Vermont’s affordable housing crisis isn’t just about money — it’s about rules. From Act 250 delays to outdated fire codes, the state has built a maze that stops small builders and sidelines old rentals. The result: fewer units, higher rents
From Act 250’s debut in 1970 to Act 181 of 2024, Vermont’s land-use laws have expanded from local oversight to a unified system of ecological control. Each statute looked narrow; together they’ve transformed ownership itself. If the state s
In 2016, a short bill labeled “An act relating to timber harvesting” quietly rewrote Vermont’s land-use laws. A single sentence requiring towns to map “forest blocks” and “habitat connectors” became the foundation for the Vermont Conservati
Five powerful environmental lobbying groups — VPIRG, VNRC, EAN, CLF, and VCV — dominate Vermont’s State House, shaping laws from the Global Warming Solutions Act to the Clean Heat Standard. With nearly three lobbyists for every lawmaker, Mo
Maine’s harm-reduction programs are under fire after reports confirmed publicly funded “boofing kits” — rectal drug-use supplies — distributed through nonprofits receiving state and federal grants. The controversy exposes how “safer-use” mo
Prostate cancer often shows no symptoms, but early detection can mean the difference between full recovery and a fight for survival. The PSA and digital rectal exams aren’t perfect—far from it—but used regularly, they save lives. Sometimes,
Vermont keeps breaking ground on sweeping laws—the Clean Water Act, Three-Acre Rule, Global Warming Solutions Act, and Clean Heat Standard—before anyone knows how they’ll work or what they’ll cost. These “golden albatrosses” touch every pro
Vermonters can track every bill, hearing, and vote through the state’s official legislative site, goldendomevt.com, and YouTube. From live committee streams to searchable transcripts and daily schedules, it’s all open to the public — no pas
Vermont’s Administrative Procedure Act quietly gives citizens surprising power. Just 25 Vermonters can force a state agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule — or demand that an agency formalize or drop an unofficial policy. It’s
Vermont’s environmental policy loop has turned circular: the same advocacy lawyers who help write state rules are now suing farms and agencies for not enforcing them fast enough or good enough. Registered lobbyists for CLF and VNRC drafted
A new Clean Water Act lawsuit against a Panton dairy could redefine how Vermont farms manage water. Environmental groups claim pesticides are “spewing” from tile drains into Dead Creek, but data show common farm chemicals at levels typical
Vermont’s workplace drug-testing law prohibits random tests and requires employers to offer rehabilitation before firing workers who test positive. Strict procedures under 21 V.S.A. §§ 513–514 outline how tests must be conducted, making Ver
