Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 608: An act relating to allowing purple paint markings as notice for posting against hunting and fishing

This Vermont bill (H.608) allows landowners to legally prohibit hunting and fishing on their property by marking the border with visible purple paint on trees or posts instead of traditional signs. It directly affects private landowners and their authorized agents, who can use this paint method to provide notice without installing physical signage. The bill specifies that purple paint must be clearly visible at or near the property boundary to be valid notice, replacing current requirements for physical "posted" signs. It does not change hunting/fishing laws but simplifies how owners communicate restrictions to the public.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 613: An act relating to victims of officer-involved shootings of an individual experiencing a mental health crisis

This bill expands Vermont's definition of "victim" to include individuals affected by officer-involved shootings when the person shot was experiencing a mental health crisis. It requires the Victims Compensation Board to provide these individuals with access to services and compensation similar to other crime victims. The bill also mandates mental health crisis training for law enforcement officers as part of certification requirements and incorporates de-escalation techniques into the state's use-of-force policy. These changes directly affect victims of such incidents and their families, ensuring they receive support previously available only to traditional crime victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 619: An act relating to an income tax surcharge

H.619 proposes a 3% income tax surcharge on Vermont residents with federal adjusted gross income of $1 million or more, directly affecting high-income earners. The surcharge applies in addition to existing income tax and will automatically adjust for inflation each year to maintain the $1 million threshold. It takes effect retroactively for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. This bill creates a new tax obligation for individuals earning over $1 million annually, with no changes to other tax rates or brackets.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 604: An act relating to semiautomatic assault weapons

This Vermont bill (H 604) prohibits the manufacture, possession, and transfer of semiautomatic assault weapons as defined by specific features. It directly affects most Vermont residents who own such weapons, excluding federal/state law enforcement officers, National Guard members, and military personnel. Key provisions define "semiautomatic assault weapons" as rifles, pistols, or shotguns with features like folding stocks, pistol grips, or certain attachments (e.g., flash suppressors), while exempting manually operated firearms, antique guns, and weapons with limited magazine capacity. Violations carry penalties of up to one year in jail or a $500 fine. The law takes effect upon passage.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 622: An act relating to stewardship trusts

This bill creates a new type of business trust called a "stewardship trust" in Vermont, allowing owners to establish trusts for ongoing business purposes without needing a specific beneficiary. It permits these trusts to hold ownership in corporations, LLCs, and other business entities while requiring a three-member "trust stewardship committee" to manage operations, make decisions by majority vote, and report annually. The trust must pursue both economic and non-economic business goals, with the committee having authority to appoint trustees, remove officers, and direct distributions. This affects Vermont business owners seeking long-term succession planning, as it modifies trust law to provide a structured framework for business continuity beyond traditional charitable or beneficiary-based trusts.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 8, 2026

S 221: An act relating to creating an equitable vision for implementing civic education

S.221, the "Civics Strengthens Democracy Act," requires all Vermont public school districts to provide civics education from kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill defines civics as nonpartisan education covering civic knowledge (history, institutions), skills (critical analysis, communication), dispositions (inclusion, civil discourse), and behaviors (voting, community engagement). Key provisions include allowing project-based student assessments, creating recognition for exemplary students/schools (via a "civic seal"), and establishing a dedicated Civics Education Special Fund for funding. This bill directly affects Vermont's K-12 public schools and students by mandating comprehensive civic learning aligned with specific evidence-based teaching methods.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 621: An act relating to personal income tax brackets

This bill creates two new personal income tax brackets in Vermont, applying a 11.75% tax rate to higher income levels. Specifically, it adds a bracket for married couples filing jointly with taxable income over $500,000 but not over $1,000,000, and a separate bracket for heads of households with income over $455,300 but not over $910,600. These changes directly affect high-income Vermont residents whose earnings fall within these new ranges. The bill modifies existing tax tables to adjust the rate structure for the top earners, maintaining the 13.75% rate for even higher income levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 8, 2026

S 224: An act relating to the management of the State’s lakes

This bill allows municipalities that own or control all land around a public water source (used as a drinking water supply) to regulate that water's use through approved local bylaws. It also requires wakeboat owners to designate a single "home lake" for the calendar year, restricting operation to that lake unless the boat is decontaminated before moving to another water body. These provisions aim to protect water quality and prevent the spread of invasive species. The bill directly affects local governments managing public water systems and wakeboat operators.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 607: An act relating to institutional real estate investors’ purchase of single- and two-family residences

This bill requires large real estate companies (defined as entities owning 10+ single- or two-family homes with $30 million+ in assets) to wait 90 days after a home is listed for public sale before purchasing it. It also eliminates tax deductions for depreciation and interest on these properties for institutional investors. The law applies to commercial real estate firms but excludes nonprofits, community land trusts, and government-funded housing. These changes aim to slow rapid buying by large investors in residential markets.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 605: An act relating to speed limits in downtown centers and village centers

This bill allows Vermont towns and villages with designated downtown development districts or village centers (under existing law) to set posted speed limits below 25 miles per hour. It amends state statute §1007 to permit these lower speed limits in specific areas, overriding previous requirements. The change directly affects local governments in communities that have formally designated such zones under Vermont law. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 625: An act relating to adoption of the Interstate Massage Compact

Vermont's H.625 adopts the Interstate Massage Compact, allowing licensed massage therapists from participating states to practice in Vermont without obtaining a separate license. This directly affects massage therapists seeking to work across state lines, particularly military members and their families who relocate frequently. The compact creates a shared regulatory framework through an interstate commission, requiring background checks and continuing competence, while enabling states to share disciplinary information to protect public safety. It streamlines licensing for therapists in member states but does not override individual state laws governing massage therapy practice.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 618: An act relating to school counselors

This bill requires Vermont school counselors to spend at least 80% of their time providing direct or indirect student services, such as academic/career counseling or social-emotional support, rather than administrative or non-counseling tasks. It directly affects all licensed or master’s-degree-holding school counselors in Vermont public schools, as defined by the bill. The law mandates that counselors dedicate no more than 20% of their time to "school support services" like substitute teaching or coordinating special education plans, which the bill cites as common distractions. This aligns with the American School Counselors Association’s recommendation to prioritize student-facing work, based on findings that 39% of counselors reported being overwhelmed by inappropriate duties. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

Bill results