Page 2 - Peter Dauria News Today

H.53 would eliminate the state’s ability to suspend a person’s driving privileges solely because they have not paid the fine for a moving violation — such as speeding, running a red light or banging an unlawful uey.

The proposal would allow voters who are ill, injured, disabled, members of the military or Vermonters living overseas to return their ballots through an online cloud.

S.32 comes after a different, more robust ranked choice voting bill melted away last year. Lawmakers came back this year with the idea to limit implementation of the system to presidential primaries as a trial run.

An amendment to this year’s omnibus transportation bill would increase most fees that the DMV charges — for new driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations and license plates, among others — by nearly 20%.

Spokesperson Jason Maulucci told VTDigger on Friday that the Governor’s Office is watching as lawmakers scale back some of Gov. Phil Scott’s highest priority items.

Friday was the deadline for bills to clear their committee of origin. Those that didn’t are unlikely to become law this session.

“Our laws should protect people, not push them further toward the margins of our society,” Sen. Becca White said at a press conference calling on Vermont to decriminalize sex work.

The current version of the bill would require the Vermont Pension Investment Commission to create a plan to divest Vermont’s three statutory pension plans — with a few exemptions — from the fossil fuel industry by 2031.

The legislative session’s midway Town Meeting break marks a brief respite before legislators return to a flurry of activity leading up to Crossover Day.

Vermont Democratic Party executive director Jim Dandeneau said the party had no role in planning or promoting the Victory Institute’s reception.