An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation
- H. 509: An act relating to approval of amendments to the voter qualification provisions of the charter of the City of Burlington
- H. 386: An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Brattleboro
UPDATED 6/29: Also during the veto session, S. 103, An act relating to amending the prohibitions against discrimination, passed out of the Senate and was delivered to the Governor. This bill expands and clarifies the definition of harassment and expands equal pay protections for additional groups. On June 28, Scott signed the bill into law. Read more here.
Nonprofit Lobby Day
On June 14th, Common Good VT represented Vermont nonprofits on Capitol Hill by participating in 2023 Nonprofit Lobby Day hosted by the National Council of Nonprofits. Thank you to Representative Balint and Senator Sanders’s staff for meeting with us to discuss priorities for the nonprofit sector. We urged our congressional delegation to support policy solutions that provide nonprofits with the representation and resources they need to help our communities not just survive, but thrive.
Specifically, we asked for their support on three key bills:
- Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2022 (H.R. 3032)
- Increases the Charitable Mileage Rate for nonprofit volunteer drivers delivering people or products on behalf of nonprofits to the standard business rate, currently set at $65.5/mile.
- Eliminates taxation of mileage reimbursements up to the business rate.
- The Charitable Act (H.R. 3435/S. 566)
- Provides a non-itemizer deduction of up to one-third of the standard deduction (approx. $4,600/individual and $9,200/couple).
- Available in 2023 and 2024.
- Nonprofit Stakeholders Engaging and Advancing Together Act (H.R. 3245)
- Establishes a White House Office on Nonprofit Sector Partnership, an Interagency Council, and Federal Advisory Board, giving nonprofits a voice in federal policy.
- Creates a commission to promote enforcement of nonprofit protections in the OMB Uniform Guidance, requires BLS to issue quarterly nonprofit jobs/wages reports, and promotes volunteerism.
In addition to discussing the impact these bills would have on the sector, particularly in the context of a workforce shortage, we also tied our conversation back to challenges with government grants and contracting and a lack of sector specific data. It was great to connect with our national leadership and strengthen our relationships. We look forward to returning to Nonprofit Lobby Day in 2024!