This Vermont bill (S.207) prohibits businesses from using "surveillance pricing" to set different prices for consumer products based on data collected through electronic surveillance technology (like AI or tracking tools). It directly affects retailers, online sellers, and service providers in Vermont that sell consumer products (e.g., groceries, electronics, subscriptions). The law bans price discrimination using personally identifiable or aggregated consumer data, except for price differences based solely on actual costs, equal discounts for all customers (with clear notice and consent if personal data is used), or licensed insurance companies following existing rate rules. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
S.194 establishes a new monthly prospective payment system for Vermont's designated and specialized service agencies that provide community-based human services. It requires the Human Services Secretary to calculate payments based on per-member per-month amounts derived from approved agency budgets, updated annually with inflation adjustments and geographic cost factors. The bill mandates monthly payments on the first day of each month, annual rate recalculations, and an annual reconciliation process to align funding with actual service delivery. This directly affects community-based service providers receiving Medicaid funding, changing how they are reimbursed for services to individuals with approved care plans.
This bill streamlines the process for transferring animals seized in cruelty cases to humane societies by requiring courts to immediately assign custody to approved organizations, with full ownership transfer. It adds a $50 surcharge on individuals convicted of animal cruelty, directing all such funds to the Animal Welfare Fund. The fund will then reimburse costs for caring for seized animals, including mandatory veterinary assessments within 72 hours of seizure. This directly affects animals in cruelty cases, local humane societies, and the state's fund management system.
S.187 would allow members of Vermont's General Assembly to carry concealed handguns in the State House or on its grounds, provided they have completed a certified firearms safety and training course. This bill specifically amends state law to permit this for legislators who meet the training requirement and carry documentation of their certification. It directly affects sitting members of the Vermont legislature by changing existing restrictions on concealed weapons in the State House. The policy change is limited to authorized legislators and requires proof of training for compliance.
This bill requires permits for applying alum (a chemical treatment used to reduce harmful algae blooms) to Vermont lakes, ponds, and other waterbodies. It directly affects municipalities or entities seeking to treat water quality issues caused by cyanobacteria blooms. The permit process mandates applicants to prove the water quality damage is severe, demonstrate they've explored alternatives to alum, commit to reducing phosphorus runoff sources (the root cause of blooms), and conduct pre- and post-treatment environmental monitoring. The Secretary of Natural Resources must establish these permit criteria by December 2026, ensuring alum use is temporary and does not harm aquatic ecosystems.
This bill imposes a temporary moratorium on the construction and site preparation of AI data centers in Vermont until July 1, 2030. It directly affects developers or operators of new AI data centers requiring over 100 megawatts of dedicated power for AI workloads. The moratorium allows the Public Utility Commission to study impacts - including energy use, water consumption, environmental effects, grid reliability, and economic impacts - before developing future regulations. The Commission must submit a report by January 2027 detailing findings and recommendations to the legislature.
This Vermont bill (H 568) requires school districts to provide comparable special education services within 30 days for military-connected students transferring due to relocation, including transferring records and evaluations. It also allows children of active-duty military members to stay in their "school of origin" (previous school) through the end of the school year - or an extra year for 11th graders - during a parent's military reassignment outside the district. The bill applies to all Vermont school districts enrolling military-connected students and eliminates immediate residency proof requirements for remote enrollment. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
S.162 eliminates the Department of Vermont Health Access' (DVHA) annual requirement to create and publish lists of prescription drugs with significant price increases (over 50% in 5 years or 15% in a year). This directly affects DVHA, removing its duty to share these lists with the Green Mountain Care Board and Attorney General's office. The bill also modifies Medicaid Advisory Committee membership rules (barring reappointments), updates health insurance market language, adjusts Clinical Utilization Review Board composition, and increases burial funds exclusion for Medicaid eligibility. Other minor changes include extending the timeline for Medicaid doula service coverage approval.
This bill (S.196) shortens the period during which homeowners can reclaim property after a municipal tax sale and allows the new owner to enter the property during that time to prevent damage, hazards, or deterioration. It directly affects delinquent property owners who owe at least $1,500 in taxes and municipal tax sale purchasers. Key provisions include reducing the redemption window and authorizing purchasers to secure properties against illegal activity, fire risks, or decay during the redemption period. The bill also maintains existing requirements for tax collectors to offer repayment plans before initiating sales and provide multilingual notices.
H 528 makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly or recklessly discard used hypodermic needles or syringes in sensitive areas like playgrounds, parks, childcare facilities, schools, or public parks. It directly affects individuals who improperly dispose of such items in these locations, with penalties of up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. The law explicitly excludes proper medical waste disposal from healthcare services or educational use at schools and childcare centers. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and is currently under review by the Judiciary Committee.
S.186 allows juvenile offenders (under 20) in certain criminal cases to choose whether to enter a plea agreement in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court instead of the Family Division. This applies when the offense charged is not specified in existing law (subsections 5204(a), 5201(c)(2), or (3)), giving juveniles a direct option to handle their case in Criminal Division. The bill amends Vermont statutes §5201 and §5203 to establish this election process, requiring the Criminal Division to retain jurisdiction if the juvenile chooses this path. It directly affects minors under 20 facing specific non-specified offenses who would otherwise be transferred to Family Division proceedings. The change takes effect immediately for sections 1-2 and July 2, 2027, for sections 3-4.
This Vermont bill (S 160) bans the possession of bump-fire stocks, machine guns, and rapid-fire devices that increase a firearm's rate of fire. It directly affects Vermont residents who own these devices, prohibiting them under penalty of up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. The bill establishes a voluntary, anonymous collection program for bump-fire stocks before its effective date of October 1, 2018. Key definitions clarify terms like "bump-fire stock" (a device that mimics machine gun fire on semi-automatic firearms) and "rapid-fire device" (including auto sears that enable multiple shots per trigger pull).
