Vermont Bills

passed · Vermont · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SR 8: Senate resolution relating to concurrently conducted electronic committee meetings

This Senate resolution extends Vermont's rule allowing electronic committee meetings beyond emergency declarations until January 7, 2026. It directly affects Senate committee operations by permitting virtual meetings without needing a state of emergency during this period. The resolution modifies Permanent Senate Rule 32A to remove the usual emergency-only restriction, ensuring continuity for committee work. Adopted by the Senate on March 11, 2025, it has no direct impact on public policy or constituents.

signed · Vermont · House Mar 11, 2025

H 31: An act relating to claim edit standards and prior authorization requirements

This bill modifies Vermont's health insurance claim processing rules. It specifies that standard claim edit requirements (used to review billing accuracy) don't apply when healthcare services are provided outside Vermont, unless the insurer and out-of-state provider agree otherwise. It also updates the definition of "primary care provider" to align with Vermont Blueprint for Health standards, meaning orders from these providers generally won't require prior authorization for in-network services (except for prescriptions or out-of-network care). The changes to claim edits take effect January 1, 2026, while the primary care provider definition change applies immediately.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 446: An act relating to requiring municipal corporations to set equalized water and sewer rates throughout the service area

This bill requires Vermont municipalities to set water and sewer rates based on the actual cost of providing those services, ensuring equal rates for all users within a utility's service area. It directly affects municipal corporations (cities/towns) and their ratepayers, including property owners in extraterritorial areas served by the utility. The bill establishes a formal appeal process: ratepayers or property owners can petition the Public Utility Commission within 90 days if they believe rates are unfair, requiring signatures from at least 5% of affected users. The Public Utility Commission must review appeals de novo, potentially adjusting rates, ordering refunds, or authorizing surcharges, with the law taking effect on July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 444: An act relating to unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation

This bill (H 444) proposes technical corrections to modernize Vermont's unemployment insurance and workers' compensation systems. It aims to streamline operations, resolve minor issues in existing laws, and update the state's unemployment insurance IT system. The changes directly affect how Vermont administers unemployment benefits and workers' compensation claims through improved processes and technology. The bill focuses on operational updates rather than new policy changes.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 427: An act relating to medical malpractice actions

H 427 establishes caps on damages in medical malpractice cases: $250,000 for pain/suffering when suing an individual provider, $500,000 for entities, and $500,000 for wrongful death claims. It also creates mandatory pretrial screening panels consisting of a retired judge, an attorney, and a healthcare professional to review claims before trial. These panels aim to identify meritorious claims early for faster resolution and nonmeritorious claims for withdrawal, with confidential proceedings until trial if unresolved. The bill directly affects patients filing malpractice suits, healthcare providers, and insurers by changing how claims are processed and compensated.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 455: An act relating to State observance of Juneteenth

Vermont's H.455 adds Juneteenth (June 19) as a state legal holiday, requiring all state departments, agencies, and offices to close on that day. The bill amends Vermont law to list Juneteenth as a designated holiday under the state's legal holidays statute (§ 371(a)(6)). It specifically mandates that state offices close for Juneteenth observance, with compensation for work performed on the holiday to follow existing collective bargaining agreements. This change affects only state government operations, not private businesses or individuals.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 434: An act relating to requiring covenants on conservation lands funded by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board

H 434 requires conservation lands purchased with Vermont Housing and Conservation Board funds to include specific land management rules. It mandates that these lands allow hunting, trapping, and fishing under state law, maintain existing trail connectivity and length, replace removed trails with equivalent sections, preserve existing recreational infrastructure, and permit timber harvesting as a management practice. The bill directly affects landowners and organizations receiving Board funding for conservation purchases. These requirements become effective July 1, 2025, ensuring public access and recreational use aligns with the Board's funding purpose.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 28, 2025

S 101: An act relating to revoking Vermont’s use of California’s Clean Air Act waiver

This bill (S 101) prohibits Vermont from adopting California’s stricter vehicle emission standards under the Clean Air Act. It amends Vermont law to explicitly ban the use of California’s waiver for new motor vehicle emissions rules, requiring the state to follow federal baseline standards instead. The bill repeals Vermont’s existing Low Emission Vehicle and Zero Emission Vehicle Rules and updates climate planning requirements to exclude California standards. It directly affects auto manufacturers selling in Vermont and Vermont’s environmental regulations, taking effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 432: An act relating to health insurance coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices

This bill would require Vermont health insurance plans to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices at least as comprehensively as Medicare does. It mandates coverage for medically necessary devices that meet specific criteria, including those needed for daily activities (like bathing, running, or strength training), with providers determining appropriateness. Insurers must also report claims data on these devices to the state for 2026-2028 and cannot deny coverage based on disability. The bill directly affects Vermont residents needing these devices and requires insurers to avoid annual/lifetime dollar limits or unfavorable cost-sharing for coverage.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 431: An act relating to expanding access to catastrophic health plans

This bill requires Vermont's Agency of Human Services to seek a federal waiver by January 1, 2026, to expand eligibility for catastrophic health insurance plans to Vermont residents under age 40. Currently, these plans typically only cover people under 30, so this would allow younger adults (up to age 39) to access them. The waiver request is needed because federal law restricts catastrophic plan eligibility to those under 30, and Vermont seeks to override this limit. The bill is currently under review by the Health Care Committee after its first reading on February 28, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 447: An act relating to rabies vaccination certificate requirements for domestic pet or wolf-hybrid licensure

This bill requires owners of dogs and wolf-hybrids over six months old to provide a current rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian to their municipal clerk when applying for or renewing an annual license. The certificate must include the veterinarian's signature, owner's name and address, animal details (species, breed, age), and vaccine expiration date. Veterinarians must submit a list of rabies vaccinations to the clerk every 30 days. Municipal clerks will maintain these records, and owners must keep a copy to present to officials upon request, effective July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 435: An act relating to establishing penalties for keeping or maintaining a common nuisance

This bill (H 435) amends Vermont law to impose civil penalties for property owners who allow premises to be used for illegal drug activity. It adds a $50 daily civil penalty for maintaining such "common nuisances," creates a private right to sue for damages (including punitive damages for intentional violations), and allows the Attorney General, state's attorneys, or municipalities to seek court injunctions to stop the activity. The bill directly affects property owners, landlords, and businesses whose locations are used for drug use, keeping, or sale, and it expands enforcement tools without changing criminal penalties for drug sales. The changes apply to properties "resorted to by persons for using, keeping, or selling regulated drugs" as defined in the amended statute (18 V.S.A. § 4222).

Bill results