Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 193: An act relating to Vermont’s adoption of the Social Work Licensure Compact

This bill would allow Vermont to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, enabling licensed social workers to practice across multiple member states without needing separate licenses in each location. The legislation establishes a framework for mutual recognition of social work licenses, facilitates the sharing of disciplinary information between states, and supports telehealth services for increased access to care. Key provisions include protecting public safety through coordinated oversight, reducing administrative burdens for social workers, and providing specific accommodations for military families who may need to relocate frequently.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 3, 2024

S 198: An act relating to a governor’s mansion study committee

This bill creates a Governor's Mansion Study Committee to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a governor's residence and social center in Vermont's capital. The committee would include legislators, former governors' staff, state officials, and experts in historic preservation, security, and construction to study various aspects of the proposal. Key areas of investigation include the need for such a facility, potential funding options, security requirements, and whether the state could acquire a historic house through donation or relocation from other towns. The committee must hold its first meeting by August 31, 2024, and submit a written report with findings and recommendations by December 15, 2025, before the committee dissolves.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 3, 2024

H 605: An act relating to prostitution

This bill removes penalties for individuals who engage in prostitution at specific locations, such as places, buildings, or vehicles, while keeping other prostitution-related offenses intact. It directly affects people involved in or facilitating prostitution by eliminating charges related to the location where activities occur, but retains laws against soliciting, procuring, aiding, or abetting prostitution. The key change is that the act no longer criminalizes the location itself, but continues to prohibit activities like directing or transporting people for prostitution purposes. Penalties for remaining violations include fines up to $100 or imprisonment for up to one year for first offenses, and up to three years for repeat offenses.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 3, 2024

H 604: An act relating to a study of a statewide grid resilience plan

This bill directs the Vermont Climate Action Office to study the costs and benefits of creating a statewide grid resilience plan for all electric utilities in the state. The study would examine measures such as undergrounding power lines, storm-hardening infrastructure, and deploying battery storage and microgrids to reduce impacts from extreme weather and natural disasters. The Office must submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2025, following consultation with the Department of Public Service. The act takes effect immediately upon passage and focuses on developing an implementation schedule and financing mechanism for the proposed plan.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 3, 2024

H 607: An act relating to business owner transparency

This bill aims to increase transparency for consumers by requiring businesses to disclose whether they are owned and operated by a Vermont resident or an outside entity. The legislation would establish a system allowing customers to easily identify the ownership status of local businesses. It directly affects business owners who would need to report their ownership details and consumers seeking this information. The bill focuses on creating a clear mechanism for disclosure without specifying exact implementation methods.

introduced · Vermont · Senate May 12, 2023

S 157: An act relating to harassment, hazing, and bullying prevention in schools

This bill requires Vermont's Secretary of Education to include contact information for state and federal antidiscrimination agencies in the model harassment and bullying prevention policies for schools. It also allows students to file claims under the Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act without first exhausting school administrative remedies if they have already filed a complaint with an enforcement agency like the Vermont Human Rights Commission or the U.S. Office for Civil Rights. The law applies to students in Vermont schools and takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · Senate May 12, 2023

S 156: An act relating to education and corrections infrastructure in the State

This bill would pause all planning, design, and construction of new correctional facilities in Vermont until July 1, 2028, and also prevent the expansion or conversion of existing prisons to increase their capacity. At the same time, it ends a long-standing suspension of state funding for school construction projects, allowing the state to resume approving and financing school building applications starting in fiscal year 2024. The legislation directs that these changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and repeals the prison construction moratorium when it expires in 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · Senate May 11, 2023

S 155: An act relating to eliminating life without parole and implementing second look sentencing

This bill would eliminate life without parole as a sentencing option in Vermont and establish a "second look" review process for all incarcerated individuals. It directly affects people convicted of murder and other serious offenses by changing how sentences are calculated and reviewed. The legislation requires juries to consider mitigating factors when setting minimum prison terms, prohibits consecutive sentences for defendants who were 25 or younger at the time of their crimes, and mandates that all prisoners become eligible for periodic sentence reviews after serving a specified period. Additionally, the bill would prevent life without parole sentences for anyone who was under 18 when they committed the offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · Senate May 9, 2023

S 153: An act relating to creating municipal and regional civilian oversight of law enforcement

This bill establishes municipal and regional civilian oversight boards to receive and investigate complaints against local law enforcement agencies and officers. These new boards would have the authority to hire staff, publish public reports on substantiated investigations, and make recommendations to the Vermont Criminal Justice Council regarding officer discipline and training. The legislation also mandates that law enforcement agencies report certain serious complaints to oversight boards within seven business days and prohibits the approval of chokehold training except for prevention-focused instruction. Additionally, the bill creates a grant program funded by a $500,000 appropriation to help municipalities implement these oversight boards.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House May 8, 2023

H 522: An act relating to establishing a maximum speed limit of not more than 55 miles per hour on limited access and controlled access highways in Vermont

This bill proposes to set a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour on all limited access and controlled access highways in Vermont, including all interstate highways. The legislation directly affects drivers on these roadways by establishing a uniform speed cap across the state. The stated purpose is to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by lowering vehicle speeds. The bill would apply to all drivers using these specific types of highways, regardless of their vehicle type or destination.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House May 8, 2023

H 523: An act relating to harassment, hazing, and bullying in schools

This bill modifies Vermont's harassment policies in schools by removing the requirement that conduct must be severe or pervasive to qualify as harassment. It directly affects public and independent schools by updating definitions under state law and requiring new procedures for handling complaints. The legislation also increases funding and staffing for the Agency of Education to investigate harassment, hazing, and bullying cases while mandating regional training for school staff. These changes aim to expand protections and improve response mechanisms without specifying particular outcomes or taking a political stance.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House May 8, 2023

HR 12: House resolution condemning the forced harvesting of organs from prisoners and detainees in the People’s Republic of China

This resolution condemns the forced harvesting of organs from prisoners and detainees in China, directly affecting the U.S. House of Representatives and the Chinese government. It formally acknowledges findings from the China Tribunal and other international bodies that document systematic organ harvesting targeting specific groups like Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs. The resolution calls on Chinese authorities to respond to these allegations and directs the Clerk to send copies to the Chinese Ambassador, President Biden, and Vermont's congressional delegation.

Bill results