This bill, titled the Protecting Soils and Waters from Forever Chemicals Act, prohibits the land application of septage throughout Vermont and restricts landfill disposal of waste containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) when state standards are exceeded or when facilities lack proper certification. The legislation requires all solid waste management facilities to obtain state certification before operating, with specific exemptions for certain domestic wastewater treatment plants that meet defined conditions. Additionally, the bill bans the use of sludge as daily cover at landfills and mandates that the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets develop a memorandum of understanding by January 15, 2025, to enforce PFAS soil standards. These changes directly affect wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, and municipalities that manage septage and sludge waste.
This bill restructures the governance of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation by eliminating the Chancellor position and reducing the number of legislative trustees on the Board of Trustees from two to one, while adding one faculty trustee and one staff trustee. The changes shift representation on the board to include more voices from the college community, with the student trustee being elected by students and the faculty and staff trustees being appointed by their respective unions. Additionally, the bill proposes reducing required structural deficit reductions for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 and includes various updates to related state statutes to align with these governance changes.
This bill would update Vermont law to protect parental rights when children access reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. It states that Vermont recognizes access to these health services as a legal right and would not enforce laws from other states that remove parental rights based on a parent allowing their child to receive such care. The legislation applies to any custody or parental rights cases currently pending in Vermont courts. It takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill reorganizes Vermont's health care regulatory structure by transferring certain duties from the Green Mountain Care Board to the Director of Health Care Reform in the Agency of Human Services. It establishes new requirements for health insurers to participate in multipayer alternative payment models and mandates nonbinding mediation before terminating contracts between health care providers and health plans. The legislation also creates processes for certifying Medicare-only accountable care organizations, requires alignment of insurer credentialing practices and data collection, and sets up an advisory group to provide input to the Board. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for hospital budget reviews, merger approvals, and the establishment of a student nurse apprenticeship program.
This Vermont joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to grant statehood to the District of Columbia, which would provide its residents with full voting representation in Congress including a U.S. Senate seat. The bill highlights that current laws limit D.C. residents' political rights compared to state citizens, such as the inability to vote for presidential electors before the 23rd Amendment and the lack of full congressional representation. It points out that Congress retains the power to override local D.C. laws and control the district's budget, and that the mayor lacks independent authority over the National Guard. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to federal officials and D.C. leadership to advocate for these changes.
This bill directs the Vermont Community Broadband Board to create a transfer plan before its scheduled end date of July 1, 2029, ensuring a smooth transition of its responsibilities and assets. The Board must include specific factors in its annual report, such as the status of broadband projects, digital equity initiatives, financial sustainability, and recommendations for which state entity should take over support for communications union districts. The legislation also requires the Board to consider how future broadband funding should be structured and whether staff expertise could continue benefiting state programs after the Board dissolves. This measure focuses on establishing clear guidelines for the Board's final operations and planning for the future management of broadband initiatives in Vermont.
This bill requires legislative approval for significant sales or leases of property owned by telephone companies regulated by the Public Utility Commission. It applies to transactions where the property represents 10 percent or more of a company's state-based assets used for public service, excluding routine replacements or exchanges. The process involves a Public Utility Commission hearing to determine if the transaction benefits the state, followed by a General Assembly vote for final approval. The law applies to any pending or future petitions filed on or after January 1, 2024, and takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill amends Vermont's Open Meeting Law to clarify that members of the public attending electronic meetings do not need to sign in or provide personally identifying information if they are not speaking or participating in the meeting. The change specifically applies to individuals who simply wish to observe electronic meetings without taking an active role in the proceedings. By removing this requirement, the bill aims to reduce barriers to public access for those watching meetings remotely. The legislation does not alter the ability of participants to speak or the general rules governing electronic meetings, only the sign-in process for non-participating observers.
This bill allows businesses with first- or third-class liquor licenses to sell sealed containers of alcohol for takeout anywhere within their licensed premises. It directly affects liquor store owners and operators who currently hold these specific license types in Vermont. The key change permits off-premises sales of alcoholic beverages in closed containers throughout the entire licensed area, rather than restricting such sales to specific zones. The law also clarifies that businesses holding both first- and second-class licenses, or second- and third-class licenses, can operate from the same location while selling alcohol for takeout. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill requires Vermont school districts that close an existing elementary or high school to designate three or fewer public schools to serve as the district's public schools for those students. The law mandates that when a school closure occurs, the district must ensure education continues by assigning students to designated public schools rather than automatically paying tuition to outside schools. Parents retain the right to request tuition for their children to attend other approved schools if they believe it better serves their child's needs, though the school board makes the final decision on such requests. The bill also allows certain districts in rural areas to designate public high schools in neighboring states like New York as their public schools under specific conditions.
This bill modifies Vermont's unemployment insurance system to help employers and employees affected by disasters and administrative errors. It extends the time period during which employers are exempt from experience-rating charges when employees lose jobs due to federally declared major disasters, increasing the maximum relief from four weeks to ten weeks. Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Labor to waive unemployment benefit overpayments when they occur without the recipient's fault and when collecting the money would be unfair, while also improving notification and appeal processes for overpayment cases. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to both state and federal unemployment benefits.
This bill modifies Vermont's Open Meeting Law to permit three-person public boards to hold private discussions and deliberations, provided a summary of these conversations is recorded in the minutes of the next meeting. The change directly affects small public bodies that previously could not discuss business privately without violating open meeting requirements. By allowing limited private deliberation for three-member boards, the legislation aims to balance transparency with the practical needs of smaller governing bodies. The bill does not alter the requirement for public meetings but creates an exception for internal discussions among three-person boards.
