This bill expands the authority of Vermont's Enhanced 911 Board to oversee the development and management of regional public safety dispatch services across the state. It aims to address current challenges such as staffing shortages and inconsistent dispatch systems by creating a more coordinated, statewide approach to emergency communications for first responders. The legislation would allow the Board to supervise dispatch centers that handle calls for fire, police, and medical services, while ensuring existing systems remain operational during the transition. By centralizing oversight, the bill seeks to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure equitable access to reliable emergency response services throughout Vermont.
This bill creates the Small Farmer Diversification and Transition Program within Vermont's Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to provide financial grants to small farmers. The program offers up to $15,000 per farmer annually to help with costs related to diversifying farm products, transitioning between different types of farming, processing products on-site, or developing accessory on-farm businesses. Eligible applicants must demonstrate they are small farmers, have a viable plan for additional income, and meet specific animal housing limits, with applications accepted between November 1 and December 31 each year. The bill appropriates $350,000 in one-time funds for fiscal year 2024 to implement the program, which takes effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill establishes an optional ranked-choice voting system for presidential primary elections in Vermont towns, cities, and villages. Local municipalities can choose to adopt this system by voting at their annual or special meetings, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. The bill outlines specific rules for how votes are counted across multiple rounds, including procedures for eliminating candidates with the fewest votes and transferring their ballots to voters' next choices. Once adopted, the system remains in effect until the local community votes to discontinue it, with transparency requirements for reporting vote totals and inactive ballots.
This bill directs Vermont's Pension Investment Commission to divest state pension funds from fossil fuel industry investments by December 31, 2030, while also setting a longer-term goal to eliminate all private fossil fuel investments by December 31, 2040. The legislation applies to the Vermont State Employees' Retirement System, the Vermont Teachers' Retirement System, and the Vermont Municipal Employees' Retirement System, requiring the Commission to develop a divestment plan that considers fiduciary obligations and potential impacts on funding requirements. The bill includes specific definitions for fossil fuel exposure, allows for exceptions for small investments under two percent of the portfolio, and mandates regular reports to state committees on progress and financial impacts. Additionally, the act appropriates $127,000 in 2024 to fund a staff position to support the review, planning, and reporting requirements of the divestment process.
This bill directs Vermont state agencies to study the feasibility of creating a rental housing registry that would collect information from landlords and property owners. The study will examine two options: using existing landlord certificate data or establishing a new annual registration system for both long-term and short-term rentals. The report will include cost estimates, technological requirements, and data security recommendations to be submitted to legislative committees by December 15, 2023. The bill appropriates $25,000 in fiscal year 2024 to fund this assessment project.
This bill creates a temporary School Construction Aid Task Force to study school construction needs, funding options, and safety standards, with members drawn from state agencies and education organizations. The task force will review existing school facility conditions and submit recommendations by January 2024 before ceasing to exist. Additionally, the bill pauses new indoor air quality testing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in schools until the task force completes its work and the legislature decides whether to resume testing. It also reallocates existing PCB testing funds back to the Education Fund and provides grants to schools that need to remediate PCB contamination identified through testing.
This bill establishes the Mobile Home Task Force, a temporary committee designed to study the current state of mobile homes and mobile home parks in Vermont. The committee includes representatives from the state legislature, housing agencies, and mobile home cooperative owners, who will meet to examine issues like infrastructure needs, property classification, and data collection for policy-making. The Task Force must submit a written report with findings and recommendations by January 15, 2024, after conducting its study and holding meetings. The committee will cease to exist once the report is submitted, and members will receive per diem compensation for attending up to six meetings.
This bill reduces the use of cash bail in Vermont by prohibiting courts from requiring bail for most misdemeanor offenses at initial court appearances, with limited exceptions for specific serious crimes like domestic assault and child abuse where bail is capped at $200. It also directs the Vermont Sentencing Commission to develop a plan for eliminating cash bail entirely by consulting with community organizations and experts, while establishing an electronic notification system to remind defendants of court dates to reduce missed appearances. The immediate changes take effect on July 1, 2025, with additional reports and recommendations due to the General Assembly by December 2023 and December 2026.
This bill establishes a paid family and medical leave insurance program in Vermont, allowing eligible employees to take time off work for specific life events while receiving wage replacement benefits. It directly affects workers employed by companies with at least 10 to 15 employees, depending on the type of leave, and defines covered situations including parental leave for birth or adoption, family leave for serious health conditions, bereavement leave, safe leave for domestic violence victims, and leave for military family members. The legislation sets clear definitions for who qualifies as an employee, employer, and family member, including provisions for domestic partners and individuals with significant personal bonds beyond traditional family relationships. Key provisions include requirements for employers to fund the insurance program and establish policies that allow workers to take approved leave without losing their jobs.
This bill officially approves the dissolution of Colchester Fire District No. 3, a local government entity that voters voted to close in March 2022. The legislation formalizes the transfer of the district's property, assets, and liabilities to the Champlain Water District, which took effect on July 1, 2022. Once this act becomes law, Colchester Fire District No. 3 will cease to exist as a political organization. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage, completing the legal process for the district's closure.
This bill creates a forgivable loan program for students who commit to teaching in Vermont public schools, with a focus on recruiting educators from historically underrepresented communities. It also establishes a new grant program to support nontraditional teacher training pathways like apprenticeships and peer review, providing mentoring and professional development resources to help prospective teachers complete licensure requirements. Additionally, the bill suspends one-time licensure fees for peer review processes through fiscal year 2029 and appropriates funding to support these new workforce development initiatives. The programs are administered by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation and the Agency of Education, with loan forgiveness contingent on completing a minimum of one year of teaching service for each year of funding received.
This bill increases the fee for obtaining a marriage license in Vermont from $60 to $75. The change directly affects couples applying for marriage licenses and the town clerks who issue them. Under the new provisions, $15 of the fee would be kept by the town clerk while $60 would go to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Special Fund. The bill also requires town clerks to submit quarterly reports to the State Treasurer detailing all fees collected. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2023.
