S 291 Vermont Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to travel disclosures for legislators and certain executive officers

This bill requires Vermont legislators and statewide elected executive officers (like the governor or secretary of state) to disclose details about travel paid for by non-state sources. They must report the purpose, itinerary, all expenses (including transportation, lodging, and meals), and who paid for each cost - whether it was the state, their personal funds, or entities like lobbyists or political groups. Disclosures must be filed within 30 days of travel costs being incurred, including a signed verification of accuracy. The law aims to increase transparency around travel funded outside government budgets, effective July 1, 2026.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed By the Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) → As Passed By the Senate (OfficialOpens in a new window) · 5 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MODERATE

This diff compares the unofficial and official enrolled versions of Vermont S.291 (2026), which requires legislators and executive officers to file travel expense disclosures with the State Ethics Commission. The changes are primarily structural and formatting in nature, reflecting the transition from an unofficial working draft to the official enrolled bill. The official version adds introduction metadata (sponsors, committee referral, date, subject line, and statement of purpose) and reorganizes section numbering. A few minor textual differences appear in the travel disclosure provisions, including a slightly different filing deadline trigger and a broader list of exempt payers in one instance.

TECHNICAL

The official version adds a header block with bill introduction information: sponsors (Senators Vyhovsky, Clarkson, Gulick, Hardy, Perchlik, White), committee referral (Government Operations), date (January 22, 2026), subject line, and a statement of purpose summarizing the bill.

The overall section structure is reorganized. The official version places a shorter initial Section 1214 and effective date provision before a 'Travel Disclosures' headed section containing the fuller definitions and disclosure requirements, whereas the unofficial version presents a single linear sequence of Sections 1 through 6.

TIMELINE

In one appearance of Section 1214(c), the filing deadline changes from 'within 30 calendar days following the conclusion of travel' to 'within 30 calendar days following the date on which any costs associated with the travel are incurred.' The latter could extend the filing window if costs are paid after the trip ends.

SCOPE

In one appearance of Section 1214(a)(2), the exemption for travel not requiring disclosure expands to include travel 'fully paid by the member or executive officer, this State, another state, or the federal government,' adding 'another state' as an exempt payer that is not present in the unofficial version.

In one appearance of Section 1214(b)(1)(F), the list of 'other sources' for partial payment is shortened to 'associations, lobbyists, political committees and parties, and individuals,' omitting 'other countries, states, and territories' that appear in the unofficial version.

As IntroducedOpens in a new window → As Passed By the Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · 8 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MODERATE

The Senate significantly expanded S.291 from a 4-page bill into a 9-page bill by adding new definitions (immediate family, staff), a de minimis exemption ($50 per source per occasion), a requirement to disclose travel for accompanying staff and family members, a separate disclosure pathway for executive officers under the Governor, and major restructuring of the State Ethics Commission's membership and meeting rules. The filing deadline was also changed from 30 days after costs are incurred to 30 days after travel concludes.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded substantially. It now covers travel expenses for staff and immediate family members accompanying officials, creates a separate compliance mechanism for executive officers under the Governor, adds a de minimis threshold that narrows what must be disclosed, removes the 'another state' exemption (broadening disclosure requirements for interstate-paid travel), and restructures the Ethics Commission itself with new membership composition and meeting rules.

DEFINITION

New Section 1 adds definitions for 'immediate family' (spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner, child, foster child, sibling, parent, relations by marriage/civil union/domestic partnership, or federal tax dependent) and 'staff' (any individual supporting a member or executive officer in official capacity, whether paid, unpaid, or receiving academic credit).

ELIGIBILITY

A de minimis exemption was added: no disclosure is required for travel of $50 or less per source per occasion, provided the aggregate market value from any one source does not exceed $150 in a calendar year.

SCOPE

The exemption for fully paid travel was narrowed. The introduced version exempted travel paid by 'this State, another state, or the federal government.' The Senate version removes 'another state,' so only travel paid by the member, this State, or the federal government is exempt.

New Section 1215 creates an alternative disclosure pathway for executive officers serving under the Governor. They may use a rule or bulletin adopted by the Governor instead of filing directly with the State Ethics Commission, provided the rule conforms to section 1214 requirements and all disclosures are posted on the Agency of Administration's website.

The list of 'other sources' that can pay for travel was expanded to explicitly include 'other countries, states, and territories' in addition to associations, lobbyists, political committees, parties, and individuals.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement that members and executive officers must make the same travel disclosures for any staff and immediate family accompanying them on official travel. Staff must be identified by name and title; immediate family members only by nature of relationship.

TIMELINE

The filing deadline changed from 30 calendar days after costs are incurred to 30 calendar days after the conclusion of travel, giving officials more time when costs are spread across a trip.

ENFORCEMENT

The State Ethics Commission membership was restructured to seven members: one each appointed by the Chief Justice, League of Women Voters of Vermont, Vermont Society of CPAs, Vermont Bar Association, SHRM Vermont State Council, the Speaker of the House (former municipal officer), and the Senate Committee on Committees (former municipal officer). New meeting requirements were added: at least quarterly meetings, quorum is a majority of currently appointed members.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2026

Introduced

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations agreed to

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on Government Operations

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations

upper

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors