This bill amends Vermont's zoning laws to expand housing options by limiting parking requirements and mandating that municipalities allow multi-unit dwellings and accessory dwelling units in most residential areas. It requires municipalities to permit duplexes with the same standards as single-family homes and allows up to five dwelling units per acre in areas with sewer and water infrastructure, while also permitting affordable housing projects to exceed density limits by 40 percent. The legislation defines accessory dwelling units as secondary living spaces that must not exceed 30 percent of a home's floor area or 900 square feet and prohibits municipalities from banning hotels from renting rooms to individuals receiving public assistance. These changes apply to all municipalities in Vermont and are intended to increase housing availability without restricting local control over land use standards.
This bill establishes the VT Saves Program, a state-run initiative designed to help Vermont employees who do not have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans save for the future. The program automatically enrolls eligible employees in a Roth Individual Retirement Account with a default contribution rate of five percent of their wages, though participants can opt out or adjust their contribution levels. Covered employers, which are businesses that do not currently offer tax-qualified retirement plans, are required to facilitate payroll deductions for these contributions. The program is administered by the State Treasurer and aims to increase financial security for workers while achieving cost efficiencies through centralized management.
This bill allows Vermont electric utilities to use up to $2 million annually from their energy efficiency budgets to fund programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in heating and transportation sectors. The programs must be statewide, work alongside existing utility projects, and avoid duplicating state agency initiatives. Utilities must partner with retail electricity providers to deliver these services, and the Public Utility Commission will report annually on program effectiveness. The law applies from 2021 through 2027 and includes special provisions for funding thermal and transportation efficiency measures, with emphasis on helping high-consumption and low-income households transition to electric vehicles.
This bill updates Vermont's banking and insurance regulations by addressing several key areas including data security, licensing procedures, and consumer protections. It establishes obligations for the Department of Financial Regulation when denying financial licenses, clarifies debt cancellation rights for borrowers, and sets legal interest rates for borrower deposits. The legislation also enhances confidentiality for proprietary information submitted to regulators, modifies disclosure requirements for long-term care insurance rate increases, and provides additional protection for Federal Home Loan Bank loans during insurance company delinquency proceedings. Additionally, it requires a study of automobile insurance business practices in Vermont.
This bill amends Vermont's agricultural laws to exempt properties regulated under Required Agricultural Practices from municipal stormwater fees. It allows municipalities to adopt stormwater management bylaws but prohibits them from charging fees on agricultural waste discharges or nonpoint source pollution from these regulated properties. The bill applies prospectively, meaning it does not require refunds for fees already collected before the law takes effect. This change directly affects farmers and municipalities managing stormwater runoff in Vermont.
This bill adopts the Interstate Counseling Compact into Vermont state law, allowing licensed mental health counselors to practice across state lines with their existing credentials. The legislation adds a new section to the state statutes that formally incorporates the compact's provisions, which were originally developed to facilitate the portability of counseling licenses among participating states. By aligning Vermont's counseling regulations with those of other compact member states, the bill enables counselors to provide services in multiple jurisdictions without obtaining additional state-specific licenses. The measure applies directly to licensed professional counselors and mental health practitioners who may benefit from streamlined interstate practice opportunities.
This bill prevents the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid traffic fines that were committed before the law takes effect. It applies to all drivers who owe penalties for traffic violations that occurred prior to the implementation date. The law requires the Motor Vehicles Commissioner to stop suspending licenses solely due to nonpayment of these pre-existing civil penalties. The changes become active 30 days after the bill is passed into law.
This bill amends Vermont's adoption of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact to include physical therapist assistants alongside physical therapists. The change allows physical therapist assistants to participate in the compact, which enables licensed healthcare professionals to practice in multiple states with a single license. By adding physical therapist assistants to the compact, the bill expands mobility opportunities for these healthcare workers across state lines. The amendment was concurred by both legislative chambers and signed into law by the Governor in June 2023.
This bill establishes the Art in State Buildings Program in Vermont to commission and install permanent works of art in state buildings and facilities undergoing new construction or renovation. The program requires that for projects costing $1 million or more, an art selection panel including community representatives and arts professionals will recommend artists, with priority given to Vermont-based creators. The Vermont Council on the Arts, working with the Department of Buildings and General Services, will administer the program and manage contracts for artwork design, fabrication, and installation. All artwork acquired through the program will become the sole property of the State of Vermont upon completion.
This bill amends Vermont state law to establish legal requirements for providing interpreters and communication access services to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind in judicial, administrative, and legislative proceedings. It mandates that qualified interpreters or real-time captioning services be provided to parties and witnesses in these proceedings, with specific rules for interpreter selection, appointment, and confidentiality. The legislation also creates a statewide system for maintaining contracts with interpreter services, requires courts and agencies to maintain lists of qualified interpreters, and ensures that admissions or confessions made by individuals with hearing impairments are only admissible in criminal proceedings when proper interpretation was provided.
This bill amends Vermont state law to improve oversight and compensation for various government boards and commissions. It directs the Summer Government Accountability Committee to study ways to measure legislative accountability, ensure fair pay across commissions, support equitable participation through compensation, and control the growing number of such groups. The legislation also updates rules for the Vermont Pension Investment Commission regarding member compensation and administrative support, adjusts quorum requirements for the Commission on Women, sets interim quorum rules for regional emergency management committees, and requires the State Ethics Commission to report recommendations for municipal ethics frameworks by January 2024.
This bill approves a charter amendment for the Village of Alburgh that changes how certain village officers are selected and appointed. The key change shifts the Clerk and Treasurer positions from being elected by village residents to being appointed by the Village Board of Trustees, while the Trustee and Auditor positions remain elected. The amendment also clarifies that appointed officers do not need to be village residents, unlike previously elected positions. These changes take effect immediately upon the bill's passage, with any existing elected Clerks or Treasurers' terms ending on May 1, 2023.
