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Vermont Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 8,295 Active 5,263 In committee 1,788 Passed 2,033 Signed 934 Failed 25

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2023

H 420: An act relating to establishing a program to encourage the implementation of year-round agricultural practices

This bill directs Vermont's Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to create a pilot program offering financial assistance to farmers who adopt year-round agricultural practices across different regions of the state. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop specific standards and criteria for what qualifies as year-round agriculture and allocates funding to support the program's implementation. The legislation affects farmers and agricultural agencies by establishing a formal mechanism to encourage continuous farming activities throughout all seasons.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 24, 2023

S 106: An act relating to employer communications regarding religious or political matters

This bill prohibits employers in Vermont from taking adverse employment actions against employees who decline to attend or participate in meetings about the employer's religious or political opinions. It also prevents employers from forcing employees to attend such meetings or view related communications. The law applies to most businesses but includes exceptions for religious organizations, political groups, and communications required by law or necessary for job performance. Employers may still hold voluntary forums on these topics without penalty. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 24, 2023

S 107: An act relating to authorizing off-site tasting rooms for alcoholic beverage manufacturers

This bill allows alcoholic beverage manufacturers in Vermont to open tasting rooms at locations separate from their production facilities. It amends state liquor laws to permit license holders to obtain first-class retail licenses for off-site premises, provided the Board of Liquor and Lottery approves the request. The tasting rooms must be used exclusively for selling and consuming the manufacturer's own products on-site. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and apply to existing manufacturers holding current production licenses.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 368: An act relating to supporting new farmers, veteran farmers, and farmers who are disadvantaged

This bill amends the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Board's duties to include providing financial and technical assistance specifically to new farmers, veteran farmers, and disadvantaged farmers. The legislation defines these groups as farmers with low household income, those who have not farmed in Vermont for over three years in the last decade, and military veterans who meet specific service criteria. The Board will be authorized to create application processes, set eligibility criteria, and award grants, loans, and other investments to help these farmers enter and operate farms in the state. Key provisions include establishing performance contracts for technical assistance, market development, and business planning, as well as identifying workforce training needs for the agriculture sector. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and require administrative support from the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

Topics ✓ Veterans

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 362: An act relating to updating statute language to reflect provider diversity

This bill updates Vermont state statutes to recognize advanced practice registered nurses as qualified medical professionals alongside physicians and osteopaths in specific legal contexts. The changes allow advanced practice registered nurses to certify disability for sick leave purposes, conduct medical examinations for disability retirement benefits, and determine life expectancy for life settlement contracts. Additionally, the bill expands the scope of covered services under health insurance plans to include naturopathic physicians licensed in Vermont. These amendments aim to modernize healthcare provider terminology and ensure diverse medical professionals can perform essential functions in administrative and insurance processes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 370: An act relating to maintenance and use of legal trails

This bill gives Vermont towns the option to maintain legal trails without requiring them to do so, while also granting local selectboards the authority to regulate how these trails are used. It defines legal trails as public rights-of-way that were formerly town highways or were newly designated for access or recreation, and clarifies that towns are not required to maintain them or owe a duty of care to trail users. The legislation allows selectboards to set rules on permitted vehicle types, install gates, and establish penalties for noncompliance, but does not authorize land condemnation for recreational trail purposes.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 369: An act relating to health insurance and Medicaid coverage for fertility-related services

This bill requires health insurance plans and Vermont Medicaid to cover specific fertility-related services for all insured individuals and Medicaid beneficiaries. It mandates coverage for fertility diagnostic care, intrauterine insemination, at least three IVF retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers, fertility medications, and fertility preservation services including egg and embryo storage. The law prohibits insurers from charging higher rates or imposing restrictions based on the use of donor sperm, eggs, or embryos, while excluding experimental procedures and nonmedical costs like donor fees. Health insurance plans must apply these coverage requirements to policies issued on or after January 1, 2024, with Medicaid coverage pending federal approval of the state plan amendment.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 374: An act relating to establishing the Resilient Rivers Commission

This bill creates the Resilient Rivers Commission, a temporary body designed to study and make recommendations about protecting Vermont's rivers, streams, and their surrounding riparian zones. The Commission would be made up of eight legislators from the Senate and House committees on natural resources and environment, who would hold at least five public meetings across different regions of the state to gather information and public input. During its existence, the Commission would review current water protection laws, compare Vermont's regulations with those of other states, and develop a draft report with legislative recommendations to improve water quality and habitat protection. The Commission would receive technical and legal assistance from state agencies, and it would cease to exist on February 1, 2024, after submitting its final report to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 372: An act relating to voluntary engagement in sex work

This bill would remove Vermont's current laws that criminalize consensual adult sex work while keeping strict criminal penalties for human trafficking. It directly affects adults who engage in sex work for hire by decriminalizing their voluntary participation, but it continues to prohibit recruiting, transporting, or forcing anyone into sex work through force, fraud, or coercion. The key provision repeals the section of the state code that defines prostitution to include consensual sexual acts for hire, while maintaining detailed definitions and severe penalties for trafficking offenses. The bill also clarifies what constitutes coercion, including threats of harm, withholding documents, or controlling finances, and sets specific prison terms for different trafficking-related crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 364: An act relating to prohibiting discrimination based on immunization status

This bill would add immunization status to the list of protected characteristics in Vermont's anti-discrimination laws, prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on whether a person has been vaccinated. The legislation defines immunization status as an individual's vaccination history against infectious diseases and makes it unlawful for employers, landlords, and public accommodation operators to refuse services, housing, or employment opportunities because of this status. Key provisions amend existing state statutes to explicitly include immunization status alongside other protected categories such as race, sex, and disability, preventing discriminatory practices in hiring, renting, selling property, and accessing public facilities. The bill applies to employers, employment agencies, housing providers, and operators of public places, ensuring that decisions about jobs, housing, and services cannot be influenced by a person's vaccination history.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 376: An act relating to review of orders placing the Vermont National Guard in federal active duty status

This bill requires Vermont's Governor to review every federal order deploying the National Guard into armed hostilities to verify it has proper Congressional authorization for war or military force. If the Governor finds the order lacks such authorization, the bill empowers the Governor to block the deployment and mandates legal action by the Attorney General to prevent it. The legislation also establishes a policy that Vermont National Guard members should only serve in military conflicts with specific Congressional approval and requires the Governor to report review findings to state legislative committees within 30 days.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 24, 2023

H 373: An act relating to use of expanded polystyrene foam in waters of the State

This bill requires that any expanded polystyrene foam used for flotation in buoys, docks, or floating structures on Vermont waters must be fully encapsulated in a protective barrier that prevents it from breaking apart in the water. It also prohibits the sale, distribution, or use of open-cell polystyrene foam products in or on the state's waters and declares unencapsulated foam devices a public health nuisance. The legislation includes a ban on selling unencapsulated or open-cell foam flotation devices and sets a deadline of April 1, 2026, for prohibiting the use of existing unencapsulated devices. Additionally, the bill appropriates $50,000 to the Department of Environmental Conservation to help fund grants for lakeshore residents and businesses to replace older unencapsulated flotation equipment.

Topics ✓ Environment