H 805 Vermont House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to water resources of the State

H.805 streamlines permitting for minor water-related activities in Vermont. It allows the Secretary of Natural Resources to issue general permits for stormwater discharges, wetlands work, and small wastewater/potable water systems when a licensed engineer certifies compliance with rules. The bill also creates exemptions for owner-occupied residences: applicants can avoid full permits by using engineered solutions to reduce harm or accept liability for system failures. Additionally, it requires tax valuation for forested wetlands parcels to use a lower "use value" rate instead of market value. These changes primarily affect homeowners, small developers, and property owners with water systems on wetlands.
Bill status introduced 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Jan 28, 2026
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Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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