This bill creates new taxes on high-income Vermonters to fund school construction. It imposes a 2% surcharge on personal income above $250,000 (and 6% above $500,000) and a 4% "wealth proceeds tax" on individuals, estates, or trusts with taxable income exceeding $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It also doubles property tax rates for nonhomestead residential properties compared to homesteads. All revenue generated flows into a dedicated "School Construction Aid Special Fund" for public school infrastructure projects. The bill directly affects high earners and property owners with significant nonhomestead holdings.
H 741 requires Vermont courts to issue an arrest warrant instead of a court notice (citation) when a criminal defendant fails to appear at a scheduled hearing after being released on conditions or issued a citation by law enforcement. This applies specifically to defendants who miss court without a valid reason, directly affecting individuals charged with crimes who skip court dates. The bill changes existing procedures by mandating arrest warrants for these failures, prohibiting courts from issuing new citations to appear, and allowing warrantless arrests for related violations like travel restrictions. It aims to streamline enforcement of court attendance obligations under Vermont law.
This bill requires the state to reimburse the Department of Fish and Wildlife for lost license fee revenue starting July 1, 2026, due to legally mandated free, discounted, or exempt hunting, fishing, trapping, or combination licenses. It mandates annual accounting of lost revenue by the department and payment from the General Fund by June 30 each year, equal to the exact amount of revenue lost. The reimbursement ensures the department maintains its funding level despite required fee exemptions, directly affecting the state treasury and the department’s budget. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to all statutorily required license exemptions.
This bill establishes the Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to determine "benchmark personal use supply" limits for each regulated drug (like cannabis), aiming to reduce criminal penalties for personal use. It lowers penalties for low-level drug possession offenses to a maximum $500 fine or six months in jail (instead of felony charges) and reclassifies some drug possession violations from felonies to misdemeanors. The bill eliminates the crime of dispensing regulated drugs, except when dispensing to someone under 21 (which remains a five-year felony). For cannabis specifically, it sets civil penalties for small amounts (e.g., up to $100 for first offense) and requires court diversion for first-time possession over certain limits.
This bill (H.661) expands Vermont workers' compensation coverage for firefighters diagnosed with specific cancers. It adds larynx, pharynx, and trachea cancers to the list of covered conditions and removes the previous requirement that firefighters be under 65 years old to qualify. To be eligible, firefighters must have completed cancer screenings as recommended by the American Cancer Society before or during service, worked firefighting duties for at least five years, and not used tobacco in the 10 years prior to diagnosis. The bill affects Vermont firefighters diagnosed with covered cancers who meet these new criteria, effective July 1, 2026.
This bill allows doctors to administer psychiatric medication without a patient's consent during emergency mental health crises under strict conditions. It requires physicians to inform patients about the medication details, risks, and their right to refuse before administration, and confirms that less restrictive alternatives were considered. The medication can be given for up to 72 hours initially, with court review required within 5 business days if continued treatment is needed, and no more than 10 days without a court order. The bill applies directly to patients in mental health emergencies and the hospitals or facilities treating them, mandating detailed documentation and limiting emergency use to unavoidable situations.
H.732 establishes two new income tax brackets for higher earners in Vermont. Individuals would pay an additional 1% tax on income between $200,000-$400,000 and above $400,000, while married couples filing jointly would pay the extra rate on income between $400,000-$800,000 and above $800,000. The revenue generated would fund an expanded property tax credit specifically for Vermont households with annual income below $115,000. This directly affects high-income taxpayers through new tax rates and low-to-moderate-income households via increased credit support.
This bill (H 735) allows the Vermont Real Estate Commission to issue temporary licenses to a broker's legal representative if the broker becomes unable to work due to incapacity (e.g., illness or injury). It directly affects licensed real estate brokers who experience incapacity and their designated legal representatives. The key provision creates a process for the Commission to grant these temporary licenses, enabling the legal representative to handle the broker's pending transactions and duties without requiring a full license application. This avoids delays in closing real estate deals during the broker's temporary inability to work. The bill does not change existing licensing requirements for active brokers.
S.280 increases the property tax rate for nonhomestead residential properties (including second homes and short-term rentals) to $2.00 per $100 of property value, up from a lower rate. It also creates a new classification for nonhomestead seasonal properties (such as seasonal vacation homes), taxing them at the nonhomestead nonresidential rate. Additional revenue from the higher tax rate on nonhomestead residential properties will fund a new special school construction fund. This bill directly affects Vermont property owners who use homes as second residences or short-term rentals by raising their property tax burden.
H.730 updates Vermont's Act 250 land use law by clarifying "Tier 3" rules, which designate high-priority conservation areas (like river corridors and sensitive habitats). It requires the Land Use Review Board to define Tier 3 boundaries, explain why certain resources aren’t protected, and provide written notice to property owners in Tier 2/3 areas about upcoming rule changes. The bill also creates a de minimis construction exception (e.g., sheds under 200 sq. ft.) and temporarily exempts priority housing projects in designated downtown areas from Tier 3 rules until July 2027. These changes directly affect property owners in conservation zones, local municipalities, and developers navigating land use permits.
This bill would classify cloud computing services as public utilities in Vermont, bringing them under the regulatory oversight of the Public Utility Commission and Department of Public Service. It directly affects cloud service providers meeting specific revenue or customer thresholds (set by the Commission) and their consumers, who would benefit from regulated fair practices. Key provisions require providers to avoid unfair tactics like vendor lock-in or opaque pricing, while the Commission monitors the market to ensure reliability and security. The law aims to protect Vermont residents and businesses by applying utility-style regulations to cloud services, which the bill states are now essential to the state's economic welfare.
This bill changes how Vermont handles juvenile criminal cases by moving certain serious offenses to the Criminal Division of Superior Court instead of the Family Division. It applies to juveniles aged 14-22 for specific crimes like firearm use during felony, drug trafficking, or aggravated stalking (as listed in sections 5201(c)(3) and 5204(a)). Key provisions include prohibiting suspended sentences for repeat offenders with prior escape convictions or three felony convictions, requiring written court findings for deferred sentences, and creating a new forensic facility for certain offenders. The bill also repeals "Raise the Age" protections for 19-year-olds and establishes stricter rules for sentencing and case transfers.
