Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 28, 2025

H 496: An act relating to continuing care retirement communities

H 496 requires Vermont's Agency of Human Services to assess whether increasing continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in the state's designated growth centers would improve services for seniors. The study must examine healthcare access for elders, expand housing options, enhance social opportunities, and evaluate walkable/transit-friendly community design. It specifically focuses on how CCRCs could support smart growth, infill development, and accessible public spaces. The bill, referred to the Human Services Committee on March 28, 2025, does not change existing law but mandates this review. The assessment will inform potential future policy decisions regarding senior housing and community planning.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 28, 2025

H 495: An act relating to the consideration of consolidated school district boundaries using existing regional structures

H 495 requires Vermont school districts to consider existing regional structures - such as counties, superintendent regions, school board associations, career education regions, and transportation districts - when drawing new consolidated district boundaries. This affects all Vermont school districts undergoing consolidation, aiming to encourage community schools, climate resiliency, workforce development, and alignment with the State Emergency Management Plan. The bill also clarifies which decisions remain local (district/community level) and which require state-level coordination, including collaboration with Vermont State University. It does not fund new programs but changes how boundary decisions are made during consolidation efforts.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 27, 2025

S 135: An act relating to credit card fees and requiring the acceptance of cash

This Vermont bill (S.135) prohibits credit card companies from charging merchants fees on the tax or gratuity portion of a transaction and requires retailers to accept cash for all purchases under $500. It directly affects merchants, who must report tax and gratuity amounts during payment processing to avoid fees, and consumers, who gain guaranteed cash payment options for smaller purchases. Key mechanisms include mandating that payment networks exclude tax/gratuity from interchange fees and allowing merchants to correct reporting errors within 30 days. Violations carry $1,000 penalties per transaction, and the law takes effect July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 27, 2025

S 134: An act relating to municipal regulation of private airstrips

This bill clarifies that Vermont municipalities can regulate private airstrips (referred to as "restricted landing areas") through zoning laws. It creates an Aviation Advisory Council with diverse members - including pilots, community representatives, and environmental experts - to advise on aviation policy, safety, and community impacts. The bill also requires the Agency of Transportation to track and publicly share flight data (including aircraft type, time, and location) at state-owned airports on a quarterly basis. These changes directly affect municipalities managing land use, aviation users, and the public seeking transparency about airport operations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 25, 2025

S 132: An act relating to annual reporting on health care sharing plans and arrangements

S 132 requires health care sharing plans operating in Vermont without insurance authorization to submit detailed annual reports to the Commissioner of Financial Regulation starting October 2025. These reports must include participant numbers (individuals, households, employers), financial data (fees collected, reimbursements processed), provider contracts, marketing materials, and third-party relationships. The Commissioner will summarize this information and post it publicly each year. This directly affects non-insurance health sharing organizations serving Vermont residents. The bill creates a transparency mechanism for oversight, not new coverage rules.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 25, 2025

S 133: An act relating to land use, housing, and brownfields

S 133 streamlines housing development by modifying municipal zoning rules to allow additional dwelling units on single parcels and requiring industrial zones converted to residential to accommodate at least five units per acre. It clarifies "served by municipal sewer and water infrastructure" to identify areas where housing expansions are permitted, excluding flood zones and certain protected areas. The bill mandates reports by 2026 on inclusionary zoning tools and minimal construction design standards to simplify permitting. It also exempts small sawmills (producing ≤3.5 million board feet annually) from certain permit requirements and updates Act 250 land use planning processes.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 25, 2025

H 492: An act relating to animal cruelty crimes and penalties

This bill (H.492) requires anyone convicted of animal cruelty or aggravated animal cruelty to surrender all animals they own and bans them from owning animals in the future. It also introduces "coercive control" as a factor, meaning individuals who commit or threaten animal cruelty to influence a domestic abuse victim may face additional criminal penalties. The bill directly affects convicted animal abusers and those using animal cruelty as a tactic in domestic violence situations. Key provisions include mandatory animal surrender for offenders and enhanced penalties for using animal cruelty to control domestic abuse victims. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 21, 2025

S 130: An act relating to expanding the National Guard Tuition Benefit Program

S 130 expands Vermont's National Guard Tuition Benefit Program to cover graduate degrees and second bachelor's degrees for eligible members. It directly affects Vermont National Guard members pursuing these advanced credentials at Vermont institutions or approved non-Vermont schools with no Vermont equivalent. Key provisions require members to complete a two-year service commitment for each year of benefit received, with repayment required if they fail to fulfill this commitment or leave the Guard without good cause. The program continues to cover in-state tuition rates at Vermont schools and maintains existing eligibility requirements like academic progress and prior use of federal military education benefits.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 20, 2025

H 490: An act relating to incentivizing community service sentencing in certain cases

H 490 would reduce the required community service hours for individuals convicted of a second impaired driving offense under Vermont law. It specifically targets people sentenced for a second offense under 23 V.S.A. § 1210(c), aiming to make community service a more appealing sentencing option compared to jail time. The bill cites Vermont’s Restorative Justice Policy (28 V.S.A. § 2a) as justification, arguing aligning the hours encourages community service use. It also references Department of Corrections data to measure potential impacts on incarceration rates, though the bill itself only changes the sentencing requirement.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 20, 2025

S 129: An act relating to the regulation of virtual-currency kiosk operators

S 129 regulates virtual-currency kiosk operators in Vermont by setting daily transaction limits ($1,000 for new customers, $5,000 for existing customers), capping fees at $5 or 15% of transaction value, and requiring mandatory risk disclosures about virtual currency volatility, lack of government backing, and irreversible transactions. It mandates licensing for operators, prohibits new kiosks from operating before July 1, 2025 (except existing ones), and requires operators to verify third-party compliance. The bill directly affects kiosk businesses handling virtual currency transactions, ensuring consumer protections through transparency and financial safeguards. A commissioner must report by January 2025 on whether these rules sufficiently prevent fraud, referencing federal oversight recommendations.

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 19, 2025

H 486: An act relating to homestead declarations and the property tax credit

This bill extends the deadline for filing homestead declarations and offers relief for late submissions. It raises the household income limit for qualifying for the property tax credit and increases the amount of land value considered when calculating the credit amount. These changes directly affect Vermont homeowners who file homestead declarations to access property tax relief. The bill simplifies eligibility by making it easier to qualify for the credit through higher income thresholds and expanded land value inclusion. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 19, 2025

S 128: An act relating to eliminating certain exemptions from the minimum wage and overtime, including the tipped minimum wage; increasing the minimum wage; and requiring that inmates receive the minimum wage for work performed

This Vermont bill increases the state's minimum wage to $25.00 per hour starting January 1, 2026, with annual adjustments tied to inflation, and eliminates the lower "tipped minimum wage" that previously allowed hospitality workers (like servers in restaurants) to be paid less than the standard rate if tips covered the difference. It also requires inmates in Vermont correctional facilities to be paid at least the minimum wage for all work performed, with wages held in a separate fund and subject to limited deductions for maintenance or victim payments. The bill directly affects most Vermont workers - particularly tipped employees in hotels, motels, and restaurants - and inmates in state correctional facilities. The new minimum wage takes effect January 1, 2026, and corrections policies must align by that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results