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Vermont Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 8,295 Active 5,263 In committee 1,788 Passed 2,033 Signed 934 Failed 25

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 27, 2025

S 95: An act relating to standby guardianships for children whose parents have been subject to adverse immigration actions

This bill creates a specific standby guardianship process for children whose custodial parents face "adverse immigration actions" that make them unavailable to care for the child. It amends Vermont law to define "adverse immigration action" (including detention, deportation proceedings, or visa denials by immigration authorities) and requires petitions for standby guardianship to specify the relevant immigration action. The law allows parents facing such actions to formally appoint a temporary guardian in advance, with streamlined notice procedures if the parent is detained. It directly affects children of immigrant parents subject to immigration enforcement and the appointed guardians who would provide care during the parent's absence. The policy change ensures children have a designated guardian during immigration-related custody disruptions without requiring court approval for the guardianship itself.

Topics ✓ Immigration

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 424: An act relating to the donation to the State of managed forestland enrolled in current use

H 424 allows owners of managed forestland or reserve forestland to donate their land to Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation without paying the land use change tax. The state must accept such donations only if the land is directly adjacent to existing state-managed forestland, located within a designated high-priority forest area, and the donation is unconditional. Donated land will be managed as state forestland or part of a state park, and donors will receive a property value assessment to claim federal charitable tax deductions. This bill amends tax definitions to explicitly exclude land donations to the state from being classified as "development" for tax purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 417: An act relating to prohibiting certain artificial dyes in foods and beverages served or sold at school

This bill prohibits six specific artificial dyes (Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) in foods and beverages served during the school day in Vermont public schools and approved independent schools. It does not apply to food or beverages sold off-campus or after school hours until midnight. The law will take effect on July 1, 2027.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 425: An act relating to the regional management of the disposition of septage, sludge, and biosolids

This bill requires Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to create a regional plan by January 2025 for managing septage (waste from septic tanks), sludge (treated wastewater solids), and biosolids. The plan must establish regional districts for waste disposal, identify regional acceptance sites at wastewater facilities, address cost-sharing between towns, and handle contaminants like PFAS. It directly affects all Vermont municipalities and wastewater treatment facilities that manage these materials. The plan must include public input and will take effect July 2025.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 423: An act relating to implementing the Vermont Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan

H.423 appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets for the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Board to fund projects from the Vermont Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan (2021-2030). This directly supports Vermont farmers, food businesses, and local food systems by prioritizing initiatives that strengthen connections between producers, processors, and markets. The funding aims to improve food security, climate resilience, and community health through concrete project grants, as outlined in the Strategic Plan’s goals. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 406: An act relating to naming State buildings and facilities after individuals

This bill prohibits naming Vermont state buildings or facilities after individuals. It requires the General Assembly to formally approve any new naming requests by July 1, 2025, effectively halting new individual-named facilities after that date. The bill cites current naming practices - where all state buildings named after people have been White men - as a key reason for the change, aiming to address political influence and historical inequity in the naming process. The law amends existing statute to mandate Assembly authorization for all such names, with no new individual names permitted after the 2025 deadline.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 407: An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

H.407 protects Vermont farmers from nuisance lawsuits by establishing that agricultural activities generally do not constitute a nuisance if they follow "generally accepted agricultural practices." This applies to routine farm operations like crop cultivation, livestock management, and equipment use, directly affecting farmers and neighboring property owners who might otherwise file lawsuits. The bill requires parties to attempt mediation before filing a lawsuit and excludes protection if negligence or violations of water quality rules occur. It also ensures protection continues through ownership changes, farm method shifts, or temporary operational pauses (up to 10 years), preserving farm continuity.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 405: An act relating to competency to stand trial

This bill changes Vermont's rules for criminal cases involving defendants found incompetent to stand trial. It requires charges to be dismissed if the defendant remains incompetent after the time limit for prosecution (statute of limitations) expires. The law also clarifies that the time limit pauses (is tolled) while the defendant is deemed incompetent, and restarts when competency is reassessed. This directly affects criminal defendants who are found incompetent and the prosecution's ability to proceed after the time limit.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 402: An act relating to the Vermont Municipal Labor Relations Act

H 402 would amend Vermont's Municipal Labor Relations Act to allow municipal supervisory employees to organize and collectively bargain, removing their current exclusion from the law. It also expands the definition of "municipal public safety employee" to include support staff working in public safety departments (like dispatchers or technicians), granting them bargaining rights. These changes would directly affect municipal supervisory staff and public safety support workers across Vermont towns and cities. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 404: An act relating to authority over the highways of the Village of Old Bennington

This bill (H.404) repeals Section 3 of 1959 Acts and Resolves No. 300, which currently prohibits the Village of Old Bennington from transferring highway authority to the Town of Bennington. It removes the restriction that prevents Village voters from selecting road commissioners at Town meetings and eliminates the Town road commissioner’s lack of authority over Village highways. The bill directly affects the Village of Old Bennington and the Town of Bennington by enabling the Village to formally transfer responsibility for maintaining its local roads to the Town. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 413: An act relating to use of illuminating lights and visibility of taillights

This bill (H 413) requires drivers in Vermont to turn on headlights when windshield wipers are used continuously due to weather conditions (like rain, snow, or fog) that reduce visibility, in addition to existing rules for nighttime driving. It also mandates that all vehicles' taillights must be visible from 300 feet behind the vehicle, with specific rules about not obstructing this visibility. Violations carry a $200 civil penalty but do not affect driving records. The law applies to all vehicle operators on Vermont highways and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 416: An act relating to the regulation of kratom products

This bill requires Vermont businesses selling kratom products to register them with the Department of Health and comply with safety and labeling rules. It bans kratom products that are attractive to children, contain synthetic materials, are combustible or injectable, or mix with certain dangerous compounds. Businesses must provide safety testing results, clear labels warning against use by minors/pregnant people, and detailed usage instructions. The law directly affects kratom processors, distributors, and retailers operating in Vermont.