This bill (S.222) creates new survivor and disability benefits for Vermont emergency personnel, including firefighters, EMTs, and certified law enforcement officers. It establishes a Review Board to process claims for survivors (spouses, children, or parents) if an officer dies in the line of duty or from an occupation-related illness, and for disabled personnel with permanent total disability incurred during duty. Benefits are paid directly to eligible survivors or disabled personnel, with decisions made within 60 days by the Board, and appeals possible in Superior Court if denied. The bill applies to those employed by or volunteering with Vermont state, local, or nonprofit emergency services entities.
H.610 directs Efficiency Vermont to study creating a statewide community-based energy navigator program by January 2027. The program would provide in-person and remote coaching to residential consumers, especially low- and moderate-income homeowners, landlords, and renters, helping them navigate energy efficiency options, access grants/rebates, prioritize upgrades, and connect with contractors. It requires a report detailing program design, costs, funding sources (including $15,000 for the study and $150,000 for the Climate Economy Action Center), and projected energy savings. The bill does not implement the program but mandates a study to inform future rollout.
This bill removes a scheduled repeal of Vermont's Economic Growth Incentive Program (VEGI), which would have ended the program's eligibility for new applications after January 1, 2027. It directly affects businesses seeking VEGI incentives under 32 V.S.A. chapter 105, subchapter 2 by ensuring the program remains available beyond 2027. The key provision amends prior legislation to delete the January 1, 2027 cutoff date, allowing the Vermont Economic Progress Council to continue approving new incentive applications. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, extending the program's operation without new funding or eligibility changes.
H.624 creates a 10-member working group to study Vermont's adult guardianship system. The group will examine whether to consolidate involuntary guardianship cases under Title 14 (general adults) with guardianships for people with developmental disabilities under Title 18, or amend laws to ensure equal access to voluntary guardianships for both groups. The working group, including judges, disability officials, legal experts, and community representatives, must report recommendations by December 15, 2026, addressing judicial resources, appellate jurisdiction, and legislative changes needed. This bill does not change current law but sets up a study to evaluate potential reforms in how guardianship cases are handled. The direct effect is on Vermont's probate court processes and future legislative decisions regarding adult guardianship access.
H.620 creates a temporary Wealth Tax Commission to study how to tax wealth and investment gains currently excluded from income taxation in Vermont. The commission, composed of two legislative members and two state agency heads, will examine practical issues like valuing nonpublic assets, handling taxpayers moving between states, and coordinating with other states on uniform tax approaches. It must submit a report by November 2027 to the House and Senate finance committees with findings and recommendations. The bill does not implement a wealth tax but directs the commission to research policy options and best practices. This study aims to inform future legislative decisions about potential wealth taxation.
This bill requires Vermont's Agency of Education to create guidance and training for schools to distinguish between protected political speech and unlawful harassment targeting protected groups. It adds new members to the Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council and mandates a new freedom of expression curriculum for public K-12 schools. The curriculum will teach students age-appropriate basics about First Amendment protections under both federal and Vermont constitutions. The bill directly affects Vermont public schools, students, educators, and school districts by setting standards for handling political expression and harassment claims. It aims to ensure schools remain safe while preventing censorship of lawful political discourse, particularly regarding issues like Palestinian human rights advocacy.
H.612 establishes Vermont's own Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, modeled after the federal law. It targets organized crime groups by allowing civil lawsuits and criminal prosecutions for a "pattern of racketeering activity" involving two or more related crimes (such as drug trafficking, robbery, fraud, or domestic terrorism) within a four-year period. The law directly affects organized crime enterprises operating in Vermont and provides victims with legal avenues to seek compensation. Key mechanisms include defining "enterprise" broadly to cover both legal and illegal groups, specifying qualifying crimes, and enabling civil forfeiture of assets seized under the law.
H.609 establishes a regulatory framework for thermal energy networks - pipelines that transfer heat between buildings to reduce emissions from heating and cooling. It clarifies that the Public Utility Commission (PUC) will oversee non-municipal operators of these networks, while allowing municipalities or fire districts to directly build, operate, and set rates for such networks without needing a PUC "certificate of public good." The bill defines key terms like "thermal energy exchange" (noncombustible fluid systems for heat transfer) and excludes cooperatives, landlords, or self-served entities from PUC jurisdiction. Fire districts can now fund these networks through local taxes, similar to existing fire protection or water infrastructure funding. This bill directly affects communities, fire districts, and private operators seeking to deploy district heating systems for emissions reduction.
This bill requires Vermont schools, school districts, cultural institutions (like museums), and educational programs receiving public funds to consult with and obtain written endorsement from the Odanak and Wôlinak First Nations before using or presenting materials about Indigenous history or culture in Vermont. It directly affects all public schools, approved independent schools, and cultural institutions hosting school groups that develop or use such curriculum. The key mechanism is mandating formal consultation and written approval from these two Abenaki nations, whose ancestral territory includes present-day Vermont, to ensure accuracy and cultural integrity. The bill is grounded in Vermont’s recognition of UNDRIP principles, particularly the right of Indigenous peoples to consent to decisions affecting their cultural heritage.
H.623 replaces Vermont's current registration system for massage therapists, bodyworkers, and touch professionals with a new licensing requirement specifically for massage therapists. It ends registration for bodyworkers and touch professionals (effective July 1, 2027) and requires all massage therapists to obtain a license from the Office of Professional Regulation. The bill also mandates that any business offering massage services - such as spas, clinics, or salons - must be licensed as a "massage therapy establishment." Exemptions include students in massage education programs and licensed professionals practicing within their scope. The law prohibits unlicensed practice of massage or operating an unlicensed establishment.
H 617 requires Vermont public and independent schools to create individualized seizure action plans for students diagnosed with seizure disorders, developed collaboratively with parents and school staff. Schools must designate at least two trained staff members per school to administer seizure rescue medications or assist with vagus nerve stimulators, and obtain parental written authorization including a healthcare provider’s detailed medication plan and the medication in its original sealed packaging. Additionally, schools must provide biennial staff training on seizure recognition and first aid using guidelines from the Epilepsy Foundation, and the Agency of Education will collect compliance data for annual reporting to the legislature. This bill directly affects students with seizure disorders, school staff, and parents/guardians through new safety protocols and documentation requirements.
This bill establishes two temporary housing programs for Vermonters in crisis during fiscal years 2027-2028: the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program (TEHAP) and the Return Home Program (RHP). It directly affects individuals and households without fixed housing or at immediate risk of losing housing within seven days, including those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or with disabilities. Key provisions include setting strict eligibility criteria, requiring case management services to connect participants with permanent housing and support, transitioning away from hotel/motel reliance toward sustainable options like recovery housing and the Vermont Housing Investment Program (VHIP), and implementing accountability measures for program oversight. The bill mandates a tiered care approach and requires active participant engagement to achieve housing stability.
