This bill allows Vermont farms to host weddings, concerts, and similar events as part of their accessory on-farm businesses. It exempts these events from requiring a state land-use permit if the local town has adopted performance standards and site plan review. The change applies to construction for event spaces and farm stays (overnight accommodations for guests participating in farm activities). The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill establishes a voluntary certification process for community-based perinatal doulas in Vermont who serve under-resourced and marginalized populations at low or no cost. It creates a registry managed by the Office of Professional Regulation, requiring applicants to meet age, competency, and background check standards (with $75 application and $120 biennial renewal fees). The certification is optional - doulas can continue practicing without it, but cannot use the title "certified" unless they hold the credential. The system takes effect July 1, 2026, after rulemaking.
This bill (H.83) proposes three specific changes to firearms storage in Vermont. It would create a state fund to subsidize Vermonters purchasing firearm storage devices (like safes or locks), exempt those devices from sales tax, and require firearms dealers to include a trigger lock with every firearm sold. The bill directly affects Vermont firearm owners (through subsidies and tax changes) and firearms dealers (through the trigger lock requirement). These are concrete policy changes focused on promoting safe storage practices, without altering criminal penalties or ownership rights. The bill is currently referred to the Judiciary Committee for further review.
This bill requires Vermont hospitals to report administrative staffing ratios and executive compensation data to the Green Mountain Care Board during budget reviews. It mandates that administrative staff ratios align with national averages for similar hospitals and caps executive pay at no more than 10 times the salary of the lowest-paid direct patient care staff. These requirements apply to all hospitals submitting budgets for fiscal years 2027 and later. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, with implementation for 2027 budgets.
This bill requires Vermont school districts to include military career options in students' personalized learning plans and career planning resources starting in grade 7. It amends education law to mandate that schools provide specific information about military admissions processes and requirements as part of postsecondary planning. The policy affects all Vermont public schools serving students in grades 7-12, integrating military opportunities alongside other career pathways. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.
Bill H.88 prohibits electric, water, and wastewater utilities from disconnecting home service due to unpaid bills during periods of extreme heat. It directly affects all residential customers, including renters in apartments and mobile home residents, by ensuring they can maintain essential utility access during heat events. The law requires utilities to create a reconnection process during extreme heat (defined as 92°F+ or National Weather Service alerts), allow payment plans covering up to 6% of a customer’s monthly income, and maintain records of all requests. The rule takes effect July 1, 2025, and amends existing law to permanently include heat-related disconnection protections.
H 92 requires Vermont's Human Services Board to make fair hearing proceedings more transparent and accessible for people challenging decisions about benefits or services. The bill mandates two key changes: (1) allowing applicants a reasonable uninterrupted speaking time during hearings, and (2) requiring hearing officers and agency attorneys to use plain language instead of legal jargon. This directly affects individuals who dispute human services decisions, such as those involving welfare, disability, or housing assistance. The bill aims to simplify the process without altering the underlying eligibility rules.
This bill would allow all Vermont students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to attend any public or approved independent school of their choice, regardless of where they live. It establishes a "School Choice Grant" funded by redirecting existing education funds that would have gone to the student's home school district to the chosen school. Schools must accept students unless they lack capacity (using lotteries for oversubscription), and cannot deny enrollment based on protected characteristics. The bill also requires a report by the Joint Fiscal Office by 2026 on integrating this program into Vermont's overall education funding system.
This bill (H 90) increases Vermont’s earned income tax credit and child tax credit amounts and prevents these credits from being used to pay other state debts. It raises the credit percentage to 55% for households with qualifying children and 100% for households without children, based on the federal credit amount. The bill specifically prohibits tax debt setoff - meaning the state cannot seize these credits to cover unpaid taxes or other obligations. The changes apply retroactively to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, directly benefiting low-to-moderate-income Vermont residents who qualify for these credits.
This bill requires Vermont's Office of Veterans Affairs to create and maintain a database of state veterans, collecting personal information from state agencies. It mandates that all state agencies provide veteran data "to the maximum extent practicable" while keeping all personally identifying details exempt from public records requests under Vermont law. The database will be confidential, with information protected from public inspection or copying, even overriding standard public records exemptions. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and directly affects Vermont veterans whose personal details are collected, as well as state agencies responsible for sharing that data.
This House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 2) formally congratulates the 2024 Missisquoi Valley Union High School Thunderbirds softball team for winning the Division I championship. It directly recognizes the team members, coaches, and staff who achieved this victory, including specific player names and support personnel listed in the resolution. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to the school, serving as a ceremonial acknowledgment with no policy changes or funding impacts. As a symbolic gesture, it does not alter laws or affect broader legislation.
H 81 requires Vermont's Governor to obtain prior approval from the General Assembly before entering into certain federal immigration enforcement agreements (specifically those under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) and 19 U.S.C. § 1401(i)). The bill mandates a 60-day notice period before a vote, during which the Governor must provide the full agreement text, an analysis of fiscal/social/legal impacts, and hold public hearings. It also prohibits such agreements if the General Assembly isn't in session and requires annual reporting to legislative committees on related discussions. This directly affects the Governor and state agencies that might enter these agreements, adding a legislative review step to federal immigration partnerships.
