Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 761: An act relating to prohibiting the electronic issuance of temporary motor vehicle registrations and number plates

H 761 prohibits the electronic issuance of temporary motor vehicle registrations and number plates in Vermont. It repeals the existing provision (23 V.S.A. § 518) that allowed electronic temporary plates and amends display requirements to mandate physical plates for temporary registrations. This directly affects Vermont drivers who need temporary plates for vehicles (e.g., during new purchases or relocation), requiring them to receive physical plates instead of digital alternatives. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and focuses solely on the method of issuance without altering other registration rules.

Topics ✗ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 766: An act relating to a local option tax on gasoline and diesel sales

H.766 would allow Vermont municipalities to impose a local tax of $0.01 per gallon on gasoline and diesel fuel sales, collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Municipalities would need voter approval through a majority vote at a public meeting to adopt the tax, which would generate revenue for general municipal services (not education). The bill specifies that 75% of collected revenue would go directly to the municipality where the tax was collected, after covering administrative costs. This option is limited to five new municipalities per year, requiring certification by the Commissioner of Taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 767: An act relating to moratoria on climate change programs

H.767 proposes a temporary eight-year pause on several key climate change programs in Vermont, including the Renewable Energy Standard (requiring 100% renewable electricity by 2030), the Clean Heat Standard, and the Global Warming Solutions Act. The bill would halt enforcement of these laws, directly affecting Vermont residents (particularly low- and moderate-income households facing energy costs), utilities, and landowners subject to current regulations. Its key mechanism is a moratorium to evaluate the combined impacts of these programs on housing affordability, energy costs, and private property rights. The bill states this pause is necessary to balance environmental goals with economic realities before continuing implementation.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 773: An act relating to property tax sales for property that is abandoned or unfit for human habitation

This bill allows Vermont municipalities to sell properties at tax sale for delinquent taxes below the usual $1,500 minimum if a court confirms the property is abandoned and the dwelling is unfit for human habitation. It directly affects towns seeking to clear neglected properties and owners of such properties. The key change requires municipalities to obtain a court order verifying abandonment and uninhabitability before proceeding with a sale for debts under $1,500, replacing the current threshold. This process aims to address blighted properties while providing due process through court validation.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 768: An act relating to consumer protections related to the towing and storage of vehicles

H.768 creates the "Vermont Consumer Protection Towing Act" to establish minimum standards for towing and storage companies operating in Vermont. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to regulate towing companies, set up a consumer complaint system, and prohibit solicitation at crash scenes. It specifically mandates that net proceeds from selling abandoned vehicles must be distributed to owners through the state’s unclaimed property system. The law directly affects vehicle owners (especially those with abandoned vehicles), towing companies, and storage lots, while excluding automobile clubs, dealers, and insurance companies from its regulations.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 300: An act relating to screening for fentanyl during a hospital-administered urine drug screening

This bill requires Vermont hospitals to include fentanyl testing in any urine drug screening conducted to diagnose a patient's condition. It directly affects licensed hospitals and their patients, mandating that fentanyl be tested alongside other drugs during standard diagnostic screenings. The bill also prohibits hospitals from sharing fentanyl screening results with law enforcement without a warrant or subpoena, and provides legal immunity for hospitals following this rule. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 296: An act relating to development agreements for tax increment financing

This bill requires developers using tax increment financing (TIF) for municipal projects to provide specific financial guarantees to protect municipalities. Developers must guarantee that project tax increments will cover the municipality's debt payments for the project's duration, backed by security like letters of credit or bonds. Additionally, developers must include at least one extra protection - such as property value safeguards, project continuity measures, or equity arrangements - in their agreements. These rules apply to all TIF projects, including housing developments under the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, ensuring municipalities have financial recourse if developers fail to meet obligations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 760: An act relating to the Vermont Green FC license plate

H 760 creates a new "Vermont Green FC" license plate for eligible vehicles (pleasure cars, trucks under 26,001 pounds, and state agency vehicles), requiring a $45 initial fee and $45 annual renewal. The majority of these fees (77% initially, 84% annually) will fund a new Vermont Green FC Special Fund. This fund will provide grants to support environmental justice and Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy, managed by a board including state officials and representatives from the Vermont Green Football Club and the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 763: An act relating to how to count certain offenders for the purpose of periodic reapportionment of districts for the General Assembly

H 763 (Vermont House Bill) changes how incarcerated individuals are counted for redistricting. It requires Vermont’s Department of Corrections to track offenders’ pre-incarceration addresses and share this data with the Legislative Apportionment Board before each census. The Board must then adjust population counts so that incarcerated people are counted at their home address (not the prison location) when redrawing voting districts for the state legislature. This applies to all offenders except those serving life sentences without parole, who remain counted at the prison location. The bill aims to ensure districts reflect where people actually live, not where they are imprisoned.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 302: An act relating to limiting the collection of personally identifying information

S.302 prohibits Vermont public agencies from collecting or disclosing certain personally identifying information, including immigration status and religious affiliation, unless required by federal law. It specifically bans using state resources to assist federal registration programs based on such data and requires agencies continuing to collect immigration information to explain why by December 2026. The bill affects all state and local government entities, including police, schools, and social services, by restricting how they handle sensitive personal data. It includes exceptions for compliance with federal laws like 8 U.S.C. §§ 1373 and 1644, and permits sharing aggregated, non-identifiable data. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 765: An act relating to qualified mental health professionals

H.765 expands Vermont's definition of "qualified mental health professional" to include licensed clinical mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychoanalysts, and other specific licensed practitioners (such as advanced practice nurses and psychologists), removing the prior requirement that they must be employed by designated agencies. This directly affects mental health providers who can now qualify under the law for roles like emergency examinations and court testimony. The bill modifies statutes to allow these expanded professionals to perform duties previously restricted to a narrower group, such as applying for emergency warrants and providing expert testimony. It does not change eligibility for patient services but broadens who can provide certain legally defined mental health services.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

HCR 171: House concurrent resolution honoring Professor Emeritus Willard Sterne Randall for his significant contributions to journalism and to the scholarly advancement of American historical biography

This concurrent resolution (HCR 171) formally honors Professor Emeritus Willard Sterne Randall for his career in journalism and historical scholarship. It recognizes his work as a journalist for major publications, his academic contributions as a history professor (including at the University of Vermont), and his award-winning biographies of figures like Hamilton and Washington. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, directing the Secretary of State to send a copy to Professor Randall. It does not affect any laws, regulations, or individuals beyond this symbolic recognition.

Bill results