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Vermont Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 8,295 Active 3,475 In committee 2,310 Passed 2,033 Signed 934 Failed 25

passed · Vermont · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SR 20: Senate resolution relating to adoption of a temporary Rule 44A

This Senate resolution (SR 20) establishes a temporary procedural rule (Rule 44A) for the Vermont Senate. It requires bills that miss the March 13 and March 20, 2026 crossover deadlines to be referred to the Committee on Rules, unless they are one of five exempted bills: the transportation capital bill, capital construction bill, general appropriations bill ("The Big Bill"), fee bill, or tax/revenue bills. The rule expires when the Legislature adjourns sine die. As a procedural measure, it affects Senate committee referrals but does not change substantive policy.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 835: An act relating to supporting homeless students

H.835 requires Vermont school districts to immediately enroll homeless students and provide transportation assistance to their school of origin if parents or guardians relocate to a different district. Each district must also designate a homeless education liaison to help with enrollment, transportation, and support services. The bill creates the Educational Stability Grant Program, providing state funding to schools for academic and social-emotional services aimed at improving attendance, graduation rates, and reducing disciplinary incidents for highly mobile students. These changes directly affect homeless students, school districts, and public education providers.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 820: An act relating to environmental appeals and enforcement cases

This bill proposes to transfer the authority for hearing environmental permit appeals and enforcement cases from the Environmental Division of the Superior Court to two administrative bodies: the Land Use Review Board and the Secretary of Natural Resources. It directly affects individuals, developers, or organizations appealing decisions on environmental permits under Vermont's Act 250. The key change is moving these cases from the court system to an administrative review process, removing the Environmental Division's role in such appeals. The bill repeals references to the "Environmental Court" and updates procedural language to reflect this transfer of jurisdiction.

passed both · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

HCR 173: House concurrent resolution designating January 29, 2026, as Mental Health Advocacy Day at the State House

This resolution designates January 29, 2026, as Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Vermont State House. It directly affects the Vermont General Assembly, which formally recognizes the annual event, and mental health advocacy organizations like NAMI Vermont and the Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, which will receive a copy of the resolution. The key mechanism is the official designation of the date for the existing annual advocacy event, with no new policies or funding created. The resolution serves as a ceremonial recognition of ongoing mental health advocacy efforts in Vermont.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 831: An act relating to requiring the Secretary of State to include the year of passage in the number assigned to acts of the General Assembly

H.831 requires Vermont's Secretary of State to include the year of passage in the official number assigned to each General Assembly act, changing the format to "Act No. [NUMBER]-[YEAR]" starting in the 2027-2028 legislative session. This procedural change directly affects the Secretary of State's office and the official record-keeping of all future state laws. The bill amends Vermont Statutes Annotated § 104 to mandate this new numbering system for all acts passed after the 2026-2027 biennium. It does not alter the content or effect of any laws, only how they are formally identified in state records.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 836: An act relating to publicly accessible meetings of hospital boards

This bill requires Vermont hospital boards to hold all regular, special, and emergency meetings in public, with limited exceptions for sensitive topics like pending lawsuits, personnel matters, or confidential contracts. Hospitals must post meeting schedules online at least one week in advance and agendas 48 hours before each meeting. Public portions of meetings must be recorded or documented with minutes, including public comments and actions taken, and posted online within five business days. The law directly affects all Vermont hospitals with governing boards, aiming to increase transparency in their decision-making processes.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 840: An act relating to civil investigations of election law violations

H 840 clarifies and expands the Attorney General's and State's Attorneys' authority to investigate election law violations, including campaign finance issues and lobbying misconduct. It directly affects candidates, campaigns, and organizations subject to election laws by granting them the power to issue formal information requests, take sworn testimony, and enforce compliance during investigations. The bill requires investigators to publicly report aggregate data on these actions to the Secretary of State's office, increasing transparency. This focuses on strengthening enforcement tools rather than creating new penalties. The bill does not change existing election laws but streamlines investigation procedures.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 819: An act relating to the Division of Substance Use Programs

This bill (H.819) reorganizes Vermont's substance use services by moving the Division of Substance Use Programs from the Department of Health to the Department of Mental Health. It directly affects the division’s administrative structure and the agencies managing substance use treatment programs. The key mechanism is amending statute 3 V.S.A. § 3089 to establish the Department of Mental Health as the successor to the former division, ensuring substance use programs operate under mental health leadership. This change streamlines oversight but does not alter existing program services or eligibility.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 828: An act relating to banning the transfer of military-grade weapons to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies

This bill prohibits Vermont's state, county, and local law enforcement agencies from receiving military-grade weapons transferred from the U.S. Department of Defense, military branches, or other federal agencies. It directly affects all Vermont law enforcement entities by blocking these specific federal transfers. The key mechanism is a clear ban on accepting such weapons from federal sources, preventing their acquisition through existing federal programs. The bill does not address weapons already in possession by law enforcement or restrict local purchases. It focuses solely on halting new transfers of military-grade equipment from federal entities to Vermont agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 823: An act relating to social media warning labels

H.823 requires social media platforms operating in Vermont to display mental health warning labels each time a user accesses the platform. These labels must warn users about potential mental health risks from social media use, provide crisis resource information (including the 988 hotline), and remain visible until the user exits or acknowledges the warning. The bill also mandates pop-up notifications every 30 minutes (customizable up to 60 minutes) showing cumulative daily usage time. The Attorney General must develop guidelines by April 2027, with the law taking full effect July 1, 2027. It applies to platforms meeting Vermont's definition of social media (user-generated content sharing sites/apps).

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 833: An act relating to evaluating the feasibility of developing a public option, high-deductible health insurance plan

H.833 creates a study committee to evaluate the feasibility of a public option health insurance plan for Vermont. The committee would assess a high-deductible plan designed for public employees initially, with potential future expansion to others, including reimbursement rates capped at 10-15% above Medicare (higher in rural areas) and requirements for price transparency. It would analyze cost projections, funding options (like premium tax credits for small businesses and a stabilization fund), and integration into a single risk pool. The committee must submit a report and draft legislation for a potential pilot program by January 15, 2027. This bill does not implement the plan but studies its viability.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 829: An act relating to notification of robocalls that use an artificial voice

H.829 requires businesses or organizations making robocalls with artificial voices (generated or altered using AI) to first play a natural, unrecorded voice announcement before delivering any prerecorded message. This announcement must state the call’s purpose, the caller’s name/address/phone number, ask if the recipient consents to hear the message, and disclose that an artificial voice will be used. The law applies to all robocallers in Vermont using AI-generated voices and imposes civil penalties of $500 for a first violation (rising to $1,000 for repeat offenses), plus potential criminal penalties of up to 90 days in jail or $1,000 per call for willful violations. It directly affects telemarketers, debt collectors, and other entities using automated calls with artificial voices within Vermont.

Topics ✓ Technology