Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 885: An act relating to use of public lands by individuals for life-sustaining activities

H.885 prohibits Vermont municipalities and counties from regulating the use of public land for "life-sustaining activities" (such as resting, sleeping, storing belongings, or protecting oneself from elements), directly affecting individuals experiencing homelessness. Exceptions apply only where a municipality has designated specific downtowns/growth centers for such use or has sufficient alternative shelter space available. The bill defines "life-sustaining activities" broadly to cover basic survival needs and adds "housing status" to anti-discrimination protections in several statutes. It overrides conflicting local ordinances and empowers the Attorney General to enforce compliance. The legislation responds to Vermont’s severe homelessness crisis, citing a 300% increase since 2020 and 4,588 people experiencing homelessness as of June 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 870: An act relating to initiating eminent domain proceedings for the purposes of affordable housing

H.870 proposes using eminent domain to acquire two specific properties in Williston, Vermont (188 Harvest Lane and 426 Industrial Avenue), for the sole purpose of developing permanently affordable housing. The bill would authorize the state to take these private properties through eminent domain proceedings, bypassing standard negotiations with current owners. This targeted action directly affects the owners of those two parcels by initiating legal proceedings to transfer ownership. The bill does not create new general rules for eminent domain but specifically enables this single housing project.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 883: An act relating to a permit reform task force

H.883 creates a task force to evaluate ways to simplify Vermont's state permitting processes for land use, water, and development projects. The task force will specifically consider making permits more transparent, faster, and easier to navigate, including exploring a single point of entry for all state permits. This bill directly affects Vermont residents, businesses, and developers who interact with state permitting systems. The bill does not make immediate changes but sets up a process to study potential reforms.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 871: An act relating to unemployment insurance fraud

H.871 requires individuals who receive unemployment benefits while failing to conduct required work interviews or providing false information to employers to repay those benefits. It increases penalties for fraud, including up to $5,000 fines and up to a five-year ban from benefits, and mandates quarterly data checks by the Department of Labor using state databases (like job placement records, incarceration data, and health records) to detect fraud. This bill directly affects unemployment benefit recipients who commit fraud or skip work search requirements. Key provisions include clarifying repayment obligations under §1347, strengthening penalties under §1368, and adding mandatory data cross-checks via new §1314b. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 882: An act relating to requiring the regular servicing and cleaning of wastewater systems

This bill requires property owners with wastewater systems (like septic systems) to have them serviced and cleaned at least every three years. The Agency of Natural Resources would establish rules identifying which systems need regular cleaning, mandating they be pumped, inspected for issues, and have components cleaned as needed. After servicing, the provider must submit a record of the work to the Agency. The law directly affects property owners and service providers by creating a routine maintenance requirement for wastewater systems.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 878: An act relating to Vermont income and education property taxes

This bill exempts Social Security benefits from Vermont's state income tax for most recipients, based on income levels. It fully excludes benefits for single filers earning under $55,000 or married couples filing jointly earning under $70,000 annually, with partial exemptions for higher earners up to $65,000 (single) or $80,000 (married). Additionally, it caps annual property tax increases at 1% for all homeowners. The policy directly affects Vermont residents receiving Social Security benefits and homeowners, aiming to reduce tax burdens for low- to moderate-income seniors and households.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 876: An act relating to establishing an annual reporting requirement for prosecutors

H 876 requires Vermont State's Attorneys, Sheriffs' offices, and the Attorney General’s Criminal Division to submit annual, de-identified reports to the Governor and General Assembly. The reports must detail case data including arrests/referrals per offense, prosecutions accepted, pre-charge diversions, dismissals (with categorical reasons), and case dispositions (e.g., convictions via plea, trial, or dismissal types). Reports must be compiled uniformly, searchable by jurisdiction and offense, and submitted by March 1 each year. This bill aims to increase public accountability by providing lawmakers with standardized data on prosecutorial decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 872: An act relating to enhancing criminal sentences for violent offenders

H.872 mandates minimum prison sentences for repeat violent offenders in Vermont. It requires a minimum sentence of half the maximum term (up to life) for anyone convicted of a third violent felony - defined as a felony with violence against a person - after two prior such convictions. The bill prohibits suspended sentences, probation, parole, or early release for the first three years of this mandatory term. It also amends sentencing rules to ban suspended sentences for all violent felony convictions, not just repeat offenders. This bill directly affects individuals with multiple violent felony convictions, changing their sentencing outcomes under Vermont law.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 880: An act relating to repealing the exception for clergy to report child abuse and neglect

H.880 would repeal Vermont's current exception allowing clergy to avoid reporting child abuse or neglect when disclosed confidentially during spiritual counseling. This change directly affects clergy members (like priests, ministers, or religious advisors) who currently may withhold reports under specific conditions. The bill removes the four-part exception (confidential communication during counseling, intended as confidential, for contrition/conscience, and required by religious law) and also repeals a related provision requiring reporting if abuse is learned outside that confidential context. As enacted, clergy would have the same reporting obligations as other mandated reporters under Vermont law, effective July 1, 2026.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 873: An act relating to course of conduct in stalking cases

This bill clarifies that in stalking cases, a "course of conduct" can include multiple acts occurring within a single day, rather than requiring separate calendar days. It amends Vermont's criminal and civil stalking definitions (12 V.S.A. §5131 and 13 V.S.A. §1061) to explicitly state that two or more acts establishing a course of conduct do not need to happen on different days. The change directly affects victims of stalking, prosecutors, and courts by making it easier to prove stalking cases involving repeated incidents within a single timeframe. This update simplifies the legal standard without altering penalties or expanding the definition of stalking itself.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 874: An act relating to municipal acquisition of abandoned residential and commercial property, municipal regulation of housing, and State funding for housing development

This bill allows Vermont municipalities to acquire abandoned residential and commercial properties in designated downtown or village areas through purchase, foreclosure, or fines, then use them for public purposes like medical housing or youth facilities. It also empowers municipalities to enforce housing habitability standards and limit annual rent increases, while restructuring state housing funding to prioritize individual property repairs, first-time homebuyers needing repairs, and senior housing developments with specific features (like housing for medical staff). Additionally, all state-funded housing developments must incorporate universal design, include ADA-compliant units, and give priority to people exiting homelessness for designated units. The bill directly affects local governments, property owners in designated zones, renters, and housing developers seeking state funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 875: An act relating to the possession and promotion of child sexual abuse materials to include computer-generated images

This bill (H.875) amends Vermont law to criminalize the possession and promotion of computer-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real child sexual abuse material. It specifically targets AI-created images depicting minors engaging in sexual conduct if an ordinary person would believe they show actual children. The law includes limited exceptions for medical, academic, law enforcement, and AI safety testing (e.g., developers testing systems to prevent such content). It explicitly excludes paintings, drawings, and nonvisual descriptions from the ban. The bill directly affects individuals creating, sharing, or possessing such AI-generated images that meet the "indistinguishable" standard.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Technology

Bill results