Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 442: An act relating to the expedited issuance of professional licenses for practicing, qualified out-of-state applicants

This bill creates a new process for Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation to issue licenses more quickly to out-of-state professionals who have practiced continuously for three years in a jurisdiction that does not require similar licensing for their profession. It directly affects qualified applicants from other states or territories without equivalent licensing systems, provided they meet Vermont's standard qualifications and criminal background requirements. The law amends state code to establish this expedited pathway, effective September 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 450: An act relating to prohibiting the appointment of interested parties to a recount committee

This bill requires candidates in contested elections to nominate at least 10 disinterested individuals for recount committees, rather than allowing courts to appoint candidates' allies. It prohibits courts from appointing anyone with a direct relationship to candidates or financial stake in the election outcome. The law defines "disinterested" as individuals not related to candidates, their subordinates, or sharing their financial interests. This applies to all statewide and local elections requiring recounts, ensuring committee members have no personal stake in the election result. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 28, 2025

S 98: An act relating to miscellaneous changes to election law

This bill (S.98) makes several key changes to Vermont's election laws. It requires automatic voter registration when people apply for state services like Reach Ahead (e.g., SNAP), with an option to opt out, and allows 16-year-olds to preregister to vote (voting at 18). It raises campaign finance reporting thresholds from $500 to $1,000 for candidates and political committees, adds penalties for late filings, and mandates employers provide four hours of paid leave for statewide elections. These changes directly affect voters, state agencies, political candidates, and employers across Vermont.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 28, 2025

S 99: An act relating to analyzing benefits cliffs within Vermont’s public assistance benefits’ structure

This bill requires Vermont's Agency of Human Services to analyze "benefits cliffs" in public assistance programs by November 2025. It mandates a report inventorying all public assistance programs, analyzing how increased earnings affect total household resources (including taxes and benefits), and proposing solutions to eliminate situations where earning more reduces net income. The report will directly inform policymakers about barriers affecting Vermonters receiving public assistance who face reduced benefits when their earnings rise slightly. It does not change existing programs but sets a deadline for studying these structural issues to support future policy decisions. The bill is currently pending in the Health and Welfare Committee.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 28, 2025

S 102: An act relating to land use and housing development

This bill amends Vermont's land use laws to streamline housing development in designated areas. It creates an exemption for "priority housing projects" (like mixed-income residential buildings) located within designated downtowns, growth centers, or neighborhood development areas, allowing construction without full Act 250 review if completed by 2035. The bill also clarifies that new road construction over 800 feet in length requires review, while routine maintenance of existing roads does not. These changes directly affect developers, municipalities, and residents in areas with designated growth zones, aiming to encourage denser, transit-oriented housing near existing infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 437: An act relating to establishing a study committee to examine universal design standards for residential buildings

H 437 creates a 22-member study committee to examine statewide universal design standards for residential buildings in Vermont. The committee, including representatives from builders, architects, disability advocacy groups, housing agencies, and industry associations, will analyze existing accessibility laws (like the ADA), best practices, industry challenges, costs, and enforcement issues. It will assess how universal design - making homes accessible to people with disabilities - could impact the housing market, construction industry, and building valuation. The committee must submit a report with findings and recommendations to legislators by November 1, 2025, but the bill itself does not establish new standards or require changes to building codes.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 441: An act relating to amending the prohibitions against harassment in schools

H 441 amends Vermont's school harassment law to remove the requirement that harassment must be "severe or pervasive" to be unlawful. It defines harassment as conduct based on protected characteristics (like race, gender identity, or disability) that objectively undermines a student's education or creates a hostile environment - even from a single incident. The law specifies that schools must consider all incidents together (not in isolation) and clarifies that factors like a student continuing school or not suffering physical injury no longer prevent harassment claims. This directly affects students experiencing harassment and school districts' policies for investigating and addressing such incidents.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 436: An act relating to establishing reentry facilities for persons under the custody of the Commissioner of Corrections

H 436 establishes a new system for Vermont's Department of Corrections to create reentry facilities for low-risk individuals transitioning from incarceration. The bill requires the Department to assess and place eligible people (including those awaiting trial) in these facilities based on evidence-based risk evaluations, providing transitional services like housing assistance, mental health care, and job training. It mandates annual reports tracking facility use, security levels, and services provided. The policy directly affects low-risk inmates and pretrial detainees, aiming to improve community reintegration while prioritizing public safety through structured, less restrictive housing.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 28, 2025

S 97: An act relating to creating municipal and regional civilian oversight of law enforcement

S 97 creates municipal and regional civilian oversight boards to handle complaints against local law enforcement agencies and officers in Vermont. These boards will independently investigate complaints (in addition to agency investigations), publish public reports, and make recommendations on disciplinary actions for the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to consider. The law mandates that agencies must report certain serious complaints to the oversight boards within seven business days and requires the Council to give deference to the boards' recommendations. The bill also establishes a $500,000 grant program to help municipalities implement these oversight structures. This affects all municipal police departments, sheriff's offices, and regional law enforcement agencies covered by the law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 426: An act relating to transportation initiatives to improve equity and infrastructure, increase resiliency, and reduce emissions

H.426 provides funding for electric vehicle and eBike incentive programs, including $6 million for new plug-in electric vehicle purchases and $150,000 for eBike incentives in fiscal year 2026. It imposes a $0.30 fee on retail deliveries (subject to sales tax) to generate revenue for transportation initiatives and allocates $2.8 million to public transit agencies to maintain service levels. The bill also requires updated transportation standards to include complete streets and green infrastructure, establishes rules for electric vehicle charging equipment installation, and directs evaluations of projects to reduce vehicle miles traveled and emissions. These changes directly affect vehicle buyers, retail delivery vendors, public transit agencies, and municipalities seeking infrastructure funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 445: An act relating to creating the Land Access and Opportunity Revolving Fund

H 445 creates the Land Access and Opportunity Revolving Fund to support affordable housing for historically marginalized communities in Vermont. It is funded by a 1.5% income tax surcharge on earnings above $500,000 (repealed in 2031), administered by a new Land Access and Opportunity Board. The fund provides grants or loans for tenant-owned housing purchases, multi-unit renovations, cooperative housing development, and transitional housing projects with priority for marginalized groups. Projects must align with community resource integration, sustainable design, and support for those facing homelessness, disabilities, or justice system involvement.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 433: An act relating to incremental implementation of Green Mountain Care

H 433 establishes a 10-year phased rollout of Green Mountain Care, Vermont's publicly financed health care program for all residents. It begins with universal primary care in Year 1, adds preventive dental and vision care in Year 2, and expands to additional services over the next eight years based on recommendations from the Green Mountain Care Board's Universal Health Care Advisory Group. The bill mandates that the Board verify specific criteria before implementation, including ensuring benefits have at least 80% actuarial value, maintaining economic sustainability, reducing administrative costs, and preventing duplication with existing insurance coverage. All Vermont residents are directly affected as the program aims to provide comprehensive coverage equivalent to the 2011 health care reform blueprint.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results