The Charter Change process

City Councilor proposes Charter Change and it is sent to committee for public input. There needs to be at least two opportunities for public input. Just Cause Eviction had ten opportunities for public input and debate.

Committee debates and agrees on proposal. The proposal is sent back to the City Council and they vote to put it on the Meeting Day ballot. JCE was voted onto the ballot with a 10-2 majority.

Town votes on the proposal at Town Hall Meeting Day. If a majority say Yes, it will be sent to the State House in Montpelier. JCE got a 63.9% majority.

Charter Changes are introduced to and debated in the House Government Operations Committee. This committee can ask other committees for input, or pass ownership to another committee.

House Committee debates the policy and takes testimony. With a majority vote it will go to the House floor for a full House Vote. At any point in the legislative process lawmakers can make changes to the language approved by the voters.

If the vote is successful, it will go to the corresponding Senate Committee. They will debate the policy and take testimony. With a majority vote in the Committee it will go to the Senate floor for a full Senate Vote.

If the floor vote is successful, with language previously approved by the House, it will go to Governor Scott. He can sign, veto or let it become law without his signature. If the policy is vetoed it will go back to the House and Senate for a possible veto override vote; success requires a two thirds majority in both chambers.

If Governor Scott allows the Charter Change to become law or a veto override is successful, JCE is now enacted in Burlington. The City Council can now create an ordinance to implement Just Cause Eviction.