Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 7, 2026

H 592: An act relating to the appointment of legal counsel and record keeping in civil forfeiture actions

This bill requires public defenders to represent low-income individuals in specific civil forfeiture cases, such as property seizures related to alcohol, drug offenses, or big game violations. It mandates that law enforcement and courts maintain detailed records of seized property - including its description, value, and disposition - and provide notice of the right to counsel. The law applies to cases under statutes covering livestock products, alcohol, wildlife violations, controlled substances, and vehicles. These provisions aim to ensure transparency in property seizures and access to legal representation for vulnerable individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 7, 2026

H 596: An act relating to completion of a mental health screening after administration of an opioid antagonist

This bill (H.596) requires Vermont hospitals to provide mental health screenings to patients treated for opioid overdoses after they receive an opioid antagonist (like naloxone). It directly affects hospitals and patients experiencing opioid overdoses in Vermont. The key provision amends Vermont law (18 V.S.A. § 4257) to add this screening requirement to the state's opioid overdose response strategy, specifically under hospital referral services. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 7, 2026

H 599: An act relating to substantial change to a net metering system

H 599 simplifies modifications to small solar energy systems by removing the need for new permits if capacity stays under 25 kW. It directly affects Vermont homeowners and small businesses with existing solar installations who want to make minor upgrades (like adding panels) without seeking additional approval. The bill amends Vermont law to state that only changes exceeding 25 kW capacity require a revised "certificate of public good." This reduces administrative steps for small system adjustments while maintaining oversight for larger expansions. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Energy

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 217: An act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program for the collection of discarded mattresses

S.217 requires mattress producers (including manufacturers, importers, and brands selling in Vermont) to create and manage collection programs for discarded mattresses. It establishes a system where producers - either individually or through a stewardship organization - must cover the costs of collecting, recycling, or responsibly disposing of mattresses when consumers discard them. The bill defines key terms like "discarded mattress" (any mattress a consumer abandons or intends to discard) and excludes items such as mattress pads, waterbeds, and baby products from coverage. This shifts responsibility for mattress waste management from local governments and consumers to the producers themselves, creating a structured program for environmentally sound disposal.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 7, 2026

H 584: An act relating to excluding public safety pension and survivor benefit income from income taxation

This bill (H.584) amends Vermont's tax code to exclude income from public safety pensions and survivor benefits from state income taxation. It directly affects Vermont police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), as well as their survivors, by removing this income from taxable earnings. The key mechanism adds a specific exclusion to Vermont's definition of "taxable income" under 32 V.S.A. § 5811(21)(B)(vii), ensuring these benefits are not included in the calculation of state income tax. The change takes effect retroactively for taxable years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 7, 2026

H 593: An act relating to Public Utility Commission approval of interregional transmission agreements

H.593 requires the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to approve any agreement the Department of Public Service (DPS) enters into for interregional electricity transmission projects. This applies when the DPS negotiates deals involving electricity transmission between regions, such as those affecting Vermont’s connections to New England’s grid. The bill aims to ensure these agreements align with Vermont’s energy policies and protect ratepayers from financial harm. The change amends Vermont law to add this PUC approval step for regional transmission agreements.

Topics ✓ Energy

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 7, 2026

H 600: An act relating to appliance efficiency

This bill (H 600) updates Vermont’s appliance efficiency standards to align with recent federal regulations. It sets new minimum efficiency requirements for products sold in Vermont, including residential furnaces (requiring 90% AFUE for natural gas/propane models), boilers, power supplies, and lighting. Specific exemptions are included, such as for small incandescent lamps (under 50W BR30/BR40 types) and pre-2008 power supplies. The law mandates manufacturers comply with these federal benchmarks, adopting standards from 10 C.F.R. sections as of 2017.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 6, 2026

H 546: An act relating to the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act

This bill enacts Vermont's version of the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act. It allows Vermont residents to legally refuse inherited property interests (like assets from a will or intestate succession) through a written disclaimer. The key mechanism requires a signed, written disclaimer that specifies the interest being refused and follows filing procedures; once valid, the property redirects as if the person disclaiming had died before receiving it. This directly affects individuals inheriting property who wish to decline it, such as to avoid tax consequences or redirect assets to other heirs.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 6, 2026

H 571: An act relating to recommendations of the Firearm Surrender Order Compliance Working Group

This bill (H 571) adopts the recommendations from the Firearm Surrender Order Compliance Working Group's report dated November 15, 2025. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and individuals subject to firearm surrender orders under Vermont law. The bill implements specific procedural changes proposed by the working group to improve compliance with such orders, without creating new criminal penalties or altering existing firearm laws.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 6, 2026

H 564: An act relating to compensation for wrongful convictions

This bill establishes a clear right for individuals wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for at least six months to seek compensation from the state if later exonerated (e.g., through conviction reversal, dismissal, acquittal, or pardon), regardless of the exoneration method. To qualify, claimants must prove actual innocence (without fabricating evidence or committing perjury) and meet specific procedural requirements. Compensation includes $30,000-$60,000 per year of wrongful incarceration, plus lost wages, defense costs, up to 10 years of state-funded health coverage, and reintegration services. Courts must provide notice of this right to exonerees, and claims must be filed within three years of exoneration, with limited exceptions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 6, 2026

S 172: An act relating to requiring the use of personal flotation devices during cold weather

This bill requires all individuals on recreational vessels in Vermont to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) when on an open deck while the vessel is underway between November 1 and May 1 each year. It directly affects recreational boaters during cold-weather months, excluding U.S. Coast Guard-inspected commercial vessels. The key provision mandates that PFDs must be properly secured and worn during these specific seasons, aligning with existing federal safety standards. The requirement would take effect on July 1, 2026.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 6, 2026

S 201: An act relating to academic freedom in Vermont’s postsecondary schools

Vermont's S.201 requires all postsecondary schools (colleges and universities) operating in the state to adopt an academic freedom policy by August 1, 2027. The policy must guarantee faculty the freedom to discuss relevant course materials, use any reasonable instructional methods, and express views outside work as private citizens - while requiring faculty to clarify when speaking as individuals, not as representatives of the institution. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects all Vermont colleges and universities by mandating specific institutional policies aligned with state policy supporting open inquiry and free expression in education.

Topics ✓ Education

Bill results