Montpelier Gears Up: What the 2026 Legislative Session Will Bring

As the Vermont Legislature convenes in early January 2026, lawmakers in both the House and Senate are preparing for one of the most consequential sessions in recent memory. With the regular session officially beginning January 6, 2026, members will face a packed agenda that includes unfinished business from the previous biennium and emerging issues that strike at the heart of life in Vermont.

Affordability remains at the top of the list. House and Senate leaders alike have signaled that property taxes, housing shortages, education funding, and health care costs will dominate early debate — reflecting the concerns Vermonters brought to the polls and to town halls across the state.

Both chambers must also navigate the state budget in the face of federal funding uncertainty, which could force difficult choices on programs serving low-income Vermonters, including food and heating assistance.

With the House now without a Democratic supermajority, bipartisan cooperation will be more important than ever. The path forward will test the skill and resolve of the Legislature’s new leadership as they balance fiscal responsibility with the needs of constituents across Vermont.