Steven Heffernan

Supports increasing housing supply by removing permitting roadblocks: committed to modernizing Act 250 and local permitting to streamline home construction, arguing Vermont's severe housing crisis stems from an artificial shortage of homes and an overly complex permitting system that stalls building projects.

“The largest impediment is Vermont's overly complex permitting system, which stalls sensible building projects for years. I am committed to working on meaningful modernizations to Act 250 and local permitting procedures to streamline home construction while protecting our environment and preserving vital local community input.”

heffvt.com·As of August 2026

Supports protecting rural Vermont and rolling back Act 181's regulatory burdens on working lands: led the Senate floor debate to repeal the 'Road Rule' and 'Tier 3' zoning, arguing the law imposed top-down bureaucratic restrictions that penalized family farmers and landowners and shifted local control to Montpelier.

“The original passage of Act 181 imposed top-down, bureaucratic restrictions that severely penalized family farmers and local landowners. … I proudly led the successful debate on the Senate floor to roll back the most damaging aspects of Act 181, including the controversial 'Road Rule' and 'Tier 3' zoning.”

heffvt.com·As of August 2026

Supports expanding healthcare choice and lowering out-of-pocket costs: backs lower-cost options such as Association Health Plans and eliminating prior authorization requirements, and highlights supporting bipartisan legislation to reduce barriers for providers to open or expand facilities.

“I remain completely committed to collaborating with the administration to expand healthcare choice and lower out-of-pocket costs.”

heffvt.com·As of August 2026

Supports fundamental K-12 education reform and rethinking resource allocation as Vermont's K-12 enrollment dropped by roughly 30,000 over three decades; wants to prioritize direct classroom learning, parental involvement, and modernized policy so every student receives a high-quality education regardless of where they live.

“We need to fundamentally rethink how we allocate resources, prioritizing direct classroom learning, supporting parental involvement, and modernizing state policy to guarantee that every young Vermonter receives a high-quality education, regardless of whether they live in a major city or a rural town.”

heffvt.com·As of August 2026

Supports property tax relief and fiscal responsibility: cites working to limit average property tax rate growth to 1.1% (FY26) and 3.8% (FY27), backing over $100 million in direct property tax relief, and supporting tax relief for military retirees, seniors on Social Security, and working families (Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit).

“we successfully limited average property tax rate growth to 1.1% in FY26 and 3.8% in FY27. I proudly supported the Governor's proposal to deliver over $100 million in direct property tax relief.”

heffvt.com·As of August 2026