Vermont

Democrats and Progressives control both chambers of the Legislature. Republican Governor Phil Scott, now in his fifth term, governs by veto. After Republicans gained seats in 2024, Democrats lost the guaranteed votes to override him on every bill.

The result is a state where the progressive majority passes laws and the governor blocks them — or forces compromises that water them down. In the last full session, lawmakers overrode six of eight vetoes. That math no longer holds.

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Education property taxes are crushing Vermont families

Education property taxes have risen more than 40% in the past five years. A 38% spike hit in 2024 alone. Another 12% increase was projected for 2026.

40%+ increase in education property taxes over five years

Vermont funds schools through a statewide property tax pool. Every community’s budget decisions affect tax rates everywhere. Enrollment keeps dropping. Spending keeps rising. Small towns in Addison County are carrying more than $100,000 in unpaid education property taxes.

Governor Scott proposed $105 million in one-time money to buy down the 2026 rate increase by roughly half. He is threatening to veto the state budget unless lawmakers pass legislation forcing school district consolidation. The Legislature’s version — Act 73 — relies on voluntary mergers. Scott says voluntary is not enough.

82% of school budgets were approved by voters in March 2026, even with the property tax outlook. Voters want their schools funded. They also cannot afford the bill.

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Vermont does not have enough homes

Governor Scott issued Executive Order 06-25 to streamline housing development, accelerate permitting, and reduce regulatory barriers. The order also eases building energy efficiency standards — putting housing goals in direct tension with the state’s legally binding climate commitments.

The housing shortage drives up rents, pushes families out of the state, and makes post-flood recovery harder. When homes are destroyed in a flood and there is nowhere else to live, the shortage becomes a public safety problem.

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Vermont keeps flooding and the state is making oil companies pay

Vermont flooded in 2019, twice in 2023, and again in 2024. Rivers that never used to overflow are overflowing regularly. Entire downtowns have been rebuilt and flooded again within twelve months.

In 2024, between two rounds of catastrophic flooding, Vermont became the first state to pass a Climate Superfund Act. The law requires oil companies to pay for climate-related damage based on their share of global emissions. Industry groups are challenging it in court. Initial briefing concluded in early 2026.

The Legislature also passed a modernized Renewable Energy Standard through the Senate, and S.138 would expand the C-PACE program to let commercial and industrial buildings finance efficiency and resilience upgrades through property assessments.

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The governor’s veto pen got stronger

Phil Scott is one of the few Republican governors in a deep-blue state. He wins by running on fiscal moderation and affordability while the Legislature passes progressive policy. The tension between them is the defining feature of Vermont politics.

Session outcome	Before 2024	After 2024
Veto override success rate	6 of 8 vetoes overridden	Supermajority cracked — overrides no longer guaranteed
Republican seats	Fewer seats in both chambers	Gained enough to break the two-thirds threshold
Scott’s leverage	Limited — Legislature could override nearly everything	Significant — his veto now sticks on close votes

This is not a governor who signs whatever lands on his desk. Every progressive bill that passes with fewer than two-thirds support now lives or dies on whether Scott agrees. On education spending, housing regulation, and climate enforcement, his position is the ceiling.

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2026 elections

The August 11 primary and November 3 general election will determine whether Vermont keeps a Republican governor or elects a Democrat for the first time since 2010.

If Democrats win the governor’s office, the veto dynamic flips entirely. Bills on climate enforcement, housing, education funding, and energy standards would reach a governor willing to sign them. If Scott wins a sixth term, the current standoff continues for two more years.

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Protect yourself right now

1. Check your voter registration. The August 11 primary is the first gate. Verify your status at mvp.vermont.gov. Vermont allows same-day registration, but checking early avoids lines and surprises.

2. Know your property tax bill. Your town clerk can show you how your education property tax rate changed this year. If you are struggling to pay, ask about the state’s property tax credit and income sensitivity programs before the filing deadline.

3. Attend your school board meeting. Consolidation decisions are coming whether the Legislature mandates them or not. Your board needs to hear from residents before any merger vote.

4. Call the governor’s office. 802-828-3333. Ask where he stands on the Climate Superfund Act and whether he will sign or veto the Legislature’s education funding approach.

5. Know your flood risk. Check your property at floodready.vermont.gov. If you are in a flood zone, confirm your insurance covers the actual cost of rebuilding. FEMA flood maps have not kept up with Vermont’s changing river behavior.