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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 4,786 In committee 1,729 Passed 2,509 Signed 952 Failed 8

passed both · Vermont · Senate Jan 14, 2025

JRS 5: Joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment on January 10, 2025

This procedural joint resolution adjusts the Vermont legislature's schedule for January 2025. It directs both the Senate and House to adjourn on Friday, January 10, 2025, and reconvene no later than Tuesday, January 14, 2025. The resolution was adopted by both chambers on January 14, 2025, and affects only the legislative body's meeting calendar.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 10, 2025

H 26: An act relating to guardianship proceedings

This bill consolidates all adult guardianship proceedings into a single Probate Division of the Superior Court, replacing the current split system where some cases are handled in the Family Division. It directly affects approximately 600 adults with disabilities currently under guardianship in the Family Division, who face fewer procedural protections than those in the Probate Division. Key mechanisms include standardizing requirements like mandatory annual reports, court approval for residential changes, guardian ad litem appointments, and detailed evaluations specifying manageable personal/financial tasks. The bill aims to eliminate disparities in due process, accountability, and reporting between the two divisions, ensuring all adults under guardianship receive consistent procedural safeguards.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 10, 2025

S 2: An act relating to establishing the Office of Health Equity within the Department of Health

This bill establishes the Office of Health Equity within Vermont's Department of Health to eliminate health disparities affecting specific populations. It directly affects state agencies, the Department of Health, and Vermont residents who experience health inequities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; LGBTQ+ individuals; and people with disabilities. The office will coordinate efforts to address social, economic, and environmental factors influencing health outcomes, manage data collection on health disparities, and advise on policies and grant distribution. The office becomes effective July 1, 2025, after the Health Equity Advisory Commission develops its structure and recommendations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 10, 2025

S 5: An act relating to guardianship proceedings

This bill (S.5) consolidates Vermont's adult guardianship proceedings into a single Probate Division of the Superior Court, replacing the current split system where some cases go to the Probate Division and others to the Family Division. It directly affects approximately 600 adults with disabilities currently under guardianship in the less protective Family Division, ensuring they receive the same procedural safeguards as those in the Probate Division. Key provisions include requiring annual court reports, court approval for residential changes, guardian ad litem appointments, and de novo appeals - currently only available in the Probate Division. The bill aims to create consistent, fairer protections for all adults under guardianship by eliminating jurisdictional disparities.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 10, 2025

S 1: An act relating to providing Medicaid-equivalent coverage to all Vermonters

This bill would establish universal Medicaid-equivalent health coverage for all Vermont residents, phased by age group starting in 2029. It requires coverage for under-26s beginning in 2029, then progressively older age groups through 2033, regardless of income. The state must seek federal funding approval for this expansion but will cover all costs with state funds if federal approval is denied. The bill mandates detailed cost estimates, an implementation plan, and a report on payroll tax options to fund the program, with key deadlines for these actions by 2026-2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 10, 2025

S 4: An act relating to maintenance and use of legal trails

This Vermont bill (S.4) gives towns and villages explicit authority to decide whether to maintain legal trails and to create local rules for trail use. It clarifies that municipalities can choose to maintain trails (but aren't required to) and may adopt ordinances regulating activities like vehicle types on trails. The bill defines "trails" as public rights-of-way not classified as highways, removing them from highway maintenance obligations. It directly affects local governments, which gain new regulatory power over trail access and use, while ensuring towns aren't liable for maintenance costs or user safety on maintained trails.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 10, 2025

S 6: An act relating to repealing the Commissioner of Labor’s authority to recommend a subminimum wage for individuals with a disability

This bill (S.6) repeals a specific provision in Vermont law that allowed the Commissioner of Labor to recommend lower wages for workers with disabilities. It directly affects individuals with disabilities who may have been subject to subminimum wage recommendations under current law. The key mechanism is amending 21 V.S.A. § 385 to remove the Commissioner’s authority to "recommend a suitable scale of rates... for persons with disabilities, which may be less than the regular minimum wage." The change would eliminate the legal basis for such lower wage recommendations, requiring all workers to be paid at least the standard minimum wage. The bill does not create new wage requirements but removes an existing exception.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 15: An act relating to assistance for room and board at a Vermont postsecondary school for students served by foster or kinship care

H 15 provides financial assistance for room and board expenses at Vermont's residential postsecondary schools to eligible young adults who were in foster care or under kinship care. It directly affects youth who were under the Commissioner for Children and Families' custody for at least six months between ages 16-18, or who had kinship care guardianship with kinship assistance during that period. The bill funds specific room and board costs for these students pursuing higher education in Vermont, without covering tuition or other expenses.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 19: An act relating to grand larceny of a firearm

This Vermont bill (H.19) changes the definition of grand larceny to automatically include the theft of any firearm, regardless of its value. Previously, grand larceny required stolen property to exceed $900 in value; this bill removes that threshold specifically for firearms. The key mechanism amends Vermont law to list "a firearm of any value" as a separate basis for grand larceny charges under § 2501(2). This directly affects individuals who steal firearms, subjecting them to the same penalties as other high-value thefts (up to 10 years in prison or $5,000 fine). The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 11: An act relating to consumer protections applicable to broadband and VoIP services

This bill establishes the Vermont Broadband Consumer Protection and Competition Act to safeguard consumers using broadband and VoIP services in Vermont. It requires broadband providers to obtain a net neutrality compliance certificate by October 2025 and prohibits unfair practices like misleading marketing, excessive termination fees, and predatory data caps (except for reasonable network management). Providers must also maintain complaint records and submit broadband availability data to the state to help track service issues and improve rural access. These rules aim to promote fair competition, reliable service, and consumer choice, particularly benefiting Vermonters in areas with limited broadband options.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 23: An act relating to the transfer of property to a trust

H.23 ensures that married couples in Vermont who transfer property they jointly owned (as tenants by the entirety) into a trust retain the same protection from their separate creditors as they had before the transfer. The law requires the trust to meet specific conditions, such as being revocable by one spouse alone or requiring both for amendments, to maintain this protection. This immunity ends if the marriage is dissolved by court order, such as through divorce. The bill applies to all trusts and related legal proceedings involving such property transfers.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 3: An act relating to the minimum qualifications required for State employment

H.3 would eliminate college degree requirements for most Vermont state jobs, requiring agencies to prioritize relevant work experience and job-specific skills instead. This change directly affects state job applicants without degrees and hiring managers who would adjust their evaluation criteria. The bill aims to increase access to state employment by broadening eligibility beyond traditional academic qualifications. It has been referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs for further review.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans