Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 824: An act relating to smartphone-connected vehicles

H 824 requires app publishers of smartphone-connected vehicle applications (like those controlling car features or tracking location) to include a simple in-vehicle process allowing occupants to see who is connected to the vehicle and disconnect any user. The process must be as easy as connecting, work inside the vehicle without special tools, and disconnect users within 30 minutes. This directly affects app developers and vehicle app providers, ensuring drivers or passengers can quickly sever remote connections. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and aligns with consumer protection standards for vehicle technology.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 839: An act relating to transitional housing for unaccompanied homeless youths

H 839 authorizes transitional housing for unaccompanied homeless youths in Vermont for up to 24 months. The bill directly affects young people experiencing homelessness without family support by providing longer-term housing options. It establishes a specific definition of "transitional housing" that distinguishes it from emergency shelter services. This policy change creates a formal framework for supporting youth stability through extended housing assistance.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 818: An act relating to mental health screening in schools

H 818 establishes a voluntary mental health screening program for Vermont public school students, administered by school supervisory unions in collaboration with the Agency of Education and Department of Mental Health. The bill requires schools to obtain parental consent before screening students for age-appropriate mental health conditions, provide results to parents, and refer students needing support to resources. Funding of $10,000 is initially appropriated for the program, with 90% distributed based on student enrollment and 10% allocated as needed for additional support. Schools must comply with FERPA privacy rules and provide annual reports on participation and outcomes to the legislature. This affects all Vermont public school students and their families through school-based screening options.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 822: An act relating to the regulation of generative artificial intelligence systems

This Vermont bill (H.822) requires providers of generative AI systems (like chatbots or image generators) to give consumers a tool to detect if content was created or altered by AI, and to offer users an option to add a watermark to AI-generated media. It directly affects AI companies and their users within Vermont. The key provisions are mandatory content detection tools and optional watermarks to identify AI-generated content, aiming to increase transparency for consumers.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 837: An act relating to rounding cash transactions

H 837, the "Nickel Rounding for Cash Transactions Act," authorizes businesses to round cash transaction totals to the nearest five cents when one-cent coins are unavailable. It specifies rounding down for amounts ending in 1-2 or 6-7 cents and up for 3-4 or 8-9 cents, while requiring businesses to post clear notices and calculate taxes based on the pre-rounding amount. The bill applies only to cash payments (not electronic transactions, wages, or federal-regulated transactions) and ensures rounding doesn’t count as a price increase or deceptive practice. It takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting Vermont businesses and customers making cash purchases.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 815: An act relating to health insurance and Medicaid reimbursement for certain health care services

H.815 limits health insurers and Vermont Medicaid from reducing reimbursement rates for mental health, substance use disorder, or developmental disability services below the previous year’s rate. It requires insurers to provide 90 days’ public notice, host stakeholder meetings, and publish impact analyses before changing billing, coding, or service authorization policies affecting these areas. Insurers must also monitor access metrics like provider availability and wait times for 12 months after policy changes and take corrective action if access declines. This directly affects insurers, Medicaid, and mental health providers by standardizing payment stability and increasing transparency in coverage decisions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 826: An act relating to land access and opportunity

H.826 creates the Land Access and Opportunity Board (LAOB) to administer a new Land Access and Opportunity Fund, funded partly by cannabis tax revenue. The bill requires the Department of Taxes to submit an annual affordable housing tax report and establishes a Land Security Working Group. It directs the fund to provide down payment assistance for homeownership (including for farmland access), technical support for BIPOC developers, and grants for community-led housing projects like land trusts. The bill directly affects Vermonters facing housing affordability challenges, particularly disadvantaged communities and people with developmental disabilities, by aiming to expand access to land and housing resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 832: An act relating to fourth-class licenses and retail alcoholic beverage tasting permits

This bill (H.832) amends Vermont's licensing laws for alcohol manufacturers and tasting events. It allows licensed manufacturers to sell products from up to five other Vermont manufacturers at their fourth-class license locations (capped at 10 locations total), requiring purchases on invoice. It also shortens the application deadline for retail tasting events from five days to one day prior to the event. The changes directly affect alcohol manufacturers, rectifiers, and businesses hosting tasting events by expanding product availability and simplifying event planning. (Citations: 7 V.S.A. § 224(c)(1) & § 255(a)(1))

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 812: An act relating to data loyalty

Vermont's H.812, the "Vermont Duty of Data Loyalty Act," requires businesses (called "covered entities") to handle consumer personal data responsibly by limiting how they store, share, or sell it. It directly affects Vermont consumers and businesses that collect personal data, excluding small businesses, government agencies, and employee data from its scope. Key provisions define "covered data" (information identifying individuals), prohibit selling data for cross-context behavioral advertising without consent, and create a "duty of data loyalty" for covered entities. The law aims to strengthen privacy protections by regulating data practices while specifying what data types and business types are excluded from coverage.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 827: An act relating to flooding disclosures when conveying real estate

This Vermont bill (H 827) updates real estate disclosure requirements for flood history. It requires sellers to inform buyers whether a property experienced flooding during their ownership, but adds an exception: sellers who never lived on the property may provide written notice stating they cannot confirm flooding history due to not residing there. The bill does not change existing requirements for sellers who know about flooding or for disclosing flood insurance status and FEMA flood maps. It directly affects residential real estate sellers who are non-resident owners. The law takes effect upon passage.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 825: An act relating to zoning for construction of wheelchair ramps

This bill (H.825) simplifies the process for property owners to install wheelchair ramps by removing the requirement to submit a zoning permit application. It directly affects property owners seeking to make accessibility improvements and the municipal panels that review development projects. The key provision requires these panels to allow ramp construction without permits and mandates they receive training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it relates to zoning. This change aims to reduce barriers for accessible home modifications while ensuring local officials understand ADA compliance.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 834: An act relating to traffic calming measures for village centers and pedestrian and bicycle safety

This bill allows Vermont municipalities to set speed limits below 25 mph in downtowns, village centers, and "thickly settled districts" (areas with closely spaced buildings over a quarter-mile stretch). It prohibits parking within a specific distance of crosswalks but permits vehicle unloading or bicycle/scooter parking nearby. The bill also restricts using center turn lanes to pass vehicles and requires studies on improving bike/pedestrian infrastructure and converting state highways to lower-speed "class 1 town highways." These changes directly affect local governments, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in communities with designated village centers or dense development areas.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Bill results