This bill requires Vermont's Secretary of Education to create an interdisciplinary climate change curriculum for K-12 schools, based on the 2023 IPCC report. It mandates that the State Board of Education update all school district curriculum standards by July 2027 to include climate change education across all grade levels and subjects. The curriculum must be open-source and accessible, building on existing educational resources. These changes apply directly to Vermont's public elementary and secondary schools and their district-level curriculum planning.
H 565 limits security deposits for landlords and mobile home park owners to three months' rent or lot rent, whichever applies. Landlords must hold all security deposits in interest-bearing accounts for tenants' benefit, with accrued interest not counting toward the cap. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, allowing existing deposits above the limit to remain until that date, but requiring them to be moved into interest-bearing accounts within 30 days after July 1, 2026. It directly affects residential tenants, mobile home leaseholders, and their property owners.
S.167 prohibits Vermont residents from possessing semiautomatic assault weapons, defined as rifles, pistols, or shotguns with specific features (like detachable magazines plus a folding stock, pistol grip, or high-capacity magazine). Violators face up to one year in jail or a $500 fine. The law exempts federal and certified Vermont law enforcement officers, active National Guard members, and certain manually operated or antique firearms. It also excludes weapons that cannot hold more than five rounds in their magazine.
This bill adopts recommendations from Vermont's Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group. It creates a formal process for courts to refer nonviolent offenders (those convicted of nonviolent felonies, misdemeanors, or specific nonviolent misdemeanors) to community reparative boards instead of traditional sentencing or probation. Key provisions include requiring courts to consider victim input and community impact before referral, mandating standardized referral forms, and specifying that successful program completion avoids further sentencing while failure requires returning to court. The law applies to eligible cases starting July 1, 2026, directly affecting nonviolent offenders in Vermont's criminal justice system.
This bill requires Vermont fire departments to pay full-time firefighters overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours worked beyond an average of 42 hours per week. It applies to state, municipal, and county fire departments, excluding civilian employees, and defines "hours worked" to include all paid leave. Overtime is calculated using the average weekly hours over the prior eight weeks (based on a seven-day week). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Vermont law at 21 V.S.A. § 388.
H 554 would remove the $9,000 asset limit for Vermont's Reach Up program, which provides temporary aid to low-income families. The bill repeals the current rule that counted certain assets (like retirement and education savings) against this limit, allowing families to retain more savings while qualifying for benefits. It directly affects families applying for or receiving Reach Up assistance, with the change taking effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill (S.174) requires Vermont's State Treasurer to study existing Green Bank models from other states to determine if adopting similar approaches would accelerate investments in climate mitigation infrastructure, farming, and agriculture within Vermont. The study must consider creating a standalone Green Bank or adapting existing state entities, with input from climate councils, agricultural agencies, and public stakeholders. The Treasurer must report findings and specific implementation recommendations to relevant legislative committees by December 1, 2026. This bill does not allocate funds or create new programs - it is solely a preparatory study to inform future policy decisions.
This bill (H 569) updates Vermont's hospital licensing and patient rights laws to explicitly allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to serve as the primary coordinator of a hospital patient's care, alongside physicians. It amends the Patients' Bill of Rights (18 V.S.A. § 1852) to state patients have the right to "an attending physician or APRN" responsible for care coordination, and revises hospital licensing requirements (18 V.S.A. § 1905) to require patients be under care of "a licensed physician or an APRN." The changes directly affect hospitals (which must now permit APRNs to coordinate care), patients (who gain the right to choose APRNs as primary care coordinators), and APRNs (who gain expanded scope under hospital licensing). The bill does not alter APRN practice standards but clarifies their role in hospital settings.
S 184 creates a Community Justice Center Working Group to identify available support services for pretrial diversion and transitional needs, including behavioral health services, across Vermont's community justice centers. The group, composed of representatives from community justice centers, courts, mental health, health, corrections, and the Attorney General's office, will assess service gaps and develop mechanisms to share this information with courts and stakeholders. The Working Group must submit findings and recommendations to the Vermont General Assembly by December 1, 2026. This bill does not make direct policy changes but establishes a process to improve service coordination for individuals navigating the justice system.
H 561 increases fees for small-scale electric generation projects in Vermont. It doubles the application fee for facilities under 50 kW (like rooftop solar or small hydro) from $100 to $200, and raises modification fees from $25 to $200. Larger projects not qualifying for these lower rates will pay $8 per kW (up from $5) plus a $400 modification fee. The bill affects residential and small business energy project developers seeking permits, effective July 1, 2026.
This bill (H.560) amends Vermont's Cybersecurity Advisory Council membership by adding three new positions: the Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Institutions, and a representative from the Judiciary appointed by the Chief Justice. The Council advises the state on cybersecurity infrastructure, best practices, communications protocols, and safeguards. These changes aim to strengthen legislative and judicial input into cybersecurity planning. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes time limits for criminal trials in Vermont: defendants charged with nonviolent misdemeanors can seek dismissal if trial hasn't started within one year, and those charged with nonviolent felonies can do so after two years. Prosecutors must respond to such dismissal motions within 14 days, explaining delays using specific factors like offense seriousness or defendant history. The bill excludes certain delays from these timelines, such as mental competency evaluations, defendant absence, or court-ordered continuances with documented justification. It directly affects defendants facing criminal charges and prosecutors managing case timelines.
