This bill requires municipalities in Vermont to allow tiny houses as permitted uses in zoning regulations. It specifies that one tiny house can be placed on a lot of one acre or more, while two tiny houses are permitted on lots of two acres or more. The legislation also includes a provision that tiny houses do not need wastewater capacity if they are occupied by family members of someone living in an existing single-family home on the same lot. This change directly affects local zoning authorities and homeowners considering tiny house construction or placement.
This bill requires food service establishments in Vermont to designate specific employees as food safety officers who must complete allergen training and display clear signage about food allergens. The law applies to restaurants and other venues that serve food, mandating that at least one trained staff member be present during operating hours to handle allergy-related situations. Key provisions include listing major allergens like milk, eggs, and peanuts on signs, outlining emergency procedures for allergic reactions, and requiring staff to ask customers about food allergies on menus. The bill also ensures training materials are accessible in multiple languages and places responsibility for training costs on business owners. These requirements become effective on July 1, 2024.
This bill directs the Vermont Agency of Transportation to redesign or remove Bridge 9 in Barre City to improve flood resilience after the bridge contributed to property damage during July 2023 flooding. The legislation adds the project to the Town Highway Bridges Program, requiring completion by June 30, 2028, and mandates either increasing the bridge's water clearance or replacing its abutments to allow better water flow. The act takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies specifically to the bridge over Stevens Branch at Berlin Street in Barre City.
This bill requires Vermont's Emergency Management agency to create and maintain a list of operational self-storage facilities during a state of emergency. The legislation mandates that storage facilities provide their name, address, contact information, and current unit availability to the state, which will then share this data through Vermont 211 or another approved agency. Facilities must update their availability information at least once every 24 hours while an emergency is in effect. Additionally, the bill prohibits storage facilities from charging unconscionably high prices during emergencies, defining such prices as those that show a gross disparity compared to normal rates charged before the emergency declaration. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill would require retail businesses in Vermont to accept cash as a payment method for goods and services. It directly affects sellers and lessors who currently refuse cash transactions, prohibiting them from doing so under this new rule. The law classifies cash refusal as an unfair business practice and would take effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill authorizes Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to implement administrative use controls at hazardous material contaminated sites, allowing the agency to place written restrictions on property use to reduce environmental and health risks. Property owners or those responding to a site release can petition for these controls, which must include detailed descriptions of contamination, prohibited uses, and property boundaries, and require owner signatures accepting the restrictions. Once approved, the controls can limit specific property uses, grant the agency access to verify compliance, and require ongoing maintenance and reporting, remaining in effect until the owner petitions for removal by demonstrating natural attenuation or completing further remediation.
This bill creates and expands the Municipal Planning and Resilience Grant Program to help Vermont towns and regional planning commissions prepare for climate-related hazards like flooding. The program will receive funding from a dedicated state fund, with 20 percent of revenues going to municipalities and 70 percent to regional planning commissions for performance-based contracts. Municipalities must vote to allocate local funds for planning purposes and submit plans for approval to qualify for grants, which can be used for acquiring development rights, conservation easements, or implementing climate resilience projects. The bill also establishes two new permanent full-time positions to administer the grants and assist with financing climate resilience projects.
This bill requires health insurance plans, including Medicaid, to provide comprehensive coverage for obesity treatment. It directly affects individuals with obesity and the health insurance providers that serve them. The legislation mandates coverage for FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, lifestyle interventions like nutrition counseling and exercise planning, and bariatric surgery when deemed medically necessary by a healthcare provider. Additionally, the bill prohibits higher cost-sharing requirements for obesity treatment compared to other conditions and limits prior authorization barriers to ensure timely access to care.
This bill requires insurance companies to classify a stolen vehicle as a total loss if drug paraphernalia used for intravenous drug use is found inside it when recovered. The measure directly affects property damage claims by establishing a specific condition under which vehicles are deemed totaled, regardless of their physical condition. If enacted, the law would take effect immediately upon passage and would apply to claims involving stolen vehicles where illicit drug use equipment is discovered. The provision aims to address insurance claims procedures rather than penalize vehicle owners or users.
This bill allows students displaced by natural disasters to keep attending their original school even if they or their parents no longer live in that school district. It modifies Vermont's education residency rules by exempting displaced students from standard residency requirements for enrollment purposes. The law also ensures these students count toward their original school district's enrollment numbers, which affects funding calculations. This change applies to students affected by natural disasters starting July 1, 2024.
This bill requires independent schools approved by the Vermont State Board of Education to annually confirm they have a nondiscrimination statement on their website and in application materials, and to comply with state antidiscrimination laws in all admissions and operations. Schools that accept public tuition funds must also follow a streamlined admissions process that excludes mandatory interviews, entrance exams, academic history reviews, campus visits, and consideration of a family's ability to pay fees. The law applies to all approved independent schools regardless of accreditation status and takes effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill requires employers in Vermont to provide air conditioning in all motor vehicles used for delivering, picking up, or transporting goods and materials. The law applies to vehicles operated on public highways and must cool all areas where employees might be located during operation. Employers who use third-party delivery services are exempt from this requirement, and the Vermont Attorney General's office will handle complaints and enforcement instead of the Commission on Human Rights. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.
