Bill H.31

News: Governor Scott signed this bill on June 12, 2023. Click here to read the final version of the bill.
The study committee will convened and will submit a written report of its findings on or before December 15, 2023.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
April 26 - 28, 2023

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy took testimony from both those in favor of H.31 and those opposed to it on April 26, 27, and 28. They unanimously passed the bill (5-0-0) on April 28. (The moratorium had already been removed from the bill.)

Click here to read all the written testimony sent to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

April 26, 2023

Testimony by:
—Rep. Seth Bongartz, House Committee on Natural Resources (sponsor)
—John Beling, DEC Commissioner (opposed)
—Jon Groveman, Vermont Natural Resources Council (in favor)
—Bob Stannard (in favor)

April 26, 2023

Bill walk through
—Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

April 27, 2023

Testimony by:
—Julie Silverman, Conservation Law Foundation (in favor)
—Jan Jones, retired teacher (in favor)
—Rob Steele, Tom’s Bait Shop (in favor)
—Oliver Pierson, DEC (opposed)
—Lindsey Waterhouse, LBA (opposed)
—Luca Conte, LBPT (opposed)

April 28, 2023

Testimony by:
—Rob Evans, DEC

Committee vote