Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Apr 17, 2025

H 507: An act relating to the regulation of development in wetlands

H 507 proposes amendments to the regulation of development in wetlands, particularly Class II wetlands. The bill would reduce buffer zone requirements to 25 feet and exempt certain construction from permitting in unmapped Class II wetlands located within industrial parks, designated centers, and other approved development areas. It also amends the wetland restoration ratio from 2:1 to 1:1 for adverse effects in these same areas. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for the Secretary of Natural Resources to clarify wetlands rules regarding a net gain of wetlands and requires the Agency of Natural Resources to publish wetland guidance.

Topics ✗ Environment

introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 16, 2025

S 152: An act relating to requirements for older drivers to renew operator’s licenses

S 152 proposes new requirements for older drivers to renew their operator's licenses. The bill mandates that residents 80 years of age or older must appear in person at a Department location and pass a vision test before their license can be renewed. Additionally, residents 85 years of age or older will be required to pass a road test component of the examination for license renewal. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 15, 2025

S 151: An act relating to special motions to strike in an action arising from unpaid volunteer work for a nonprofit organization or governmental entity

S 151 creates a special legal motion allowing defendants who volunteered without pay for nonprofits or government entities to seek dismissal of baseless lawsuits against them. It requires courts to grant this motion unless the plaintiff proves the volunteer acted recklessly, outside their duties, or caused actual injury. The bill stays discovery during review, limits frivolous filings by awarding attorney fees to the winning party, and defines "uncompensated volunteer work" as services not exceeding $500/year in expense reimbursement. It directly protects volunteers, nonprofits, and government entities from lawsuits that discourage community service. The law takes effect upon passage and requires a 2026 report on its use.

introduced · Vermont · House Apr 11, 2025

H 506: An act relating to approval of the adoption of the charter of the Town of Charlotte

H 506 approves the adoption of the Town of Charlotte's charter, which was previously approved by town voters on March 4, 2025. The charter establishes Charlotte as a local government entity with the authority to enact its own ordinances and manage municipal affairs under Vermont law. It requires that changes to land use bylaws must be approved by voters at a specifically called meeting, rather than through routine town meetings. The charter also clarifies that Charlotte retains all powers granted by state law and that its provisions are cumulative with existing state statutes.

introduced · Vermont · House Apr 10, 2025

H 503: An act relating to delaying the requirements of the Advanced Clean Truck rule

H 503 would delay the implementation of Vermont's Advanced Clean Truck rule by five years, moving the effective date from model year 2031 to 2036. The rule would require heavy truck manufacturers and fleet operators in Vermont to gradually adopt zero-emission truck models. This bill directly affects commercial trucking businesses and manufacturers who would have been subject to the emissions standards starting in 2031. The key provision is simply extending the timeline for compliance without altering the rule's emissions requirements.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Apr 9, 2025

H 502: An act relating to charging for actual cost under Vermont’s Public Records Act

H.502 would change Vermont’s Public Records Act to allow public agencies to charge requesters the actual cost of staff time spent fulfilling record requests, rather than using a flat fee structure. This directly affects public agencies (like town offices or state departments) and individuals or organizations seeking public records. The key provision requires agencies to calculate and collect the precise cost of employee hours dedicated to processing each request. The bill does not alter the right to access public records but changes how fees for staff time are calculated and collected.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 147: An act relating to purchasing drugs from a person under 21 years of age

Vermont's S 147 creates a new criminal offense for knowingly purchasing regulated drugs from anyone under 21 years old. The bill directly affects individuals who buy such drugs from minors, making this action punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison in addition to other legal penalties. Key provisions define the offense as "knowingly and unlawfully" purchasing and specify the mandatory sentencing range. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all regulated drugs under Vermont law.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 148: An act relating to expanding good samaritan protections concerning immigration

This bill prohibits Vermont law enforcement agencies, officers, and their representatives from using state resources (including personnel, equipment, or funds) to assist federal immigration authorities in civil or criminal immigration investigations or proceedings. It specifically applies to situations covered by existing Vermont laws protecting healthcare providers (12 V.S.A. § 7306) and overdose reporting (18 V.S.A. § 4254), expanding those "good Samaritan" protections to immigration contexts. Exceptions allow cooperation when responding to a valid judicial warrant or investigating a crime unrelated to immigration enforcement. The law directly affects Vermont police and sheriff's departments by restricting their collaboration with federal immigration agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

introduced · Vermont · House Apr 9, 2025

H 501: An act relating to the deadline for public bodies to respond to an alleged Open Meeting Law violation

H 501 requires public bodies (like town councils or school boards) to respond within 20 business days - or at their next regular meeting, whichever comes first - after receiving a notice of an alleged Open Meeting Law violation. This bill directly affects local government entities that must comply with Vermont's Open Meeting Law. The key provision sets a clear, fixed timeline for public bodies to address complaints, aiming to improve accountability and timely resolution of violations.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 149: An act relating to indexing the gasoline and diesel fuel taxes for inflation

This bill (S 149) adjusts Vermont's gasoline and diesel fuel taxes to automatically increase annually based on inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). Starting July 1, 2028, the tax rates will rise each July 1 by the percentage change in the CPI-U from the prior 12 months (adjusted to April 1), but will not decrease if inflation is negative. It directly affects fuel distributors and consumers through higher fuel costs over time, with current rates set at $0.28 per gallon for diesel and $0.121 per gallon for gasoline. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and aims to maintain the real value of fuel tax revenue amid rising prices.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 150: An act relating to privacy protections for mobile identification and images recorded by automated traffic law enforcement systems

S.150 establishes privacy protections for Vermont residents using mobile identification (such as digital driver's licenses) and limits access to images recorded by automated traffic enforcement systems. The bill requires that when mobile ID verification occurs, only the minimal necessary data (e.g., age for a store purchase) is disclosed with the user's consent, and prohibits businesses or law enforcement from taking physical possession of the user's device. It mandates that verification systems prevent linking data to specific users and cannot retain records of who accessed an ID or when. These rules apply to all entities requesting mobile ID verification, including businesses, law enforcement, and government agencies.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 8, 2025

S 146: An act relating to transportation demand management plans

This bill requires employers with 50 or more employees in Vermont to create and implement a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan by January 1, 2026. The plan must include specific measures like telecommuting options, carpool incentives, public transit support, or staggered work hours to reduce vehicle miles traveled. Employers must consult resources such as the Agency of Transportation’s guidance, Go! Vermont, or local transit authorities when developing their plan. It directly affects large employers at their Vermont workplaces, aiming to decrease traffic congestion and vehicle emissions through structured workplace transportation policies.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Bill results