This bill limits tuition rates charged by Vermont public schools that receive students from other districts, requiring them to set rates at the average tuition of similar union schools. It prohibits these schools from charging additional fees for special education, facility reservations, or other unaccounted costs. The bill also removes tuition paid by nonoperating school districts from their education spending calculations when determining excess spending under state law. These changes directly affect receiving school districts, sending districts, and nonoperating districts with students.
This bill creates multiple financial and employment incentives for AmeriCorps members serving in Vermont. It requires state colleges to offer in-state tuition to AmeriCorps members, exempts them from state taxes on both the federal Segal AmeriCorps Education Award and their living allowance, and gives them hiring preference for state jobs. Additionally, it provides a Vermont state education award matching the federal Segal award for Vermont students who completed AmeriCorps service in-state and are enrolled at Vermont colleges. The bill also dedicates state funds to support AmeriCorps program development.
This bill prohibits discrimination based on criminal history in employment and housing across Vermont. It adds "criminal history" to Vermont's existing anti-discrimination laws, meaning employers cannot refuse to hire or landlords cannot deny housing solely due to an individual's criminal record. The law includes exceptions for jobs where federal or state law mandates disqualification (e.g., for certain crimes in childcare roles) or for positions substantially related to the offense. It also defines "criminal history" broadly to cover all contact with the criminal justice system, including arrests and court dispositions.
H.191 prohibits Vermont from housing incarcerated people in private or for-profit correctional facilities, both within the state and out-of-state, by 2034. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to stop contracting with private entities for housing or services by January 2030 and to develop an implementation plan by November 2025 to return inmates currently held out-of-state to Vermont facilities. It allows exceptions only for facilities operated by public or nonprofit entities under interstate compacts or federal contracts. This directly affects Vermont’s Department of Corrections, current inmates in out-of-state facilities, and private prison companies with state contracts.
JRH 2 is a Vermont legislative resolution urging President Trump to avoid imposing tariffs on goods and services imported from Canada. It directly affects Vermonters by highlighting the state's deep economic ties with Canada, including $2.6 billion in annual imports, 17,000 jobs supported by Canadian investments, and critical energy imports (100% of Vermont Gas Systems' supply). The resolution formally requests the President refrain from tariffs, citing risks to Vermont's economy and longstanding cross-border trade relationships, and directs the Secretary of State to send it to the President, Governor Scott, and Canadian officials.
This concurrent resolution designates February 12, 2025, as Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day at the State House to celebrate the state's outdoor recreation economy and community benefits. It recognizes Vermont's 8,000+ miles of trails, 360,000 acres of public lands, and the $2.1 billion annual economic impact of outdoor recreation (employing over 16,000 Vermonters). The resolution directs the Secretary of State to share it with state agencies like Natural Resources, Tourism, and outdoor industry associations. It has no new policy requirements or funding - it is purely ceremonial, aiming to highlight existing outdoor recreation assets and their role in Vermont's economy and well-being.
This concurrent resolution designates February 12, 2025, as "Farm to School and Child Awareness Day" at the Vermont State House. It recognizes Vermont's existing Farm-to-School programs, which connect schools with local farmers to provide healthy meals and support agricultural sustainability. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to the Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network. As a ceremonial designation, it does not create new laws or funding but highlights ongoing initiatives benefiting schools, early childhood programs, and Vermont farmers.
This bill requires online businesses likely to be accessed by children to avoid using design features that are harmful or overly invasive of children's privacy. It defines "covered businesses" as those with online services reasonably likely to be used by minors and mandates that these businesses set privacy settings to the most protective default for children. Key provisions prohibit design features causing compulsive use (like endless scrolling) and require businesses to handle children's personal data with heightened safeguards. The law applies to Vermont-based businesses offering online products or services to minors, aiming to protect children's privacy through proactive design standards.
H.208 creates Vermont's first comprehensive data privacy law, giving residents specific rights over their personal data. It requires businesses to obtain clear, affirmative consent for data collection (prohibiting "dark patterns" like deceptive pop-ups), bans the sale of biometric data and sensitive health information (including gender-affirming and reproductive health data), and restricts online tracking. The law directly affects Vermont residents and any business collecting their data, including data brokers and companies using contextual advertising. Key provisions include mandatory opt-in consent for data processing, requirements for transparent privacy notices, and new protections against automated decisions affecting housing, employment, or healthcare access.
H.194 requires any nonemergency school construction project receiving Vermont state aid to include a high-capacity, all-gender restroom with fully enclosed stalls. This applies directly to public schools planning new construction or major renovations funded by state capital construction grants. The law amends existing approval standards for school projects, effective July 1, 2025, and does not apply to emergency repairs or existing building modifications.
H 198 increases the University of Vermont Board of Trustees from 25 to 27 members by adding one voting faculty member (elected by the faculty) and one voting staff member (appointed with broad representation). It also requires that the two student trustee positions be filled by one full-time undergraduate student and one full-time graduate student, specifying their eligibility and term structure. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, with new appointments needed by July 31, 2025. This bill directly affects the governance of the University of Vermont by expanding representation from faculty, staff, and students on the board.
H.186 would require courts to impose a minimum two-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of selling or dispensing a regulated drug that causes a death, removing the judge's current ability to sentence below that term if they determine it serves "the interests of justice." This bill directly affects defendants in drug-related homicide cases where the death resulted from the sale or distribution of a regulated substance. The key provision eliminates judicial discretion in sentencing for these specific offenses, mandating the two-year minimum term without exception. The bill is currently under review by Vermont's Judiciary Committee after its initial introduction.
