This bill appropriates $143,000 from the General Fund to the Agency of Natural Resources for a grant to the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). The funds will cover GMEDC's costs to reinitiate brownfields redevelopment at the Upper Valley Regional Landfill in Post Mills, Thetford, specifically for a probate proceeding to appoint GMEDC as administrator. This facilitates transferring the landfill site to new ownership for redevelopment. The grant is for fiscal year 2027 and directly affects GMEDC and the landfill site's future use.
H.756 shortens the notice period landlords must give tenants for termination based on criminal activity, drug use, human trafficking, or violence from 30 days to 7 days. It requires landlords to notify housing authorities within 48 hours when terminating a tenant receiving housing assistance, and to alert law enforcement "as soon as practicable" about suspected human trafficking. The bill also mandates defendants in eviction cases respond to complaints within 5 business days and allows expedited hearings for cases involving suspected criminal activity. Additionally, it increases maximum penalties for human trafficking and drug violations in dwellings to 10 years in prison or $500,000 fines, and creates a landlord assistance program for financial support.
This bill increases Vermont's minimum wage to $18.60 per hour starting July 1, 2026, based on the state's defined "livable wage" (the hourly rate needed for a full-time worker in shared housing with employer health coverage to cover basic needs). Future annual increases will be set at the smaller of 5% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) change from the previous year, rounded to the nearest cent. It directly affects all employers in Vermont who pay the minimum wage, including businesses with low-wage workers across sectors like retail, hospitality, and agriculture. The change replaces the current $12.55 minimum wage and aligns future adjustments with inflation data.
This bill prohibits Vermont businesses from spreading false or misleading advertisements to consumers. It requires all ads to be written in clear, easy-to-understand language that is prominently displayed. The law aligns with federal standards under the FTC Act and gives Vermont's Attorney General authority to create rules for enforcement. It directly affects any business running advertisements in Vermont, including those in real estate transactions.
H 752 requires Vermont's Agency of Digital Services to annually review all state government computer systems that make decisions (like benefits or permits) for cybersecurity risks and personal data vulnerabilities. The bill amends state law (sections 3303 and 3305) to mandate that the Agency's annual inventory of these systems include assessments of privacy risks and cybersecurity safeguards. If a system is found to pose significant risks, the Agency can formally request that state agencies terminate its use. This directly affects all Vermont state departments using automated decision systems that process personal data or make government decisions.
H.754 establishes stricter penalties for repeat violent offenders, requiring a mandatory minimum three-year prison term (with no parole or early release) for a third felony crime of violence conviction. It increases penalties for assaults against protected professionals (including police, firefighters, healthcare workers, and emergency personnel), with second offenses carrying up to 10 years in prison and aggravated assaults up to seven years. The bill also mandates that victims be notified and allowed to speak at plea hearings or sentencing regarding their views on the crime and restitution. These provisions directly affect defendants convicted of violent crimes, protected professionals, and victims in Vermont criminal cases.
Vermont's H.742 would require the state to create a program providing free legal representation to people detained in Vermont during federal immigration proceedings. The program, managed by the Office of Defender General with two staff attorneys, would specifically assist "covered individuals" who are Vermont residents or detained in Vermont for immigration enforcement. It mandates funding for legal services including support staff, expert consultants, and social services to help immigrants navigate complex immigration court cases. This policy aims to address the current reality where most detained immigrants lack legal help, which significantly reduces their chances of winning release or relief from deportation.
H.758 would ban the use and sale of all rodenticides in Vermont, including first- and second-generation anticoagulants (like warfarin) and nonanticoagulants (like bromethalin). This prohibition applies to all residents and commercial applicators, covering both physical and online sales. The bill allows limited exemptions for agricultural emergencies, environmental crises, or public health risks when no alternative pest control methods exist. It directly affects anyone who uses or sells rodenticides in Vermont, aiming to protect humans, pets, and wildlife from poisoning risks documented in the bill’s findings.
H.747, the "No Secret Police Act," requires all Vermont local, state, and federal law enforcement officers to visibly display their agency name and either their name or badge number during public interactions. It prohibits wearing masks or disguises that conceal identity, except for specific safety-related exceptions like medical masks, fire operations, or declared weather emergencies. Law enforcement agencies must create and publicly post written policies ensuring compliance with these identification standards. The bill aims to promote transparency and trust between officers and the public during routine engagements.
This bill sets new conservation targets for Vermont: requiring 30% of the state's land to be conserved by 2030 and 50% by 2050, including public, private, and federal lands. It replaces previous conservation goals with these specific targets and mandates biennial updates to a public land conservation inventory. Key mechanisms include requiring resource mapping of forest blocks and habitat connectors to guide development decisions, and updating rules to minimize forest fragmentation while supporting agricultural and historic land uses. The bill directly affects landowners, developers, and conservation groups by changing how land use permits are reviewed and how conservation progress is tracked. These changes aim to align development with ecological goals under Vermont's Act 250 land use framework.
This bill would ban corporate political action committees (PACs) from spending money in Vermont state elections. It directly affects corporations that fund political committees, preventing them from using those funds to influence state-level races. The prohibition applies specifically to spending in state elections, not federal or local contests, and would require corporate PACs to cease such activities under Vermont law. The bill does not address individual donations or non-corporate PACs.
H.737 amends Vermont's Act 250 land use law to clarify that constructing roads for property access counts as "development" under the law, but exempts state/municipal roads, utility corridors, and roads primarily used for farming or forestry. It also revises the definition of "Tier 3" areas (critical natural resources zones) to require justification for housing development there, unless a town plan already designates land for housing with evidence of minimal environmental harm. The bill mandates the Land Use Review Board to create rules by July 2027 on how municipalities can object to road projects near roads or agricultural land. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026, with the key definition change delayed until December 31, 2026. These changes directly affect developers, municipalities, and landowners seeking to build housing or infrastructure near natural resources or roads.
