H 810 Vermont House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to protections for covered bridges

H.810 requires Vermont's Agency of Transportation to provide municipalities with technical assistance and informational materials by November 2026 to establish weight, height, and width limits for covered bridges. It also directs the agency to help communities implement physical barriers or warning systems to prevent vehicles exceeding these limits from using the bridges, while outlining grant funding opportunities for such measures. The bill increases criminal penalties for violating bridge limits (to enhanced fines) and significantly raises penalties for intentionally damaging covered bridges - up to 10 years imprisonment for arson or injury compared to 5 years under current law. This directly affects municipalities managing covered bridges and drivers operating vehicles on them, focusing on preservation of historic infrastructure through safety standards and stronger enforcement.
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