Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 450: An act relating to supplemental income, health insurance, and retirement benefits for members of the General Assembly

This bill would extend access to the State employees' Defined Contribution Retirement Plan and the State employees' health insurance plan to members of the Vermont General Assembly. It also creates a supplemental income provision that would provide financial assistance to legislators whose monthly household income falls below the statewide median during their legislative service. The legislation establishes specific contribution rates for both employee and state portions of the retirement plan, sets vesting requirements after one year and 11 months of service, and includes provisions for disability and retirement benefits. The bill would be administered by the State Treasurer and funded through existing departmental appropriations used for legislative salaries.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 444: An act relating to the study and design of a long-term care trust fund

This bill directs Vermont's Secretary of Administration to study and design a long-term care trust fund for eligible state residents. The study must examine a social insurance model, funding collection starting in 2024 from Vermonters earning over 150 percent of the federal poverty level, and the creation of a governing committee to manage the fund. The report, due by January 15, 2024, will include recommendations for legislation to establish the fund and its benefit structure, with benefits potentially available after two years of contributions. The act takes effect on July 1, 2023, and focuses on planning rather than immediately creating the fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 437: An act relating to a plan on energy storage development

This bill requires Vermont's electric utilities to create and submit a detailed plan by December 2024 that maps out where energy storage facilities and flexible load management projects would provide the most benefit for grid reliability, affordability, community resilience, and sustainability. The plan must include cost-benefit analyses, estimates of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and identification of areas where storage could help keep critical facilities like hospitals online during outages. The Clean Energy Development Board will use this map to guide grant awards for energy storage projects in the identified locations, and the plan will be updated every two years with new data.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 441: An act relating to funding for the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children (VT-ICAC) Task Force

This bill directs a portion of Vermont's cannabis excise tax revenue to fund the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Specifically, it allocates up to $500,000 annually to create and support one administrator position and two criminal investigator positions within the Office of the Attorney General. The funding comes from unspent cannabis tax money transferred to the state's general fund, separate from other appropriations for this task force. The bill also updates existing laws governing how cannabis tax revenue is distributed for substance misuse prevention and task force support, with most provisions taking effect in July 2023 and others in July 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 443: An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the Vermont State Employees Retirement System

This bill amends the Vermont State Employees Retirement System to update rules for Group G members, which include certain facility employees and public safety staff. It allows these employees to earn retirement credit for temporary or seasonal state work and establishes a contractual right for members to receive retirement benefits. The legislation also changes how retirement benefits are calculated for Group G members and adjusts their contribution rates based on their hourly pay quartiles, with higher earners paying more into the system starting in 2023.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 438: An act relating to a working group to develop a plan to eliminate incarceration

This bill creates a Just Transition Working Group to develop a plan for replacing Vermont's correctional facilities with a community-based system focused on restorative justice and rehabilitation. The working group would include legislators, agency representatives, and individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system to design services addressing housing, education, workforce development, and mental health needs. The plan aims to reduce recidivism by shifting resources from incarceration to community supports, beginning with the Chittenden County Correctional Facility. The bill does not mandate immediate changes but establishes a framework for studying and planning a transition away from traditional incarceration methods.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 436: An act relating to municipal flexibility to meet energy goals

This bill gives Vermont municipalities the authority to use home energy rating systems instead of traditional building codes when meeting residential energy standards, allowing towns more flexibility in how they enforce energy efficiency requirements. It also requires state agencies to share fuel tax and vehicle data with municipalities to help them track energy consumption patterns and plan local infrastructure. Additionally, the bill prevents renewable energy projects from being rejected solely because of aesthetic concerns, ensuring that clean energy development is not blocked by visual objections. These changes aim to streamline energy compliance processes while supporting local control over energy policy and renewable energy growth.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 457: An act relating to establishing a tax on the transit of agricultural commodities

This bill proposes a tax on the distance agricultural products travel before being sold in Vermont, aiming to inform consumers about the carbon impact of food transportation. It would apply to items like fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat, charging $0.001 per mile from the original packing location to the retail sale point. Transporters would need to provide invoices showing the origin and mileage for each shipment. Revenue from the tax would be split three ways: one-third to the state's general fund, one-third to a climate awareness fund, and one-third to a food resiliency fund that includes Universal School Meals.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✗ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 448: An act relating to promoting racial and social equity in economic opportunity and cultural empowerment

This bill establishes legislative intent to address racial and social equity in economic opportunity and cultural empowerment by acknowledging historical wealth disparities rooted in systemic racism, colonization, and slavery. It defines key terms such as "Non-White" and identifies specific groups affected by historical discrimination, including Indigenous peoples, Black residents, and other marginalized communities based on race, ethnicity, sex, geography, and other characteristics. The bill calls for a just transition to an economic system that undoes racism and requires the state to engage in a truth and reconciliation process guided by those most impacted by historical injustices.

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 453: An act relating to preventing yo-yo motor vehicle sales

This bill aims to prevent "yo-yo" sales by establishing that motor vehicle sales transactions become final after three days. It directly affects car dealers and consumers by prohibiting dealers from selling a vehicle that was traded in during a transaction until the sale is finalized. The law also requires dealers to complete the transaction within this timeframe to avoid complications. By setting a clear deadline for finalizing sales, the bill seeks to protect buyers from being pressured into returning to dealerships after initial negotiations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 454: An act relating to establishing a statewide bargaining unit for Vermont State Colleges adjunct faculty

This bill creates a single statewide bargaining unit for adjunct faculty at Vermont State Colleges, excluding Vermont Technical College. It allows these part-time instructors to collectively negotiate employment terms and conditions through a unified group. The change applies to adjuncts who sign an employment agreement or begin teaching their first class, whichever happens first. This measure directly affects adjunct faculty members by organizing them into a formal labor relations structure. The legislation does not change existing employment contracts but establishes a framework for future collective bargaining.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 1, 2023

H 458: An act relating to the Community Media Public Benefit Fund

This bill proposes creating the Community Media Public Benefit Fund to help cover operational costs for Vermont's 24 access management organizations. The fund would be financed through an annual charge on communications service providers for using utility poles. The legislation establishes a new revenue stream specifically designated to support these organizations without changing existing operational requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

Bill results