This bill prohibits the sale or distribution in Vermont of consumer products labeled as compostable if they contain more than 100 parts per million of PFAS chemicals. It directly affects manufacturers, retailers, and distributors of packaging and household items by restricting how these products can be marketed. The law defines consumer products to include personal items, packaging materials, and bags, while allowing the Secretary of Natural Resources to set stricter PFAS limits through future rules. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage and aims to prevent misleading environmental claims on products containing harmful fluorinated substances.
This bill creates a new Aquatic Nuisance Prevention Pass that requires all motorboats and nonmotorized vessels operating in Vermont's waters to display an annual decal. The pass costs $20 for Vermont residents, $40 for nonresidents, and $200 for businesses with up to 20 nonmotorized vessels, with revenue funding aquatic invasive species control efforts. Vessels operating in interstate waters can use equivalent decals from other states if those states have reciprocal agreements. The bill also establishes a special fund to support inspection stations, public signage, and grants to municipalities for managing aquatic nuisance species like zebra mussels and invasive plants.
This bill expands Vermont's legal protections by recognizing military protection orders as foreign abuse prevention orders that must be recognized and enforced within the state. It directly affects victims of domestic violence who have obtained protection orders from military commanding officers and law enforcement officers who enforce these orders. The key provision requires that military protection orders be enforceable in Vermont courts if the defendant is currently in the armed forces or National Guard, received actual notice of the order, and the order was issued on a Department of Defense form within the past two years. Law enforcement officers are authorized to arrest violators and assist victims in obtaining sole possession of residences or custody of children under these orders, with the same enforcement standards applied to other foreign protection orders.
This bill requires anyone installing solar panels in Vermont to have an approved recycling plan for decommissioned panels. The Public Utility Commission will be responsible for approving these recycling plans and will work with state agencies to establish the necessary procedures. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, with the installer requirement beginning on July 1, 2024. This measure aims to ensure proper disposal of solar panels while giving the commission authority to oversee the process.
This bill allows Vermont towns with 2,400 or fewer residents to vote on establishing a local option tax to raise revenue for municipal services. If approved, towns can impose a one percent tax on sales, meals, alcoholic beverages, or hotel rooms, with 75 percent of the revenue staying in the town instead of the current 70 percent. The remaining 25 percent would go to the state, and towns could also receive a higher share of aviation fuel taxes. The bill only applies to small towns and does not change rules for larger municipalities, which continue to follow the existing revenue split.
This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that first-time offenders convicted of nonviolent felonies or misdemeanors will receive probation instead of jail time. It directly affects individuals charged with crimes that do not involve sexual exploitation of children or other specifically listed violent offenses. The law requires courts to consider factors like weapon use, threats, and victim vulnerability before deciding whether to override the presumption and impose a different sentence. Prosecutors can challenge the presumption by presenting evidence, while defendants have the right to respond and support their case for probation. The bill also clarifies definitions of nonviolent crimes and sets maximum probation terms of two years for misdemeanors and four years for felonies.
This bill would remove the current exemption that allows clergy members in Vermont to avoid reporting child abuse and neglect when they receive such information during confidential spiritual counseling sessions. Directly affecting religious leaders and child welfare systems, the legislation repeals four specific conditions that currently protect clergy from mandatory reporting requirements when information is shared in confidence as part of their spiritual advisory role. The key change eliminates the legal protection for communications that are intended to be confidential, involve acts of contrition, and are required to be kept secret by religious doctrine. Additionally, the bill removes a provision that required clergy to report abuse information even when it was also learned during confidential counseling sessions. If passed, these changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and would require all clergy members to report suspected child abuse regardless of how the information was obtained.
This bill creates a Landfill Siting Commission to identify a new landfill location in Vermont, as the current Coventry landfill is expected to operate for only 22 more years. The commission would include representatives from the legislature, governor, civil engineers, geologists, and experts on environmental justice, and must recommend at least two potential sites or determine if out-of-state waste transport is more cost-effective by January 2024. The bill also establishes a Vermont Materials Management Council to assist with long-term solid waste planning and bans disposal of certain waste types like leachate and sludge from uncertified facilities. Additionally, it creates a Landfill Closure and Planning Account funded by increased taxes on solid and hazardous waste to support closing existing landfills, planning new ones, and remediating contamination.
This bill allows domestic and sexual violence cases to be referred to Vermont community justice centers, provided those centers have formal agreements with local domestic violence organizations. The law requires these centers to follow strict protocols that prioritize victim safety, confidentiality, and privacy while using evidence-based approaches to address the cases. Key provisions mandate regular staff training on trauma-informed care and restorative justice, establish clear roles for all parties involved, and require annual evaluations to ensure quality service delivery. The changes apply to cases referred after July 1, 2023, and aim to expand restorative justice options while maintaining victim protection standards.
This bill would exempt small towns in Vermont from a state requirement to map forest blocks and habitat connectors on their municipal land use plans. The change directly affects municipalities that currently must include these specific environmental features in their planning documents under 24 V.S.A. § 4382. By removing this mapping requirement, the legislation reduces the planning obligations for smaller communities while leaving the broader state forest conservation framework intact. The bill aims to simplify municipal planning processes for smaller jurisdictions without altering the underlying environmental protection standards.
This bill establishes a working group to study how the state distributes revenue to local municipalities in Vermont. The group would include state officials, legislators from both the House and Senate, and a representative from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. Its main task is to examine and propose changes to the current system for distributing state funds, considering factors like local tax capacity and municipal financial needs. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 15, 2024.
This bill defines and prohibits the use of handheld portable electronic devices in non-hands-free mode while operating a motor vehicle on Vermont public highways. It clarifies that "hands-free use" means using a device without holding it with either hand, while "non-hands-free use" includes holding the device in hand or hands during operation. The law applies to vehicles on public roads, including when temporarily stopped due to traffic or traffic control devices, but excludes vehicles parked safely off the highway. Exceptions allow for emergency communications with law enforcement or emergency services, use of ignition interlock devices, and navigation systems that are securely mounted without requiring the driver to hold them. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.
