State Legislatures Wrap 2026 Sessions with Budgets, Tax Measures, and Policy Deals
Vermont, Colorado, and Iowa each concluded their 2026 legislative sessions in separate actions between May and June, finalizing budgets and signature policy measures. Coverage of Vermont's adjournment emphasized different aspects, with one report focused on legislative vote counts and bill outcomes and another highlighting the education reform debate, property tax impacts, and a sustained veto fight over a data center bill. Colorado and Iowa reporting centered on gubernatorial framing of accomplishments and a bipartisan property tax deal, respectively, with limited independent detail available for those states.
Vermont's Legislature adjourned its 2026 session on May 29, 2026, after nearly five months, with lawmakers voting 114-16 to end the session; dissenting votes came from members of all three of the state's major parties. The education reform bill H.955 received final House approval and was sent to Governor Phil Scott, who had dropped earlier opposition to the measure. The annual property tax rate-setting yield bill, H.949, passed 125-10 and is expected to produce roughly a 3.5% average increase in education tax bills, while the state budget, H.951, included about $101 million intended to reduce a projected property tax increase and also passed that day. Governor Scott separately acted on legislation on June 16, 2026, including S.190, a healthcare affordability bill he expressed concerns about due to opposition from Vermont's rural, critical access hospitals; his administration had earlier proposed an alternative healthcare package, H.585, which was largely not adopted by the legislative majority. During the session, the Vermont House fell seven votes short of overriding Scott's veto of a data center bill, H.727. Democratic legislative leaders also reversed course on key provisions of the 2024 land use law, Act 181, following a large Statehouse protest in March. Separately, Colorado's General Assembly ended its 2026 session on May 13, 2026, the final session of Governor Jared Polis's term; new laws included the HOME Act aimed at lowering housing cost barriers, along with competency law changes and education funding provisions in the state budget. Iowa's Legislature ended its 2026 session on May 1, 2026, in Governor Kim Reynolds' final legislative session, with Republican lawmakers reaching a last-minute agreement lawmakers said would save property taxpayers about $4 billion over six years. Details on final vote counts, specific bill numbers, and additional provisions for the Colorado and Iowa sessions were not independently corroborated across multiple sources.
SOURCE COMPARISON
How the coverage differs
Action Taken by Governor Phil Scott on Legislation - June 16, 2026
Governor Phil Scott acted on legislation including S.190, a healthcare affordability bill, expressing concern that rural, critical access hospitals in Vermont oppose the measure. Scott noted his administration had proposed a comprehensive healthcare package through H.585 as an alternative that was largely not adopted by the legislative majority.
Read original report ↗2026 Vermont legislative session adjourns
Vermont lawmakers voted 114-16 to adjourn the 2026 session, with dissenters from all three of the state's major parties. The education reform bill H.955 received final House approval, clearing the way to go to Governor Phil Scott, who had dropped his opposition earlier in the week. The property tax rate-setting yield bill, H.949, passed 125-10, and the state budget, H.951, also passed the same day.
Read original report ↗Vermont Legislature adjourns 2026 session that centered, again, on education reform
The Vermont Legislature adjourned its 2026 session after nearly five months, with the budget including $101 million intended to lower a projected property tax increase alongside the annual yield bill, H.949, which will result in a 3.5% average increase in education tax bills. The House fell seven votes short of overriding Governor Phil Scott's veto of the data center bill, H.727. Democratic legislative leaders also reversed course on key provisions of the 2024 land use law, Act 181, after facing a large Statehouse protest in March.
Read original report ↗Results Delivered: General Assembly Adjourns 2026 Legislative Session
Governor Polis celebrated the end of the 2026 Legislative Session, the final session of his term as governor. New laws including the HOME Act aim to break down barriers to lower housing costs, alongside stronger competency laws and education funding protections in the state budget. Polis called the session part of eight years of accomplishments including protecting personal freedom and strengthening the economy.
Read original report ↗Iowa Legislature ends 2026 session with a last-minute deal on property taxes
In the final hours of Gov. Kim Reynolds' final legislative session, Republican lawmakers reached a plan they say will save property taxpayers around $4 billion over six years.
Read original report ↗