2025 Town Meeting Report
Representative Troy Headrick – Chittenden 15

Serving as your State Representative for Chittenden 15 has been a tremendous honor, and I am deeply grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me. As I return for my second term, I am proud to continue working on the issues that matter most to our district and to Vermont as a whole.

This session, I have been appointed as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions which oversees the allocation of state infrastructure funding and the creation of policies for the Department of Corrections. Additionally, I continue to serve on the House Sexual Harassment Prevention Panel which investigates complaints and ensures accountability within the State House.

This report provides an overview of the work I am doing on your behalf, from addressing Vermont’s education funding challenges to advocating for policies that support workers, protect marginalized communities, and ensure a more just and equitable Vermont.

Thank you for the privilege of representing you.

 

Education Funding Update
Vermonters have been justifiably hopeful that the General Assembly would act swiftly to “solve” the education funding crisis that became painfully clear after last year’s failed education budgets and the resulting property tax hikes. As we navigate this challenge, it is critical that we examine all potential solutions, including alternative income-based tax revenues to fund public education.

This is precisely why Senator Vyhovsky’s bill, S.104, is an essential piece of this conversation. It proposes transitioning Vermont’s education funding model from one primarily based on property taxes to one based on income. This shift would better align tax liabilities with taxpayers’ ability to pay, providing much-needed relief for homeowners while ensuring renters contribute to the system in a fair and equitable way. Keep in mind that the Governor’s current budget simply “buys down” this year’s property tax increases with one time funding. This sort of transfer now requires significant austerity in other important areas. While that will look impressive in the short term, it is not a sustainable correction to our education funding model.

The Governor’s Plan and Its Timing
Unfortunately, while the legislature has been deeply engaged in discussing solutions, Governor Scott has slow-rolled his response, claiming a commitment to collaboration while withholding any substantial proposals. His administration did not release its education funding plan until the week before the Town Meeting Break, leaving lawmakers little time to properly analyze its 176 pages before the critical crossover deadline upon our return. This is not a demonstration of good-faith governance. It mirrors his past approach such as when he bypassed the legislative approval process for his Education Secretary, thereby substituting unilateral executive action for genuine legislative input.

Key Components of the Governor’s Proposal
Among the notable elements of his plan is an attempt to limit the flow of public dollars to private education providers. He appears willing to concede that public education dollars should remain within the state rather than being funneled to out-of-state or out-of-country institutions. While this is a welcome recognition, it does not override the significant concerns raised by other aspects of his plan.

Concerns and Considerations Moving Forward
As committee conversations continue, I will be particularly focused on the following:

• Preserving Local Control: The Governor’s plan would severely limit local decision-making on public education, shifting power away from communities and into the hands of centralized administrators.
• Impact on Teachers’ Unions: By consolidating oversight, his proposal could dramatically weaken teachers’ unions and their ability to negotiate on behalf of Vermont’s dedicated educators.
• Funding Equity: If we are moving toward a foundational funding model, we must ensure that it accounts for the diverse and complex needs of students across Vermont. Many communities are charged with educating students who require additional resources, and any funding framework must recognize these disparities.

I anticipate that my concerns will align closely with responses from the Vermont-NEA and the Public Assets Institute, both of whom have contributed meaningfully to this conversation. Their insights will be crucial as we determine the best path forward for ensuring a fair and sustainable education funding system.

For more thoughts on this issue and my concerns about manufactured divisions in the education funding debate, I encourage you to read my past blog post: Our Educational Funding Crisis: Watch for Manufactured Division.

 

A Commitment to Truth: Advancing House Bill H.362

The Irrefutable History We Must Acknowledge
My advocacy for the Odanak and Wôlinak First Nations, along with the Vermont allies who support them, has drawn considerable attention in recent weeks. This attention has taken many forms – some have welcomed an overdue discussion about Vermont’s state recognition process, while others have reacted with frustration or outright opposition. I want to be completely upfront about my position and my continued advocacy: I will remain steadfast in centering the voices of Odanak and Wôlinak First Nations, and I do not see this as a “both sides” discussion.

From the beginning, my intent has been clear: to correct what I see as errors made by previous legislative assemblies when developing Vermont’s state recognition process. These decisions disregarded well-established national and international best practices for recognizing Indigenous communities and we now have overwhelming evidence that Vermont’s process has led to outcomes that are fundamentally flawed.

Key Provisions of H.362

• Strengthening Recognition Standards – The bill requires that groups seeking recognition in Vermont provide verifiable genealogical evidence of Indigenous ancestry. This evidence must be assessed by independent experts and informed by input from federally or internationally recognized Indigenous communities, ensuring that our recognition process is rigorous and rooted in fact.
• Ending Conflicts of Interest – Individuals affiliated with or employed by groups seeking state recognition will be prohibited from serving on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs (VCNAA) while their applications are pending. This is a fundamental safeguard to ensure that the recognition process is fair and impartial.
• Enhancing Transparency – The bill requires that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) adhere to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law to promote public trust and ensure accountability in its decision-making.
• Implementing Stronger Oversight – H.362 calls for a legislative oversight committee to review the TRC’s work, as well as a third-party audit to ensure its actions align with its intended purpose.

Legislation to Protect Marginalized Communities, Strengthen Workers’ Rights, and Address Burlington’s Housing Crisis
As the legislative session progresses, I remain committed to advancing policies that safeguard our most vulnerable communities. In partnership with Vermont Queer Legal Professionals (VTQLP) and the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP), I have introduced key legislation to protect LGBTQ+ rights, support migrants, and address injustices in our corrections system.

Additionally, I am continuing my efforts to pass labor-friendly legislation that strengthens the rights of workers, particularly in higher education. I have also reintroduced a bill aimed at addressing the University of Vermont’s impact on Burlington’s housing crisis, recognizing that the university’s enrollment and housing policies contribute significantly to affordability challenges in the city.

LGBTQ+ Protections
I have introduced several bills to expand legal and healthcare protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Vermont, ensuring access to gender-affirming care and recognizing the diverse realities of Vermont families:

• H. 55 – Expanding Coverage for Gender-Affirming Medical Procedures and Fertility Care
  Strengthens health insurance coverage for procedures essential to LGBTQ+ individuals and families.
• H. 56 – Stockpiling Essential Medications for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Healthcare
  Ensures Vermont has a secure supply of necessary medications, protecting access from potential federal restrictions.

While both of these bills had early support from many legislators, including the Chair of the committee of jurisdiction, they have been postponed by the fact that the Governor has provided funding to stockpile abortion medication within the Budget Adjustment Act. While I applaud this method of support, I remain concerned that gender affirming medication and treatment remains at risk from federal mandates. I will continue to focus on getting the concepts from these two bills introduced within possible formats of any relevant Senate bills.

• H. 33 – Expanding LGBTQ-Inclusive Definitions in Vermont Parental and Family Leave Law
  Updates parental and family leave policies to reflect the full spectrum of Vermont families.
• H. 98 – Streamlining Confirmatory Adoption Processes
  (This bill has already passed out of the House)
  Simplifies legal procedures for LGBTQ+ parents to establish parental rights, reducing unnecessary legal barriers.
• H. 194 – Mandating High-Capacity, All-Gender Restrooms in Public Schools
  Requires public schools to have inclusive, accessible restroom facilities.
• H. 351 – Revised DMV Licensure for Gender-Affirming Recognition
  (Expected to be incorporated into a Senate DMV bill)
  Updates identification and licensure policies to ensure fair treatment and gender-affirming documentation options for all Vermonters. The bill also strengthens DMV policy to accurately list names that extend beyond current input fields and that contain special characters such as hyphens, the acute accent, the tilde, etc.

Migrant Protections
Vermont must continue to be a safe haven for those fleeing persecution. This session, I have introduced:

• H. 298 – Prohibition of Vermont DOC Collaboration with ICE
  Ends any collaboration between Vermont’s Department of Corrections and federal immigration enforcement, ensuring Vermont does not participate in unjust deportation practices.

Corrections Reform
The prison system disproportionately harms marginalized communities. To address this, I have introduced:

• H. 32 – Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in Corrections
  Expands access to medically assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in Vermont prisons, aligning with evidence-based harm reduction strategies.
• H. 191 – End For-Profit Prisons
  Prohibits the use of private, for-profit prisons in Vermont to prevent financial incentives from driving incarceration policies.
• H. 219 – Expanding Kids Apart Program and Parental Visitation Rights
  (This bill passed out of my committee on February 27th on a vote of 9-1-1 )
  Strengthens support systems for incarcerated parents and their children, ensuring more opportunities for meaningful family connections. The bill expands the tremendously successful Kids Apart program beyond the women’s facility and into one of our men’s facilities with directives to expand into all correctional facilities by 2028.
• H. 294 – Fair Pay and Commissary Pricing in Correctional Facilities
  Ensures incarcerated individuals receive fair wages for their labor, limits exploitive profit margins on commissary items, and provides free telecommunication options.
• H. 436 – Reentry and Low-Security Housing for Incarcerated Individuals
  Creates pathways for safer, more effective reentry by expanding low-security and transitional housing options for incarcerated individuals returning to their communities.

Labor Protections & Higher Education Reform
As part of my commitment to Vermont’s working class, I have introduced legislation to expand worker protections, particularly in higher education:

• H. 22 – Severance Pay Transparency
  Prevents severance pay agreements from being exempt from public records laws, ensuring transparency in public employment contracts.
• H. 173 – Higher Education Labor Bill of Rights / Right to Strike
  Ensures that higher education faculty and staff in Vermont have the right to unionize and strike.
• H. 198 – UVM Faculty and Staff Board of Trustees Representation
  Requires the University of Vermont to have faculty and staff representation on its Board of Trustees, ensuring that the university’s decision-making includes the perspectives of those who work there.

Addressing Burlington’s Housing Crisis
The University of Vermont’s enrollment and housing policies contribute significantly to Burlington’s housing affordability crisis. This session, I have reintroduced legislation to directly address UVM’s impact on the local housing market:

• H. 170 – UVM Housing Reform
  Seeks to establish policies that mitigate UVM’s strain on the Burlington housing market, ensuring that the university takes responsibility for the impact of its student housing policies.

Each of these bills reflects our commitment to a more just, inclusive, and humane Vermont. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues, advocates, and community members to push these priorities forward.

If any of the issues addressed within these bills is especially important to you, please consider reaching out to the members and the Chair of the committee of jurisdiction. You can find that information listed on the page linked to each bill number. From there, click on the listed committee of jurisdiction to find a side menu that lists all committee members.

Additionally, I will always remain available to make any introductions you feel might be helpful for initiating more personal conversations with the legislators that currently sit within these committees that hold the pending legislation. I remain as available to you as I can possibly be for talking about these issues or any additional topics that remain important to you as we all work together at creating a just and accessible government that serves ALL Vermonters and assures that our basic needs are met.

Reach out any time:
TroyHeadrickVT@gmail.com
(802) 391-9552