Now that we are officially in 2022, we are beginning to get a sense of what could be on lawmakers’ agenda in various state legislatures around the country. As DMGS recapped last year, governors typically outline their legislative and executive priorities in a state of the state address at the beginning of their state’s legislative session.

Several governors have already delivered their 2022 state of the state address, with many more on the horizon.

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New York

On January 5^th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her 2022 State of the State address to outline her “New Era for New York” agenda. Below are highlights from Governor Hochul’s agenda outlined in her address.

• $10 billion to rebuild and grow the healthcare workforce by 20%, including $4 billion to support wages and bonuses for healthcare workers
• Three-part agenda to prevent and reduce gun violence and violent crime in New York
• Tax relief, including accelerating the phase-in of $1.2 billion in middle-class tax cuts for 6 million New Yorkers and establishing a $1 billion property tax rebate program.
• Creation of a “Jails to Jobs” initiative to improve re-entry into the workforce and to reduce recidivism
• A billion-dollar rescue plan for small businesses to strengthen the state’s economic recovery from the pandemic
• A billion-dollar “ConnectALL” initiative to bring broadband to more than 1 million residents
• Achieving 2 million climate-friendly homes by 2030
• Invest $500 million in offshore wind energy
• Increase access to childcare and invest $75 million in childcare workers’ wages
• Advance an Equity Agenda to promote anti-hate, racial equity, and justice
• A constitutional amendment to limit all statewide elected officials to two terms and to ban outside income
• Replace the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) with a new independent ethics agency

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Vermont

Governor Phil Scott delivered a State of the State address to Vermont lawmakers on January 5^th. Scott outlined priorities for the 2022 legislative session and indicated what lawmakers should expect in an upcoming budget proposal.

In the address, Scott acknowledged the pandemic’s difficulties, including working remotely in the Capitol. Scott also recapped the last year, noting the state passed historic investments in housing, broadband, climate change, water and sewer, and economic recovery.

Below are highlights and priorities from Scott’s address that look forward to 2022:

• Working to deploy $20 million in weatherization funds to help with heating costs and to reduce emissions
• $100 million in his budget to address the workforce through investments in internships, career and technical education, encouraging Vermonters to get involved in the trades and health care
• Scott will ask lawmakers for their support of his tax relief package that will focus on retirees, middle-class families, and younger workers
• $285 million in recovery dollars to work to address social, emotional, and educational gaps
• Expansion of Vermont’s mobile crisis pilot and suicide prevention model
• Modernize Act 250 through land use regulation reform
• Tax credits for downtowns
• Comprehensive relocation package to make the best use of marketing dollars to identify and reach people who have past ties or current interest in Vermont, such as those who have moved away since graduating school
• Budget will support the Senate’s worker relocation incentive program but with additional changes to bring in more families who contribute to Vermont’s communities, schools, and economy

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