Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 444: An act relating to unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation

This bill (H 444) proposes technical corrections to modernize Vermont's unemployment insurance and workers' compensation systems. It aims to streamline operations, resolve minor issues in existing laws, and update the state's unemployment insurance IT system. The changes directly affect how Vermont administers unemployment benefits and workers' compensation claims through improved processes and technology. The bill focuses on operational updates rather than new policy changes.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 427: An act relating to medical malpractice actions

H 427 establishes caps on damages in medical malpractice cases: $250,000 for pain/suffering when suing an individual provider, $500,000 for entities, and $500,000 for wrongful death claims. It also creates mandatory pretrial screening panels consisting of a retired judge, an attorney, and a healthcare professional to review claims before trial. These panels aim to identify meritorious claims early for faster resolution and nonmeritorious claims for withdrawal, with confidential proceedings until trial if unresolved. The bill directly affects patients filing malpractice suits, healthcare providers, and insurers by changing how claims are processed and compensated.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 455: An act relating to State observance of Juneteenth

Vermont's H.455 adds Juneteenth (June 19) as a state legal holiday, requiring all state departments, agencies, and offices to close on that day. The bill amends Vermont law to list Juneteenth as a designated holiday under the state's legal holidays statute (§ 371(a)(6)). It specifically mandates that state offices close for Juneteenth observance, with compensation for work performed on the holiday to follow existing collective bargaining agreements. This change affects only state government operations, not private businesses or individuals.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 434: An act relating to requiring covenants on conservation lands funded by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board

H 434 requires conservation lands purchased with Vermont Housing and Conservation Board funds to include specific land management rules. It mandates that these lands allow hunting, trapping, and fishing under state law, maintain existing trail connectivity and length, replace removed trails with equivalent sections, preserve existing recreational infrastructure, and permit timber harvesting as a management practice. The bill directly affects landowners and organizations receiving Board funding for conservation purchases. These requirements become effective July 1, 2025, ensuring public access and recreational use aligns with the Board's funding purpose.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 28, 2025

S 101: An act relating to revoking Vermont’s use of California’s Clean Air Act waiver

This bill (S 101) prohibits Vermont from adopting California’s stricter vehicle emission standards under the Clean Air Act. It amends Vermont law to explicitly ban the use of California’s waiver for new motor vehicle emissions rules, requiring the state to follow federal baseline standards instead. The bill repeals Vermont’s existing Low Emission Vehicle and Zero Emission Vehicle Rules and updates climate planning requirements to exclude California standards. It directly affects auto manufacturers selling in Vermont and Vermont’s environmental regulations, taking effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 432: An act relating to health insurance coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices

This bill would require Vermont health insurance plans to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices at least as comprehensively as Medicare does. It mandates coverage for medically necessary devices that meet specific criteria, including those needed for daily activities (like bathing, running, or strength training), with providers determining appropriateness. Insurers must also report claims data on these devices to the state for 2026-2028 and cannot deny coverage based on disability. The bill directly affects Vermont residents needing these devices and requires insurers to avoid annual/lifetime dollar limits or unfavorable cost-sharing for coverage.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 431: An act relating to expanding access to catastrophic health plans

This bill requires Vermont's Agency of Human Services to seek a federal waiver by January 1, 2026, to expand eligibility for catastrophic health insurance plans to Vermont residents under age 40. Currently, these plans typically only cover people under 30, so this would allow younger adults (up to age 39) to access them. The waiver request is needed because federal law restricts catastrophic plan eligibility to those under 30, and Vermont seeks to override this limit. The bill is currently under review by the Health Care Committee after its first reading on February 28, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 447: An act relating to rabies vaccination certificate requirements for domestic pet or wolf-hybrid licensure

This bill requires owners of dogs and wolf-hybrids over six months old to provide a current rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian to their municipal clerk when applying for or renewing an annual license. The certificate must include the veterinarian's signature, owner's name and address, animal details (species, breed, age), and vaccine expiration date. Veterinarians must submit a list of rabies vaccinations to the clerk every 30 days. Municipal clerks will maintain these records, and owners must keep a copy to present to officials upon request, effective July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 435: An act relating to establishing penalties for keeping or maintaining a common nuisance

This bill (H 435) amends Vermont law to impose civil penalties for property owners who allow premises to be used for illegal drug activity. It adds a $50 daily civil penalty for maintaining such "common nuisances," creates a private right to sue for damages (including punitive damages for intentional violations), and allows the Attorney General, state's attorneys, or municipalities to seek court injunctions to stop the activity. The bill directly affects property owners, landlords, and businesses whose locations are used for drug use, keeping, or sale, and it expands enforcement tools without changing criminal penalties for drug sales. The changes apply to properties "resorted to by persons for using, keeping, or selling regulated drugs" as defined in the amended statute (18 V.S.A. § 4222).

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 449: An act relating to setting the date of biennial party caucuses

This bill changes when Vermont political party caucuses must occur, allowing them to be held on any day in September (instead of between September 10-30) for odd-numbered years. It also clarifies that county party chairs can call special caucuses in towns that fail to hold a caucus on the state-designated date. The bill affects all Vermont political parties and their local town meetings, making scheduling more flexible for party organizers. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 452: An act relating to decriminalization of psilocybin-containing mushrooms and the establishment of the Psilocybin Therapeutic Consultation Program

H 452 proposes to decriminalize the personal possession, cultivation, and noncommercial use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms for adults aged 21 and older in Vermont. It establishes the Psilocybin Therapeutic Consultation Program to create a regulated framework for therapeutic use. Licensed health providers (including mental health professionals, physicians, and nurse practitioners) would undergo certified training to offer initial evaluations, guided sessions in safe environments, and post-session support. The program aims to develop education and safety protocols for psilocybin use under state law, though the bill is currently pending review by the Human Services Committee.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 438: An act relating to exempting sales of building materials and supplies from sales and use tax for priority housing projects

This bill would create a new sales tax exemption for building materials and supplies used in constructing "priority housing projects" as defined in Vermont law. It directly affects construction companies and developers building qualifying housing projects by eliminating the state sales tax on materials like lumber, drywall, and roofing. The exemption applies to all materials consumed during construction, including those physically incorporated into the building. The change would take effect on July 1, 2025, and requires vendors to maintain records of exempt sales.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Bill results