This House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 5) formally congratulates the 2024 Richford Junior-Senior High School Rockets softball team for winning the Division IV championship. It specifically recognizes their victory over West Rutland in the championship game, highlighting their scoring performance and key players. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to the school, making it a ceremonial acknowledgment with no policy impact or direct effect on individuals beyond the team and school. As a purely symbolic resolution, it contains no substantive legislative provisions.
This House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 4) is a ceremonial expression of congratulations from Vermont's General Assembly to the 2024 Richford Junior-Senior High School Division IV girls' soccer team for winning their championship. It specifically honors the team's 3-2 victory over West Rutland in the championship game, noting their comeback from a 2-0 deficit. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Richford Junior-Senior High School. As a non-binding ceremonial measure, it does not create new policy or affect any laws.
H.42 creates a new Housing Board of Appeals to handle zoning disputes for housing projects in Vermont. The board, composed of three full-time members with expertise in land use law or housing development (including at least one attorney and one engineer/surveyor), will review appeals of municipal zoning decisions on housing permits, subdivisions, and variances. Developers and municipalities directly affected by local zoning decisions must file appeals with this board within 30 days instead of seeking immediate review in Superior Court, though parties may still appeal the board's decision to the Supreme Court. The board will have authority to affirm, reverse, or modify local decisions and award remedies similar to those available in court.
This bill amends Vermont law to require courts in adoption termination cases to consider whether a parent made "reasonable and consistent payments" for their child's support when deciding if termination is in the child's best interests. It directly affects parents whose parental rights are being challenged during adoption proceedings, particularly those who failed to provide financial support. The key change adds financial responsibility as a specific factor courts must weigh alongside other considerations like visitation and custody willingness. This policy update clarifies that courts must evaluate payment history (based on the parent's financial ability) when determining if parental rights should be terminated.
S 16 requires that at least one restroom in every public building and place of public accommodation (like libraries, government offices, or retail stores) must have an infant changing station. The station must be accessible to any person, regardless of gender, to change an infant's diaper. The law defines "available" to mean the restroom is usable by all, and the Commissioner of Public Safety will enforce compliance during routine inspections. The requirement takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill requires all Vermont public schools and approved independent schools receiving public funding to provide supplemental reading instruction to students in kindergarten through third grade whose reading skills fall below grade-level standards or hinder their academic progress. It mandates evidence-based reading instruction for all K-3 students and additional targeted support for those needing it, based on valid assessments. Schools must also share each student’s reading proficiency level with parents or guardians. The law aims to address early reading challenges by ensuring schools systematically identify and support struggling readers.
This Vermont bill (S 11) creates a new type of "stewardship trust" specifically for business purposes, allowing owners to transfer business interests (like stocks or partnerships) without needing a definite beneficiary. It directly affects business owners and estate planners who want to pass companies to future generations while maintaining control over how the business is managed. Key provisions establish a three-member "stewardship committee" (with fiduciary duties) to oversee the trust, appoint trust enforcers to protect the trust’s purpose, and allow the committee to make major decisions like removing trustees or directing distributions. The trust must be managed for both economic and non-economic business goals, and its terms dictate how property is distributed upon termination.
This bill expands 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 directs the Agency of Human Services to study expanding Dr. Dynasaur eligibility to all Vermont residents under 26 with incomes ≤312% FPL and Medicaid eligibility to adults aged 26-64 with incomes ≤312% FPL. The agency must report on feasibility, costs, federal waiver needs, and implementation timelines by January 2026. The study includes analyzing programmatic costs, technological requirements, and potential federal approval processes for broader expansions.
This bill exempts U.S. military retirement income and survivor benefit payments from Vermont income tax for eligible residents. It adds these income types to Vermont’s list of excluded income in the tax code (specifically amending 32 V.S.A. § 5811), meaning military retirees and surviving spouses won’t pay state tax on these payments. The change applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2026. It directly affects Vermont taxpayers who receive military retirement or survivor benefits, providing them tax relief on this specific income source.
This bill exempts U.S. military retirement income and survivor benefit income received by Vermont residents from state income tax. It directly affects Vermont veterans and their surviving spouses or dependents who receive these benefits. The bill amends Vermont's tax code to add these income types to the list of exclusions from taxable income under § 5811, specifically adding a new exclusion (vii) for military retirement and survivor benefits. The change takes effect retroactively for taxable years beginning January 1, 2026.
This joint resolution (JRS 7) schedules a joint meeting of Vermont's Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM. It directs both legislative chambers to convene together solely to hear the Governor's annual budget message, a required procedural step in Vermont's budget process. The resolution does not alter budget policy or funding; it only sets the date and format for this standard legislative hearing.
This resolution formally congratulates Brattleboro Memorial Hospital on its 120th anniversary. It does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it is purely ceremonial. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the hospital. It affects no individuals or entities beyond acknowledging the hospital’s milestone.
