Vermont Issues

Pro-Democracy Organizing

We are responding to this unprecedented moment in our nation’s history by organizing people who want to take action in response to rising authoritarianism and fascism at the federal level. We coordinate with in-state partners and national networks on timely calls to action that respond to issues of the moment. We know that a mass movement of non-compliance is necessary to hold the federal government accountable to the standards of the constitution, defend democratic norms, protect vital social programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and push back against the inhumane actions taken by the Trump administration against immigrants, trans people, and people of color.

Progressive Taxation

Due to the passage of H.R. 1 (One Big ‘Beautiful’ Bill Act), the top 1% of Vermont income-earners are set to receive an average federal tax cut of $57,000 per filer in 2026. Meanwhile, reduced federal funding for programs Vermonters rely on is putting additional pressure on Vermont families.

We have joined the Fair Share for Vermont Campaign, which is calling on legislators to pass tax reform so that the wealthiest Vermonters will pay their fair share of taxes.

Tenant Protections

RAD VT has been engaged in pro-tenant policy since 2021, when we supported a campaign for Just Cause Eviction (JCE) policy in Burlington. Between 2021 and 2025, we passed Just Cause Charter Changes in four Vermont municipalities (Burlington, Essex, Montpelier, and Winooski); unfortunately, the Vermont legislature has failed to approve them, which means that the existing no-cause policy remains in force statewide.

This session, a housing bill is gaining momentum in the Vermont House (H. 772) that would shorten eviction timelines and deprive tenants of due process, putting more Vermonters at risk of homelessness. We are collaborating with Vermont Legal Aid, CVOEO, Vermont Interfaith Action, End Homelessness Vermont, and the VT ACLU to coordinate a response. We are also planning to take part in the Our Homes, Our Votes Summit being planned by CVOEO for late April.

Healthcare

After passing Act 48 in 2011, the State of Vermont failed to implement the law that was designed to establish a single-payer universal healthcare system for the state. Despite multiple attempts to ensure universal insurance coverage over the years, the state of health care in Vermont is dire: the state has the highest premiums in the nation, rural hospitals are closing, some Vermonters who saw their premiums skyrocket when the ACA premium subsidies ended in January are declining to enroll in health insurance, and cuts to Medicaid will result in even more Vermonters losing health insurance in the coming year.

We have joined the 802 Vermont Universal Healthcare Coalition to demand that the legislature fulfill the state’s responsibility to implement Act 48.

Climate

We are tracking a variety of climate bills through our participation in the Act On Climate coalition, including:

H.600 / S.191, which would uphold Biden-era efficiency standards for appliances sold in Vermont

S.202,which would allow Vermonters to use plug-in portable solar systems

H.710, which would change the definition of “Single Plant” to streamline co-location of solar plants with other land uses

H.727, which would place sensible safeguards on the growth of data centers in Vermont

H.740, which would create a greenhouse gas emissions reporting program within the Agency of Natural Resources