This bill authorizes the Vermont Veterans' Home Board to establish a nursing home in Vermont that provides services and supports to Vermont veterans who do not currently reside at the Home. The legislation requires the new facility to comply with all applicable state and federal licensing and regulatory requirements. By adding a new subdivision to the relevant statute, the bill formally expands the Board's powers and duties to include this new service option. The measure was signed into law by the Governor in June 2024.
This bill updates the powers of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council and clarifies the duties and conduct standards for law enforcement officers in the state. It requires the Council to create and enforce a statewide Law Enforcement Officers' Code of Conduct that prohibits specific behaviors such as criminal conduct, untruthfulness, sexual harassment, biased enforcement, unlawful use of force, and domestic violence. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for different levels of misconduct and sets rules for how the Council can impose sanctions, ensuring that disciplinary actions align with those taken by individual law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the bill grants the Council authority to define training requirements and allows for limited waivers of annual training obligations for officers who can complete them within a specified timeframe.
This bill amends Vermont's building energy code requirements and establishes procedures for a working group to oversee compliance. It creates a working group that will receive administrative and legal support from the Department of Public Service to review energy standards and submit reports to state committees by November 2024 and 2025. The legislation also updates the residential building contractor registry to require contractors to acknowledge compliance with state energy standards and mandates website updates to clarify these legal requirements. Additionally, the bill extends a deadline for energy code compliance from February 2030 to July 2026 and requires contract templates to include statements about energy standard compliance.
This bill modifies the Green Mountain Care Board's role in regulating prescription drug costs and establishes a formal process for nominating and appointing its members. Regarding drug costs, the Board must now evaluate how proposed programs might affect access to medications for Vermonters and consider impacts on other state agencies and the private sector before implementing regulations. The bill also creates a Green Mountain Care Board Nominating Committee to review applications and submit qualified candidate lists to the Governor, who then makes appointments subject to Senate consent. Board members will serve staggered terms of three to six years, with reappointments requiring Senate approval, and all committee proceedings remain confidential. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, with some provisions applying immediately upon passage.
This bill expands employment protections in Vermont by prohibiting employers from discriminating against employees who decline to attend or participate in employer-sponsored meetings about religious or political matters. It also prevents employers from requiring employees to attend such meetings, while allowing exceptions for communications required by law or necessary for job performance. The law includes specific exemptions for religious institutions, political organizations, and voluntary forums, and defines what constitutes political and religious matters for enforcement purposes. Additionally, the bill creates a study committee to examine how Vermont's labor laws apply to agricultural workers and identify potential ways to extend coverage to this group.
This bill requires Vermont postsecondary schools to ensure students have access to confidential sexual misconduct support services, either on or off campus, and mandates written agreements with external providers when such services are specialized. It establishes an amnesty policy that protects students from disciplinary action when reporting sexual misconduct, except when the ancillary violation poses a direct threat to health or safety. The legislation also mandates annual trauma-informed prevention programming for all students, staff, and faculty covering consent, bystander intervention, and available support resources. Additionally, the bill creates the Intercollegiate Sexual Harm Prevention Council to coordinate prevention efforts across Vermont colleges and repeals a previous council established in 2021.
This Vermont bill directs the Office of Professional Regulation to review whether doulas should be regulated through registration, certification, or licensure, with results due by January 2025. It also requires the Department of Vermont Health Access to calculate the estimated costs of adding doula services to Medicaid coverage and recommend whether to include them in the state's health plan. The bill defines a qualified doula as one who is registered, certified, or licensed by the state, and mandates that any Medicaid coverage for these services only apply to doulas meeting those standards.
This bill updates Vermont's legal definition of a livable wage and establishes a regular process for calculating basic needs budgets. It requires the Joint Fiscal Office to report these calculations annually, defining a livable wage as the hourly rate needed for a two-person household with no children to cover half their basic needs in shared housing with employer health insurance. The bill mandates that these calculations follow established methodology and be updated every six years or more often to reflect current living costs. While the report serves as an economic indicator, it is not official state guidance on wages or compensation. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill expands Vermont's battery stewardship program to include rechargeable batteries and battery-containing products, requiring retailers to stop selling these items unless the manufacturer has an approved recycling or management plan. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to retailers, battery producers, and battery manufacturers who must either join an approved stewardship organization or demonstrate they are exempt from the program. The bill also adds administrative procedures for registering stewardship organizations and establishes a process for requesting administrative use controls at contaminated hazardous material sites.
This bill approves amendments to the town charter of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, which were previously voted on by local residents in November 2022. The changes grant the town expanded powers to manage municipal affairs, including authority to levy taxes for water infrastructure bonds, establish and maintain public utilities like water and sewage systems, and operate fire and police departments. The charter also allows the town to make local improvements, acquire property for public use, and regulate various local businesses and activities through ordinances. Additionally, the amendments authorize the town to provide financial support for Fairbanks Museum as long as it remains a nonprofit educational institution.
This bill approves amendments to the City of South Burlington's charter that were previously voted on by local voters. It officially removes three outdated city positions: Fence Viewer, Weigher of Coal, and Inspector of Lumber. The legislation also establishes a seven-member Board of School Directors with staggered terms, requiring elections in 2025 and 2026, and clarifies that school directors cannot hold other city or school district offices except for specific boards. The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's passage by the state legislature.
This bill approves the merger of Brandon Fire District No. 1 and Brandon Fire District No. 2, which will result in the dissolution of Brandon Fire District No. 2. The legislation authorizes the transfer of all property, assets, liabilities, and duties from the dissolving district to Brandon Fire District No. 1. The merger was previously approved by both districts through an interlocal agreement and Plan of Merger executed on November 9, 2023. The act takes effect immediately upon passage, making Brandon Fire District No. 2 cease to exist as a separate political entity.
