Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 174: An act relating to best interests of the child standard in custody determinations

This bill amends Vermont custody laws to require courts to consider a child's own wishes when deciding on living arrangements and contact with parents. It directly affects families going through divorce or custody disputes by adding the child's preferences as a specific factor judges must evaluate alongside existing criteria like parental ability to provide care and the quality of the child's current environment. The change does not give the child final decision-making power but ensures their voice is formally weighed in the best interests analysis. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to all custody determinations made on or after that date.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 179: An act relating to flood recovery bonds

This bill authorizes Vermont's Treasurer to issue special bonds to fund flood recovery, mitigation, and preparedness efforts. The Treasurer must obtain the Governor's approval to determine the bond structure and maturity dates, and these bonds will be officially called "Flood Recovery Bonds." The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to state-level financial management related to flood-related projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 177: An act relating to e-mail notice for residential rental agreements

This bill allows landlords and tenants in Vermont to use email as a valid method for delivering legal notice related to residential rental agreements. It directly affects landlords, tenants, and property management companies by expanding the ways they can communicate official notices. The key provision requires that email notices be considered received only when there is proof the recipient actually read the message, such as through a read receipt or acknowledgment. The law also defines "reliable electronic means" as email sent to an address the recipient agreed to use for receiving notices. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and modify existing state statutes governing rental agreements.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 185: An act relating to the right of entry following a tax sale

This bill would allow individuals who purchase property at a tax sale to enter the property within one year of the sale to protect it from damage, illegal activity, or deterioration. The law requires the purchaser to provide at least 10 days written notice to any existing mortgage holder or lien holder before entering the property. Municipalities currently have the authority to enter properties under similar circumstances, but this legislation extends that right to private tax sale buyers. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to real estate transactions governed by Vermont's tax sale procedures.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 188: An act relating to supports for child care providers

This bill expands financial assistance for child care providers in Vermont by granting them categorical eligibility for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, allowing them to apply for subsidies on behalf of their dependent children without their income being counted against eligibility. It also allocates $85,000 in fiscal year 2025 to fund temporary health insurance navigation services for child care providers, with the intent to continue this support through fiscal year 2027. The changes apply to Vermont residents working full-time in private family child care homes, center-based programs, or afterschool programs, and the bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 200: An act relating to establishing the Vermont Imagination Library

This bill establishes the Vermont Imagination Library, a three-year pilot program that provides free monthly books to children from birth to age five who reside in Vermont. The Agency of Education would manage the program in partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, handling daily operations, volunteer coordination, and public outreach to encourage donations and registrations. Funding would come from a 50/50 split between private donations and state appropriations, with an initial $100,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2025. The program includes a requirement for annual reports on enrollment and growth, and it would automatically end after three years unless renewed by the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 175: An act relating to requiring retail businesses to accept cash

This bill requires retail businesses in Vermont to accept cash payments for transactions of $1,000 or less. It prohibits sellers from refusing cash unless the purchase amount exceeds the $1,000 threshold, with violations classified as unfair commerce practices. The law would take effect on July 1, 2024, affecting all retail businesses operating in the state.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 3, 2024

H 591: An act relating to an examination of State funding that supports public safety and correctional programs

This bill directs the Joint Fiscal Office to study how fees and fines currently fund public safety and correctional programs in Vermont. The examination will work alongside the Coordinated Justice Reform Advisory Council to identify which programs rely on these charges. The goal is to gather information that could help future legislation move some of this funding to the state's general budget. The study will focus on programs aimed at improving public safety, reducing crime and recidivism, and supporting victims. The act takes effect on July 1, 2024.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 3, 2024

H 592: An act relating to tax benefits for school sports officiating

This bill would provide tax benefits to individuals who officiate K-12 school athletic events in Vermont. It would exclude income earned from officiating these events from personal income tax and create a sales tax exemption for equipment purchased by officials for use in their work. The income exclusion applies retroactively to January 1, 2024, while the sales tax exemption would begin immediately upon passage. These changes aim to support school sports officials by reducing their tax burden on earnings and equipment costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 3, 2024

H 589: An act relating to aquatic nuisance control

This bill amends Vermont state law to establish a permitting system for using chemicals to control aquatic nuisance species like invasive mussels and plants in waters across the state. It directly affects property owners of private ponds, lake associations, and other waterbody managers who may need to apply pesticides or other chemicals to manage invasive species. The bill requires applicants to demonstrate that no reasonable nonchemical alternatives exist, that risks to non-target species and public health are negligible, and that a long-term management plan includes a schedule for minimizing chemical use. Additionally, the bill defines specific terms like "aquatic nuisance," "lake association," and "private pond" to clarify who can apply for permits and what waters are covered. Municipal governments must provide letters of support for applications, and for Lake Champlain, applications must be reviewed at the lake segment level.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 3, 2024

H 602: An act relating to prohibiting the use of plastics in certain technologies

This bill prohibits the construction or operation of new facilities in Vermont that use plastics for energy generation, fuel production, or chemical processing through methods like pyrolysis, gasification, or combustion. It also bans state financial incentives such as grants, tax credits, or loans for any facility using these regulated technologies for plastics. The legislation defines plastics broadly as solid polymers not naturally occurring or carbon-free, and explicitly excludes these processes from being classified as recycling or renewable energy for state programs. The ban applies to both new facilities and modifications to existing ones, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Energy ✓ Environment ✗ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 3, 2024

H 597: An act relating to the collection, sale, and possession of wildlife

This bill authorizes Vermont's Fish and Wildlife Commissioner to create new rules governing the collection, sale, and possession of reptiles and amphibians, including the ability to establish lists of prohibited species and set seasonal hunting limits. It also updates regulations on bear parts by allowing their sale at any time while prohibiting the sale of big game meat outside of designated open seasons. The legislation imposes a $100 permit fee for commercial wildlife collection and restricts the importation of certain species like feral swine, with provisions for legal waivers for pets acquired before the rules take effect. These changes would become effective on July 1, 2024, and apply to individuals and businesses involved in wildlife trade and management within the state.

Topics ✓ Environment

Bill results