This bill expands eligibility for Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance Program by adjusting income thresholds and co-payment rules to help more families access subsidized child care. Under the new provisions, families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level would qualify for subsidies, while those earning 150 percent or less would pay no co-payment regardless of family size. The bill also changes how child care providers are paid by decoupling reimbursement rates from the Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS) and instead tying them to market rates from the Vermont Child Care Market Rate Survey with tiered caps based on provider ratings. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and directly impact families seeking employment or training and the child care providers serving them.
This bill directs the Vermont Agency of Human Services to update specific administrative rules to use respectful language and reflect current practices. It requires the agency to submit a plan by January 1, 2024, to amend rules governing intermediate care facilities, guardianship for mentally retarded persons, Medicaid regulations, long-term care services, and vocational rehabilitation. The agency must prioritize updating the rules related to intermediate care facilities and guardianship. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to the agency's rulemaking processes rather than directly changing how services are delivered to individuals.
This bill creates a temporary Building Energy Code Study Committee to address low compliance rates with Vermont's residential and commercial building energy standards. The committee will consist of 15 members representing government agencies, industry groups, and municipalities, and will study strategies to improve code enforcement and administration. Key recommendations may include designating the Division of Fire Safety as the statewide authority for energy code enforcement and developing funding mechanisms such as incentives and federal grants. The committee must submit its final report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2023, and will be funded with $125,000 for consultant services and member compensation.
This bill requires the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College to cap student enrollment at the level recorded on July 1, 2023, until Burlington's rental vacancy rate reaches five percent. It also mandates that the university guarantee each on-campus student at least 93 square feet of living space in all residential buildings, including new construction and repurposed spaces. The university must prioritize current students with insufficient space for relocation before offering compliant housing to new students, while reserving non-compliant two-person spaces for those with documented medical accommodation needs. The changes take effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill restricts how property transfer tax revenue collected in Vermont can be used by prohibiting its application to any purpose other than the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund. The legislation amends state law to ensure that 50 percent of property transfer tax revenue, along with any additional funds contributed to the trust, remains permanently dedicated to housing and conservation initiatives. By adding language that the fund's revenues must remain inviolate, the bill prevents future lawmakers from redirecting these specific funds for other government needs. The measure directly affects the state's budgeting process and ensures that money collected from property transfers continues to support the original housing and conservation programs established by the fund.
This bill would allow certain public employees in Vermont to receive workers' compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder if it is diagnosed by a mental health professional. It specifically covers police officers, rescue or ambulance workers, firefighters, state employees, and judiciary employees by creating a legal presumption that their PTSD was caused by their work duties rather than personal factors. The law requires that the diagnosis occur within three years of the employee's last active duty date for them to be eligible for benefits. This change would take effect on July 1, 2023, and would require employers to pay compensation claims for qualifying cases unless evidence proves the condition resulted from non-work-related causes.
This bill would exempt sales of precious metals sold for investment from Vermont's sales and use tax when the transaction is valued at $1,000 or more. It directly affects buyers of gold and silver bullion or coins who are purchasing for investment purposes rather than for industrial or artistic use. The law would continue to tax the first $1,000 of any such sale while exempting amounts above that threshold. The exemption applies specifically to rare coins with numismatic value and gold or silver bullion or coins traded according to their precious metal value. This change would take effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill proposes establishing the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission to promote trade, investment, and cultural exchange between the two regions. The commission would serve as an official body to facilitate bilateral economic and cultural cooperation. It directly affects Vermont state officials and organizations involved in international trade with Ireland. The legislation creates a new institutional framework for ongoing collaboration between Vermont and Ireland.
This bill expands the scope of practice for pharmacists in Vermont to allow them to order, test, screen, treat, and prescribe for certain health conditions under state-approved protocols. It directly affects licensed pharmacists, the Department of Health, and healthcare providers by enabling pharmacists to administer medications like vaccines and epinephrine auto-injectors, treat conditions such as influenza and strep throat, and perform waived laboratory tests. The bill requires state protocols to be approved by the Commissioner of Health with public comment opportunities and ensures health insurers cannot deny reimbursement for pharmacist-provided services that would otherwise be covered by physicians or nurses. It also establishes procedures for invalidating protocols if they pose public health risks and sets an effective date of July 1, 2023.
This bill establishes new employee protections in Vermont by granting workers two hours of paid leave to vote in elections and on Town Meeting Day, requiring employers to allow this time during scheduled work hours. It also creates a "good cause" standard for terminating employment, meaning employers must have a legitimate business reason to fire someone, and prohibits discrimination against employees for exercising free speech rights protected by state and federal constitutions. Additionally, the legislation bans employers from asking about employment status on job applications or interfering with workers' attempts to seek jobs elsewhere, while designating such interference as an unfair labor practice for public sector employers. Employers must post notices about these new rights in conspicuous locations at their places of business.
This bill regulates how insurance companies handle aftermarket parts when repairing vehicles. It requires insurers to use aftermarket parts only if they match the original parts in fit, quality, and performance and are certified by the Certified Automotive Parts Association. The law also mandates clear disclosure to vehicle owners when aftermarket parts are used and requires permanent identification on parts manufactured after January 1, 2024. Additionally, insurers cannot require aftermarket parts for vehicles that are less than two years old or have 30,000 miles or fewer on the odometer. These rules apply to all insurance claims reported on or after July 1, 2023.
This bill introduces new protections for tenants in Vermont against evictions without a specific cause, such as nonpayment of rent or lease violations. It directly affects landlords and tenants in residential rental situations, particularly those living in owner-occupied buildings with two or three units. The key mechanism requires landlords to provide longer notice periods before terminating a tenancy without cause, ranging from 60 to 90 days depending on how long a tenant has lived in the unit, and restricts no-cause evictions primarily to small owner-occupied properties or situations requiring major renovations. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from terminating tenancies without just cause except in limited circumstances like owner occupancy, sale of the property, or when a written rental agreement allows it.
