This bill creates the Education Finance Study Committee to examine ways to make Vermont's public education system more affordable and equitable while maintaining high student outcomes. The committee will consist of state education and tax officials plus six legislators, and it must study issues like school staffing levels, funding models, district consolidation, and spending limits before submitting recommendations as new legislation by December 2024. The bill also allocates $200,000 in fiscal year 2024 to fund the committee's work and establishes a separate Commission on the Future of Public Education to address long-term educational needs. These bodies will work with school administrators, teachers' unions, and other stakeholders to develop policy proposals that could change how Vermont schools are funded and operated.
This bill establishes a legal framework for overdose prevention centers in Vermont, allowing supervised spaces where individuals can consume pre-obtained drugs under the care of trained staff. The centers would provide harm reduction services such as sterile needle distribution, drug checking, overdose reversal medication, first aid, and referrals to addiction treatment. The legislation grants immunity from arrest, prosecution, and civil liability to participants, staff, and property owners for activities related to drug use within these centers, though immunity does not extend to driving violations or unrelated civil claims. A pilot program is funded with $1.1 million in 2025 to support the City of Burlington in opening a center, with ongoing funding intended through 2028. The Department of Health must develop operating guidelines by September 2024 and conduct a study on the program's impact by December 2024.
This bill establishes Vermont's Data Privacy Act to protect consumer personal data by requiring businesses to obtain clear, affirmative consent before collecting and using information. It directly affects adult residents of Vermont who use services from companies that process their personal data, while excluding individuals acting in commercial or employment contexts. Key provisions define sensitive data types like biometric, genetic, and health information, prohibit manipulative design patterns, and grant consumers rights to access, correct, and delete their data. The legislation also creates specific protections for children's online experiences and requires businesses to implement security measures and provide privacy notices.
This bill amends Vermont's Renewable Energy Standard to update definitions and compliance options for electricity providers. It clarifies what counts as new and existing renewable energy, adjusts net metering rules for larger systems, and allows municipal and cooperative utilities to adjust rates under specific conditions. The legislation also introduces an alternative compliance payment option where providers can pay into a state fund instead of purchasing renewable energy credits, with those funds directed toward projects benefiting low-income customers. These changes aim to modernize how the state tracks renewable energy progress while providing flexibility for different types of electricity providers.
This bill expands Vermont's restorative justice program by authorizing the Attorney General to create a state-funded diversion project for juveniles charged with criminal offenses or delinquent acts. It allows law enforcement and prosecutors to refer youth to community-based restorative justice providers before formal charges are filed, and permits prosecutors to refer those charged with certain misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies after charges are filed. The Attorney General will fund these programs through grants or contracts with local municipalities and organizations, with the ability to require local financial contributions. The bill requires annual reporting on program outcomes, including data on referrals, demographics, offense types, and completion rates, while establishing policies to ensure victims are informed and can participate in the restorative process.
This Vermont bill bans the sale and use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds for soybeans and cereal grains, aiming to protect pollinators like bees that are essential to the state's agriculture and ecosystems. The law prohibits dealers and farmers from selling or planting these treated seeds, with an exemption process available for specific agricultural emergencies that requires pest management training, risk assessments, and record-keeping. Neonicotinoids are a widely used class of insecticides known to be highly toxic to pollinators, and the legislation aligns Vermont with similar restrictions adopted by other states and regions. The bill amends state pesticide laws to define neonicotinoid-treated articles and establishes the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to issue limited exemptions under strict conditions.
This bill creates a new Land Use Review Board to oversee state land use decisions and establish a Nominating Committee to vet candidates for board membership. The Board will consist of five full-time members appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, selected for expertise in environmental science, land use policy, and community planning, with requirements for diversity and a commitment to environmental justice. A separate Nominating Committee made up of state officials will confidentially review applicants and recommend qualified candidates to the Governor. The legislation also sets specific rules for board member terms, removal procedures, and provisions for handling vacancies and completing cases when members retire.
This bill establishes Vermont's Uniform Directed Trust Act, which creates a legal framework for trusts where a person other than the trustee can direct how the trust is managed. The law defines a "trust director" as someone granted the authority to direct investments, management, or distribution of trust assets without serving as the trustee, while maintaining fiduciary duties similar to those of a trustee. Key provisions clarify when the law applies to trusts based on their administration location, specify which powers are excluded from directed trust rules, and outline the responsibilities and liabilities of trust directors. The bill also includes protections for licensed professionals acting in their professional capacity and sets standards for how trust directors must exercise their powers, including requirements for joint decision-making.
This bill updates Vermont's property tax abatement rules to expand the situations in which towns can reduce or cancel property taxes, water charges, and utility fees. It directly affects property owners who may qualify for relief due to death, moving out of state, financial hardship, errors by tax officials, property loss, or other unforeseen circumstances. The law requires town boards to provide clear written explanations for their decisions, allows for group hearings on similar cases to improve efficiency, and mandates that towns send notices about abatement options when collecting overdue fees. Additionally, the bill requires municipalities to include plain-language notices on tax bills explaining how residents can apply for homestead property tax credits, including translations in the five most common non-English languages spoken in the state.
This bill authorizes Vermont to join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, a national agreement that allows occupational therapists and assistants licensed in one member state to practice in other member states without obtaining additional licenses. The legislation adds a new subchapter to Vermont's occupational therapy laws that establishes a "compact privilege" for qualified practitioners, enabling them to work across state lines while maintaining their home state's primary regulatory authority. Key provisions include requirements for sharing disciplinary and investigative information between states, provisions for military members and their spouses to practice where they are stationed, and support for telehealth services. The compact aims to increase public access to occupational therapy services while preserving each state's ability to protect public health and safety through its own licensing standards.
This bill amends Vermont's Truth and Reconciliation Commission by extending its operational timeline and adjusting key dates for commissioners and the Selection Panel. It changes the commission's end date from July 1, 2026, to May 1, 2027, and extends the Selection Panel's term to align with this new timeline. The legislation also clarifies how commissioners are selected, removed, and compensated, while maintaining the commission's focus on addressing institutional, structural, and systemic discrimination. These changes allow the commission to continue its work for an additional year while providing updated procedures for governance and oversight.
This bill strengthens laws against home and land improvement fraud by clarifying what counts as land improvement work, such as driveway construction, tree trimming, and forestry operations. It makes it a crime to knowingly fail to complete contracts worth $1,000 or more, misrepresent facts, use deceptive practices, or charge excessive prices during emergencies. The law also establishes a public registry for convicted contractors and requires those with prior convictions to either work for a new company or post a financial bond of at least $250,000 to continue working. Additionally, the bill adds financial surety requirements for timber trespass cases, ensuring that individuals who commit these offenses must provide financial security before resuming harvesting activities.
