H 257 creates Vermont's Office of Entrepreneurship within the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to support new businesses. The office will help businesses operating under five years navigate state agencies, encourage at least 5% of state contracts to go to such businesses (including those owned by women, minorities, or veterans), and track contract awards by demographic and geographic groups. It requires annual reports starting in 2027 detailing contract data, progress toward goals, and recommendations for improving entrepreneurship access. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
H 262 restricts Vermont employers from using electronic monitoring of employees (like tracking computer use or location) and automated decision systems (such as AI tools for hiring or promotions) without specific limitations. Employers may only use such monitoring if it serves one of seven defined purposes (e.g., safety, compliance, or performance assessment) and is the least invasive method necessary. The bill requires employers to justify monitoring based on objective evidence and prohibits using it for general surveillance or non-essential purposes. It directly affects all Vermont employers, including contractors and job applicants, by imposing new requirements on workplace monitoring practices.
HCR 21 is a symbolic resolution expressing the Vermont General Assembly's appreciation for school board members' role in public education. It formally designates February as "School Board Recognition Month" in Vermont to highlight their contributions. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is purely ceremonial, acknowledging school board members' civic service. The resolution was adopted by both chambers on February 7, 2025, and directs the Secretary of State to share it with the Vermont School Boards Association.
This bill creates a $1,000 income tax deduction for Vermont taxpayers who cover qualified home study program expenses for their dependent children. It directly affects parents or guardians who educate their dependents through home study programs (as defined under Vermont law), provided the child is not claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer. The deduction covers costs like educational materials, equipment, and software required for home study, but does not include full tuition. The provision applies retroactively to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025.
H 251 establishes a legal process to help criminal defendants found incompetent to stand trial regain competency through mental health treatment. The bill requires courts to provide structured treatment services for defendants unable to understand trial proceedings due to mental health conditions, while including community safety safeguards. It directly affects Vermont defendants in criminal cases who are deemed incompetent to stand trial. The process aims to restore competency for fair trials or appropriate resolution, with specific court procedures outlined in the bill.
H.245 expands the Green Mountain Care Board's authority to review and approve budgets for both hospitals and health networks in Vermont. The bill requires the Board to investigate whether hospitals or health networks with significant market power harm the public good and take action to reduce such power if warranted. It mandates that hospitals and health networks submit detailed budget and operational data, including cost structures and service volumes, for Board review. The Board can also establish reference-based pricing to control costs and promote equitable access to care, directly affecting all Vermont hospitals and health networks operating under its oversight.
This bill (H 252) prohibits individuals convicted of a second or subsequent felony from earning time off their prison sentence through Vermont's earned time program. It amends 28 V.S.A. § 818 to explicitly exclude people sentenced for a felony after a prior felony conviction from participating in the program. The key change removes this group from eligibility, meaning repeat felony offenders cannot reduce their sentences via earned time. This applies to all current and future offenders meeting this criteria, excluding them from the standard earned time provisions. The bill is currently pending referral to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions.
This bill creates the Vermont Municipal Response and Recovery Special Fund to provide direct financial assistance to Vermont municipalities for flood response, recovery, and resiliency projects. The fund will receive 0.5% of annual General Fund revenue, with monies used solely for qualifying municipal flood-related needs. The State Treasurer must submit a report by December 1, 2025, detailing fund distribution guidelines, geographic equity considerations, and potential amendments to existing programs to prioritize flood-impacted communities. The fund cannot disburse money before July 1, 2026, and the bill takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects all Vermont municipalities eligible for flood-related assistance.
H.229 proposes creating a Vermont Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund to provide grants for weather-related losses. It directly affects Vermont farms and forestry operations that suffer qualifying weather damage (like floods, droughts, or extreme heat), covering up to 50% of uninsured losses with a yearly maximum of $150,000 per operation. The fund, administered by the Agriculture Department, will use streamlined applications requiring basic damage descriptions and financial records, with verification through weather data sources like NOAA. Grants cover specific costs including lost income, infrastructure repairs, replanting, and livestock feed replacement.
This bill changes Vermont's unemployment insurance rules to make benefits more accessible for certain workers. It prevents wages from specific jobs (like part-time work that wouldn't normally qualify for benefits) from reducing an individual's weekly benefit amount. It also extends eligibility to workers at educational institutions who hold non-teaching roles (such as administrative or support staff) between academic terms, allowing them to claim benefits during those gaps. Previously, these workers were often ineligible during school breaks unless they had a guaranteed return position. The changes apply immediately upon the bill's passage.
This Vermont bill (S 70) requires data brokers - businesses that collect and sell personal information about consumers without a direct relationship (like a customer or employee) - to take specific steps to protect residents' privacy. It mandates that data brokers notify consumers of security breaches involving personal data, certify that data is used for legitimate purposes, and provide an accessible way for consumers to request deletion of their information. The bill directly affects Vermont residents whose personal data is collected by these brokers and sets clear rules for how brokers must handle and protect that information. It does not apply to businesses sharing publicly available business or professional information or those maintaining directory services.
H 256 would amend Vermont's Judiciary Employees Labor Relations Act to allow Judiciary supervisors to form unions and negotiate collective bargaining agreements. Currently, supervisors are excluded from the definition of "employee" under the law (Section 1011(8)(C)), but this bill removes that exclusion. The change directly affects supervisors within Vermont's court system who were previously barred from collective bargaining. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, after passing committee referral.
