This bill restricts Vermont Student Assistance Corporation grants and scholarships to students attending schools within Vermont, including the University of Vermont, Vermont State Colleges, and independent colleges. It requires the corporation to issue a written report detailing how much funding was used at out-of-state schools over the past five years. The legislation also establishes minimum award amounts for Vermont Honor Scholarships at $1,000 and allows for proration of grants based on enrollment status. Additionally, it creates a new advancement grant program for residents pursuing nondegree training opportunities at Vermont-based institutions. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024, and directs the General Assembly to consider using the reported out-of-state funding amounts to support Vermont State Colleges.
This bill establishes eight-year term limits for both trustees and the chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation. It directly affects the 15-member Board of Trustees and the chancellor, who currently serve without fixed term limits. The legislation amends state law to prevent individuals from serving more than eight consecutive years in either role, with specific transition rules for those already serving long terms. Current trustees who have served eight or more years can finish their current terms but cannot be reappointed, while the chancellor's term ends September 1, 2024 if they have already served eight years. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill requires Vermont state agencies to create a report on why college graduates are leaving the state and how to keep them. It mandates that the Agencies of Education, Commerce and Community Development, and the Department of Labor work with colleges to analyze retention rates and develop a plan to improve them. The plan must include strategies like better connections between schools and employers, expanded career counseling focused on local industries, stronger campus-community ties, and streamlined licensing pathways for graduates. The report is due by July 1, 2025, and the act takes effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill authorizes Vermont municipalities to remove sediment, rocks, and debris from waterways without needing a state permit, provided the work meets specific federal exemption criteria. The law defines "maintenance" as repairing structures like dams and dikes, and allows municipalities to proceed without state approval when the work is exempt from federal Corps of Engineers permitting, qualifies for self-verification, or occurs in non-navigable waters. The legislation also clarifies definitions for terms like "instream material" and "watercourse" to establish clear boundaries for when permits are required versus when they are not. Additionally, the bill specifically authorizes the City of Barre to remove material from the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River for maintenance purposes without a permit.
This bill requires all licensed Vermont educators to complete professional learning on evidence-based literacy instruction, with current teachers finishing by January 2025 and new teachers completing it within their second year of teaching. It also mandates that educator preparation programs be reviewed and updated to ensure they teach evidence-based literacy practices, including the development of a standardized examination to test candidates' knowledge in this area. Additionally, the bill extends the Advisory Council on Literacy through 2027 and requires state agencies to produce a report on college student retention in Vermont, proposing initiatives to improve career pipelines and community connections for graduates. The legislation also transfers rulemaking authority over educator licensing from the Standards Board for Professional Educators to the Agency of Education.
This bill proposes a new Vermont personal income tax on unrealized gains for wealthy individuals, requiring those with net worths of $10 million or more to pay tax on 50% of the increase in value of their assets each year. The tax applies only to the portion of gains up to 10% of the taxpayer's net assets exceeding $10 million, and losses from these deemed sales can be carried forward indefinitely but may be refunded after two consecutive years of losses. The legislation establishes specific rules for adjusting the basis of assets to reflect gains and losses, including provisions for related-party transactions and temporary residents with substantial presence in Vermont.
This bill proposes adding a 3% surcharge to the personal income tax for Vermont residents with federal adjusted gross income of $500,000 or more. The surcharge would apply in addition to existing taxes and be collected using the same process as current personal income taxes. The threshold amount would be adjusted annually for inflation based on established procedures. The bill would take effect retroactively starting January 1, 2024, and applies to taxable years on and after that date.
This bill proposes to retroactively reinstate a specific exemption in Vermont's subdivision regulations that was previously removed. It directly affects property owners and developers who have subdivisions or development projects that existed before certain historical dates, such as June 1, 1970, or July 1, 1997. The key provision adds language to the state code to exempt these pre-existing subdivisions and developments from certain requirements, while still applying the rules to any substantial changes made to them after the exemption date. The bill would take effect retroactively as of June 9, 2023, meaning it would apply to situations that occurred before that date.
This bill establishes a temporary pause on approving new facilities for disposing of development soils and on dumping these soils at existing receiving sites in Vermont. The moratorium remains in effect until the Agency of Natural Resources creates and adopts specific rules for managing these soils, unless the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules objects to those rules. The proposed rules must include protections for water sources, require regular site monitoring, and mandate financial guarantees for site closure or cleanup. Once the rules are finalized and accepted, the ban on new certifications and disposal activities will end automatically.
This bill creates a working group to explore ways to bring more international medical school graduates into Vermont's healthcare workforce. The group will examine models like Tennessee's temporary licensing system and develop proposals for an expedited licensure process that prioritizes patient safety. Additionally, the bill appropriates $50,000 in fiscal year 2025 to reimburse international medical school graduates for study materials and books needed to obtain Vermont medical licenses. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations by January 15, 2025, and the license reimbursement funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until depleted.
This bill establishes the Vermont Baby Bond Trust, a state-administered program that provides $3,200 in savings accounts to children born on or after July 1, 2024, who qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP coverage at birth. The funds are intended for eligible expenses including education, purchasing a home or property in Vermont, starting a business, or contributing to retirement or education savings accounts. The program requires beneficiaries to complete a financial literacy course before age 18 to access their funds, and they must claim the money by their 30th birthday if they are still Vermont residents. The bill also ensures that money in the trust is not counted as income or assets for determining eligibility for government assistance programs.
This bill creates a study committee to examine whether Vermont should adopt a statewide residential building code, specifically the International Residential Code, to address the current lack of uniform construction standards for single-family homes. The committee will include representatives from government agencies, construction industry groups, housing organizations, and insurance associations who will assess how a standardized code would impact safety, compliance, disaster resilience, sustainability, and housing affordability. The group must submit a written report with its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 15, 2024, after holding meetings starting by July 15, 2024, and will cease to exist on January 1, 2025.
