Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 101: An act relating to the role and structure of the Agency of Education

H.101 requires Vermont's Secretary of Education to provide statewide technical assistance to school districts and supervisory unions on implementing statewide education requirements. It also mandates the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Agency of Education's structure and operations, including an organizational analysis. The Secretary must then report findings and recommendations for changes to the House and Senate Education Committees. This bill directly affects school districts, supervisory unions, and the Agency of Education itself through these new reporting and support obligations.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 111: An act relating to waived registration fees for volunteer firefighter motor vehicles

This bill waives all registration fees for volunteer firefighters' personal vehicles when they have written authorization to use them for emergency fire or rescue work. It directly affects volunteer firefighters who meet the authorization requirement and their fire departments (which must mark qualifying vehicles). The key provision changes the registration fee to $0.00 for these vehicles under Vermont law, replacing standard fees. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 113: An act relating to lakes in crisis and requirements for designation

This bill declares Lake Memphremagog a "lake in crisis" under Vermont law, directly affecting the lake and communities relying on it for drinking water (serving 175,000 people), recreation, and economic activity. It eliminates the requirement that a municipality must have reduced real property valuations due to the lake's condition for a "lake in crisis" designation. The bill mandates a crisis response plan including controls on discharges of effluent to the lake's tributaries. The measure takes effect immediately for the declaration but changes to the designation criteria will apply starting July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 114: An act relating to expanding Dr. Dynasaur income eligibility for pregnant individuals and exploring eligibility expansions for other populations

This bill expands eligibility for Vermont's Dr. Dynasaur program to cover pregnant individuals with incomes up to 312% of the federal poverty level (FPL), effective January 2026. It also requires the Agency of Human Services to study and report by January 2026 on the feasibility and costs of expanding Dr. Dynasaur to all Vermont residents under 26 with incomes at or below 312% FPL, and Medicaid to adults aged 26-64 with incomes at or below 312% FPL. The bill appropriates $600,000 for implementing the pregnant individual eligibility change, with $180,000 from the General Fund and $420,000 in federal funds. The report must address federal waiver needs, cost estimates, and implementation timelines for potential broader expansions. This is a policy change focused on expanding healthcare access for specific income groups, not a procedural measure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 107: An act relating to reports or complaints of sex offenses or sexual harassment

This bill (H 107) expands Vermont's anti-SLAPP law to protect individuals who file good faith reports or complaints about sex offenses or sexual harassment. It adds these reports to the list of protected activities under the existing law, which prevents lawsuits designed to silence public speech on matters of public interest. The law allows defendants to file a "special motion to strike" if a lawsuit targets such reports and lacks factual or legal basis, with courts requiring plaintiffs to prove the report was unfounded and caused actual harm. This directly affects people reporting sex-related misconduct by shielding them from retaliatory civil lawsuits, while excluding criminal cases and healthcare-related claims.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 103: An act relating to prohibited practices for services involving veterans’ benefits

This bill prohibits unauthorized fees and deceptive practices for services helping Vermont veterans navigate benefits claims. It bans individuals or companies from charging veterans for advice, referrals, or assistance with VA claims unless they are accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or work for Vermont's Veterans Affairs office. The law requires written agreements for paid services, prohibits guaranteeing specific benefit amounts, and forbids falsely claiming affiliation with VA or Vermont's veterans offices. It directly protects veterans, dependents, and survivors from exploitation while applying to all service providers except accredited representatives.

Topics ✓ Veterans

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 109: An act relating to municipal ordinances governing the maintenance of properties within downtown districts

H 109 authorizes Vermont municipalities to create local ordinances requiring property owners in designated downtown districts to maintain their buildings to prevent decay or deterioration. This bill directly affects downtown property owners and gives towns/cities a new legal tool to enforce property maintenance standards. The key provision amends Vermont law to explicitly grant municipalities the power to regulate and compel repairs for properties within downtown districts. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025, after legislative approval.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 104: An act relating to excluding veterans’ disability benefits from income-based eligibility determinations for public assistance programs or benefits

This bill, H.104, requires Vermont state public assistance programs to exclude veterans' disability benefits from income calculations when determining eligibility. It directly affects veterans applying for state benefits administered by the Departments of Children and Families, Vermont Health Access, and Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living. The key provision mandates that these departments must not count veterans' disability benefits toward income thresholds for programs like food assistance, healthcare, or housing support. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, ensuring veterans’ disability payments no longer reduce their eligibility for state aid.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 97: An act relating to prohibiting firearms and deadly weapons in schools, on school property, and at childcare centers

H 97 prohibits firearms and deadly weapons in Vermont schools, school property, and childcare centers, with limited exceptions. It directly affects students, staff, and visitors at these locations by making unauthorized possession a crime punishable by fines or jail time (up to 1 year for first offense, 3 years for repeat offenses). Key exceptions include law enforcement officers on duty, authorized school personnel for specific purposes (like instruction), and firearms at childcare centers located in a person’s home. The bill defines "school property" broadly to include leased or controlled areas and clarifies it doesn’t prevent other charges like assault.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 112: An act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports

H.112 provides medical debt relief for Vermont residents by appropriating $1 million to contract with a nonprofit to purchase and erase qualifying medical debt. It directly affects Vermonters with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or those owing medical debt equal to 5% or more of their household income. The bill prohibits credit bureaus from reporting medical debt on credit reports and bans healthcare providers from submitting such debt to credit agencies. It requires debt relief contractors to remove adverse credit information after debt abolition, ensuring no cost or tax impact for affected residents.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 99: An act relating to regulating earned wage access services

This bill establishes a regulatory framework for "earned wage access services" in Vermont, requiring providers to obtain a state license before offering these services. It defines key terms like "earned but unpaid income" (wages owed but not yet paid) and "provider" (businesses delivering pre-pay advances), and distinguishes between direct-to-consumer providers and employer-integrated providers. The core mechanism mandates licensing for all providers (excluding certain federally insured financial institutions), with applications requiring details about service types, fees, and business history. This directly affects workers accessing early pay and businesses offering these services, aiming to create oversight for a growing financial product.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 24, 2025

H 82: An act relating to establishing the Division of Planning and Evaluation and strengthening the regulatory capacity of the Green Mountain Care Board

This bill establishes a new Division of Planning and Evaluation within Vermont's Green Mountain Care Board. The division will create annual reports on healthcare costs, access, and quality; develop a five-year strategic plan for improving population health and rural healthcare access; and set spending targets for total healthcare costs. It directs the Board to implement this plan, align hospital budgets with strategic goals, and develop standardized financial reporting with hospitals. The bill also adds new staff/resources to the Board and proposes alternative funding sources for healthcare payments as existing models expire.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results