Vermont Bills | MyRepTracker

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 27, 2026

H 786: An act relating to remote meetings with the Department of Homeland Security

H 786 requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to offer remote meetings and hearings with Vermont residents applying for U.S. citizenship or visa authorization, upon the resident's request. This bill directly affects Vermont residents navigating immigration processes with DHS. The key provision mandates DHS to provide remote options for these meetings, eliminating the need for in-person attendance if requested by the applicant. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on meeting format changes without altering immigration eligibility or standards.

Topics ✓ Immigration

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 27, 2026

H 777: An act relating to the Vermont Skier Development Scholarship Fund and Scholarship Program

H.777 creates the Vermont Skier Development Scholarship Fund to provide up to 20 annual scholarships of $25,000 each for Vermont high school students (grades 9-12) who attended Vermont public or approved private schools. The fund, financed by sales tax, supports students attending eligible Vermont ski academies that meet specific standards for student support, academic quality, and safety. Scholarship recipients must maintain athletic progress (competitive standing, training), academic performance, and Vermont community engagement. Ski academies must demonstrate compliance with accessibility, transparency, accredited academics, and safety protocols to qualify for funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 27, 2026

S 307: An act relating to overtime pay for firefighters

Vermont's S.307 establishes a 42-hour average weekly overtime threshold for career firefighters employed by state, municipal, or county fire departments. It requires overtime pay at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours worked beyond 42 in an average eight-week period, calculated by dividing total hours by eight. The bill directly affects public fire departments and their full-time firefighters, as defined under Vermont law, by mandating this compensation standard for excessive hours. It requires departments to implement changes by January 1, 2027, and allows local agreements to adopt stricter standards through collective bargaining.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 27, 2026

H 789: An act relating to intelligent speed assistance devices

H.789 requires individuals with suspended or revoked licenses due to severe speeding violations (such as driving 100+ mph or multiple speeding convictions over the limit) to obtain a special "intelligent speed assistance restricted license" (ROL) or certificate. To qualify, drivers must install an approved aftermarket GPS device that automatically limits vehicle speed to posted limits, pay a $125 application fee, and cover all device costs (installation, maintenance, data retrieval). The license allows operation only of non-commercial vehicles equipped with the device and expires after one year, requiring annual renewal. This applies to Vermont residents and non-residents with specific speeding-related license suspensions or revocations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 27, 2026

H 779: An act relating to updating the Flexible Pathways Initiative

H.779 ends Vermont's early college program by July 2027 and increases dual enrollment course eligibility from two to four courses per student for high school students. The bill addresses equity concerns by removing financial barriers (like college fees and transportation costs) that previously limited access for lower-income students and those in rural areas. It also creates a working group of education officials and school leaders to study new partnerships between high schools and Vermont State Colleges for delivering college-level coursework. These changes directly affect Vermont public high schools, students seeking college credit before graduation, and the Vermont State Colleges System.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 27, 2026

H 787: An act relating to limitations on municipal bylaws for Agency of Human Services infrastructure

This bill extends existing restrictions on municipal bylaws (under 24 V.S.A. § 4413) to cover State-funded human services institutions and facilities, as well as facilities regulated by public institutions that provide critical services. It directly affects municipalities by preventing them from imposing local regulations that could disrupt these facilities. The key provision ensures that if such services are interrupted - risking harm to individuals, blocking vital supports, or breaking legally required service continuity - municipal bylaws cannot interfere. This applies to facilities serving essential human services like healthcare, housing, or social support programs. The bill modifies existing law to broaden protections for these infrastructure providers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 27, 2026

S 306: An act relating to first responders in communications

This Vermont bill (S.306) defines 911 call takers, public safety dispatchers, and emergency communications staff as "first responders in communications" for the first time. It requires employers to provide relevant training and extends workers' compensation benefits for PTSD to these dispatchers, presuming PTSD diagnosed during service is job-related unless proven otherwise. The law specifically covers Vermont dispatchers certified by the Vermont Enhanced 911 Board who handle emergency communications. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects all Vermont emergency communications dispatchers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 27, 2026

H 782: An act relating to school nurse licensure

This bill (H 782) modifies Vermont's requirement for school nurses by eliminating the need to hold both an educator license and a nursing license. It directly affects school nurses employed in Vermont public schools, allowing them to maintain only a valid nursing license. The key provision removes the dual licensure mandate, streamlining the credentialing process for these healthcare professionals. The bill focuses on updating licensing rules to better align with the nursing role in schools.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 27, 2026

S 308: An act relating to the military retirement income tax exclusion

This bill (S 308) removes income-based limits for excluding U.S. military retirement and survivor benefit income from Vermont income tax. Currently, Vermont taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income (AGI) over $125,000 see partial or no exclusion, but this bill would fully exclude all such military retirement income regardless of income level. It affects Vermont residents receiving military retirement pay, changing the tax treatment from a tiered system to a flat exclusion. The change applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 27, 2026

S 312: An act relating to a refundable machinery and equipment investment tax credit

S.312 changes Vermont's machinery and equipment investment tax credit from nonrefundable to refundable, allowing qualifying businesses to receive a cash refund if the credit exceeds their tax liability (up to $500,000 annually). It removes previous limits that capped annual credit use at 80% of tax liability and $1 million per year, and extends the credit's expiration from 2030 to 2034. The bill directly affects Vermont businesses making qualifying capital investments in machinery/equipment, as certified by the Vermont Economic Progress Council. To qualify, businesses must report annual job counts, investment levels, and credit usage through the Council and Tax Commissioner.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 770: An act relating to opting out of the federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship granting organizations

This bill (H 770) directs Vermont to opt out of a federal tax credit program that allows states to subsidize contributions to scholarship organizations for school expenses. It designates the Vermont General Assembly as the sole entity authorized to make this election, explicitly stating Vermont "shall not participate" in the program under federal law (26 U.S.C. § 25F). The policy change means Vermont residents will no longer be eligible for state tax credits when contributing to scholarship organizations, as the state declines to join the federal program. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 304: An act relating to parental rights and responsibilities

This Vermont bill (S.304) establishes a rebuttable presumption that shared parental rights and responsibilities are in a child's best interest after separation or divorce. It directly affects parents in custody cases and courts deciding child welfare, requiring judges to prioritize shared parenting unless harm is likely. Key provisions include defining "parental rights" (covering education, health, and daily care), listing specific factors courts must consider (like parent-child relationships and communication ability), and banning sex-based preferences in custody decisions. The bill aims to encourage ongoing parental involvement while ensuring courts evaluate all relevant circumstances objectively.