An act relating to updates to land use planning

This bill proposes changes to Vermont's land use planning system, primarily affecting how the Act 250 environmental review program operates and how its appeals are handled. It creates a new Environmental Review Board to administer the Act 250 program and hear appeals, replacing the current Natural Resources Board structure. The new Board would consist of five members appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, including one full-time chair and four part-time members, with terms staggered to ensure continuity. A separate Nominating Committee would be established to assess and recommend candidates for Board membership, focusing on expertise in environmental science, natural resources law, and land use planning. The bill also includes provisions for appointing alternates to handle cases when regular members are unavailable and establishes rules for member removal and retirement from office.