Merrilees v. TREASURER, State of Vermont

At issue is whether passage of Senate Bill 39 (1985), codified at 13 V.S.A. §§ 7281-7283, levying a $5.00 surcharge on certain penalties and fines paid to the state, violated the origination clause of the Vermont Constitution, Chapter II, § 6 (revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives). The issue was raised in a class action brought by plaintiff Merrilees on behalf of all those against whom the surcharge had been levied. The trial court found that the contested measure was not a revenue bill and entered summary judgment in defendant’s favor. This appeal followed. We affirm.

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