The Vermont Senate got together on Friday and gave the nod to a revised version of the House’s education bill. The next step is for it to head to a conference committee next week where they’ll hash out any differences.
The legislative session in Vermont has been dragging on for quite some time, and with the finish line in sight, the Senate finally managed to push through an education reform bill after some intense back-and-forth. While there wasn’t an official roll call, it seemed like the Democrats were in favor of the bill, while the Republicans were against it.
This bill is quite similar to the one that made its way through the House, but with a few significant changes. The Senate had been working on its own version for weeks, but that plan got tossed out the window on Thursday when it became evident that it wouldn’t gather enough support to pass.
The next stop for the bill is back to the House and then off to a conference committee made up of three members from each chamber. This group will work together to find a middle ground between the two versions. Governor Phil Scott’s stance on the bill is still up in the air, as he expressed concerns about both the House and Senate versions. However, he remains hopeful that the conference committee will lead to a solution that aligns with his priorities.
Getting the bill through on Friday was no easy feat and required days of closed-door meetings and negotiations. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth emphasized the urgency of getting the legislation across the finish line, revealing that the governor had threatened to call the legislature back into session if they adjourned without passing an education reform bill.
At a Democratic caucus the day before, Senator Ruth Hardy came prepared with her own comprehensive amendment to the bill, which retained much of the House’s language but included several key changes. After some pushback from fellow Democrats, a compromise was eventually reached, and the amended bill was presented to the caucus on Friday.
The amended bill maintains the House’s base foundation formula amount but introduces some new conditions. It also calls for a new study to create a more refined formula that could eventually replace the existing one. Additionally, the bill sets out plans for a redistricting committee and other provisions aimed at improving the education system in Vermont.
Despite some hiccups along the way, the bill finally passed through the Senate on Friday evening. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth commended both parties for working together to move the legislation forward, highlighting the Senate’s resilience throughout the process.
As the legislative session in Vermont nears its end, the focus will now shift to the next steps in the education reform process. With various amendments and compromises in play, the conference committee will have its work cut out for them as they strive to create a bill that satisfies all parties involved.
