Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 265: An act relating to prohibiting the imposition of convenience fees on online municipal utility payments

H 265, the "Fair Access to Online Utility Payment Act," prohibits Vermont municipalities from charging convenience fees for online payments of municipal utility bills (electric, water, wastewater, or communications). It directly affects ratepayers - especially low-income residents - and municipalities that currently impose such fees. Key provisions require municipalities to absorb all online payment processing costs into general budgets (not pass them to customers), disclose these costs in annual budgets, and justify any rate increases tied to payment systems. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and includes support for municipalities to transition to cost-efficient payment methods.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 273: An act relating to the Use Value Appraisal Program

This bill updates Vermont's Use Value Appraisal Program, which helps farmers pay lower property taxes by valuing farmland at its agricultural use value instead of market value. It changes the eligibility requirement to require at least 25% of a farmer's annual income from farming (including a new provision for those earning 25% from raising horses) and reduces the land use change tax rate from 10% to 6% when agricultural land is developed. These changes aim to make the program more accessible to a wider range of agricultural operations, including horse-related businesses. The bill directly affects farmers and landowners seeking to enroll agricultural land in the program or develop previously enrolled land.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 272: An act relating to development on slopes

H 272 would amend Vermont's zoning law to prevent municipalities from banning development on steep slopes. It removes a current provision (24 V.S.A. § 4411(3)(C)) that allowed towns to prohibit construction in such areas, replacing it with language permitting only regulation (like setting limits), not outright prohibition. This change directly affects local governments (municipalities) and developers seeking to build on sloped land, shifting zoning authority from local bans to regulatory standards. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is currently under review by the Environment Committee.

Topics ✗ Environment ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 279: An act relating to sharing the costs of electric grid upgrades

This bill requires Vermont's Public Utility Commission (PUC) to create rules ensuring electric grid upgrade costs are shared fairly among all utility customers. It mandates the PUC adopt initial rules by July 2026 for cost-sharing within each utility's service area, and additional rules by July 2031 for statewide cost-sharing regardless of utility boundaries. These rules aim to distribute grid modernization expenses evenly across all ratepayers in the state. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting all Vermont residents and businesses paying electricity bills.

Topics ✓ Energy

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 274: An act relating to a hospital patient’s right not to be denied care based on vaccination status

This bill adds a specific right to Vermont's Patient Bill of Rights, prohibiting hospitals from denying patients admission, care, or services solely based on their vaccination status. It directly affects all hospital patients in Vermont who might otherwise face barriers to care due to their vaccination history. The key provision (Section 19) explicitly states this right within the existing Patient Bill of Rights framework. The law takes effect upon passage, ensuring hospitals must comply with this new standard.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 276: An act relating to the designation of State wildlands

This bill designates specific state parks, forests, and wildlife areas (including Camel's Hump State Park and multiple state forests) as "State wildlands" under new protections. It requires the Agency of Natural Resources to permanently protect these lands from development and human interference, allowing natural processes to prevail without vegetation management, logging, or water alteration. The designation applies to existing ecological reserves and lands meeting Vermont Conservation Design criteria, including all State-managed natural areas and core areas. This policy change directly affects how Vermont manages approximately 20% of its state forest lands for biodiversity and climate resilience.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 275: An act relating to enrollment in Medicare supplement insurance policies

This bill creates annual open enrollment periods for Vermonters seeking Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap), aligning with federal Medicare Part D enrollment. It prohibits insurers from charging extra fees, penalties, or higher premiums for enrolling after age 65, bans exclusions for preexisting conditions, and allows policyholders to switch to comparable or lower-benefit plans anytime. The changes apply directly to Vermont residents enrolled in or applying for Medicare supplement insurance. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, after passing committee referral on February 19, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 267: An act relating to the Vermont Hospital Security Plan

H 267 establishes the Vermont Hospital Security Plan, creating a state-administered program to provide hospital coverage for all Vermont residents regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The plan requires hospitals to accept the state's negotiated annual payments (based on global budgets) for services provided to all patients, prevents balance billing for Vermont residents beyond set cost-sharing amounts, and includes out-of-state hospital coverage for Vermont residents. Key mechanisms include annual global hospital budgets limiting cost growth to the Consumer Price Index plus 3.5%, a dedicated trust fund financed by state transfers and federal Medicaid/Medicare funds, and appeal processes for denied claims. This directly affects Vermont residents seeking hospital care and Vermont hospitals receiving state payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 278: An act relating to a plan on energy storage development

This bill requires Vermont's electric utilities and VELCO to submit a detailed report and map by 2026, identifying optimal locations for energy storage facilities and flexible energy management solutions. The report must analyze where these investments would best improve grid reliability, affordability, community resilience, and sustainability, using utility data and community health indicators. The Department of Public Service will use this plan to guide grant awards through the Clean Energy Development Board for energy storage projects. The plan must be updated every two years and will inform future climate and energy planning efforts.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 269: An act relating to the federal benefits of youth in State custody

This bill directs federal disability and survivor benefits received by foster children and youth in the justice system into a dedicated account managed by the Office of the Treasurer. It requires a study committee to develop a plan for returning these funds to individuals when they age out of state care. The bill also directs the Department for Children and Families to use federal funds for legal representation in foster care cases (as permitted under federal rules) to offset any budgetary impact from the new benefit management system. These provisions aim to secure benefits for youth in state custody while maintaining existing legal support services.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 280: An act relating to the siting of an expanded polystyrene foam densifier in the State

This bill requires Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to assess the feasibility of establishing a facility that processes waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam into reusable blocks for recycling. It directs the Secretary to coordinate with waste management companies, haulers, and businesses generating EPS foam waste, and to submit a report by January 15, 2026, with recommendations on location, costs, landfill disposal policies, and public access. The assessment will determine whether such a densifier should be built and how it would operate, but does not mandate the facility or ban EPS foam from landfills. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is currently under review by the Environment Committee.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 263: An act relating to creating a right for employees to disconnect from work

This Vermont bill (H 263) establishes a legal right for employees to ignore work communications from employers during nonworking hours, defined as times outside an employee's scheduled work hours. It directly affects all Vermont employers and their employees covered under state labor laws. Key provisions require employers to create a written policy supporting this right (with exceptions for emergencies or last-minute schedule changes), prohibit policies that reduce compensation or time-off rights, and allow employees to file complaints for repeated violations, which could result in a $100 administrative penalty per violation. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results