Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 404: An act relating to authority over the highways of the Village of Old Bennington

This bill (H.404) repeals Section 3 of 1959 Acts and Resolves No. 300, which currently prohibits the Village of Old Bennington from transferring highway authority to the Town of Bennington. It removes the restriction that prevents Village voters from selecting road commissioners at Town meetings and eliminates the Town road commissioner’s lack of authority over Village highways. The bill directly affects the Village of Old Bennington and the Town of Bennington by enabling the Village to formally transfer responsibility for maintaining its local roads to the Town. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 413: An act relating to use of illuminating lights and visibility of taillights

This bill (H 413) requires drivers in Vermont to turn on headlights when windshield wipers are used continuously due to weather conditions (like rain, snow, or fog) that reduce visibility, in addition to existing rules for nighttime driving. It also mandates that all vehicles' taillights must be visible from 300 feet behind the vehicle, with specific rules about not obstructing this visibility. Violations carry a $200 civil penalty but do not affect driving records. The law applies to all vehicle operators on Vermont highways and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 416: An act relating to the regulation of kratom products

This bill requires Vermont businesses selling kratom products to register them with the Department of Health and comply with safety and labeling rules. It bans kratom products that are attractive to children, contain synthetic materials, are combustible or injectable, or mix with certain dangerous compounds. Businesses must provide safety testing results, clear labels warning against use by minors/pregnant people, and detailed usage instructions. The law directly affects kratom processors, distributors, and retailers operating in Vermont.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 408: An act relating to State purchasing of local food

This bill requires Vermont state institutions and universities to prioritize purchasing Vermont-grown food when prices are comparable to non-local options. Specifically, state agencies must buy local food unless it costs more than 10% than non-Vermont agricultural products. It applies to all state agencies, universities, and colleges purchasing food, defining "local" as food grown or produced within Vermont. The policy aims to support Vermont farms and strengthen local food systems through concrete procurement rules.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 422: An act relating to testing of groundwater samples from contaminated sites at the State Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory

H 422 requires groundwater testing at contaminated sites (where hazardous materials were released) to be conducted at Vermont's State Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory, unless the lab cannot perform the tests or private lab testing would save significant costs (approved by the Secretary of Natural Resources). This affects site owners who pay for monitoring and the Secretary of Natural Resources, who must enforce the testing requirement. The bill aims to lower monitoring costs by prioritizing state lab testing, preventing post-closure funds from being exhausted. It applies to sites requiring groundwater monitoring under state law.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 418: An act relating to an excise tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition

This bill imposes an 11% excise tax on the retail sale of firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition in Vermont. Licensed firearm dealers and ammunition vendors must collect the tax at the point of sale (during background checks) and remit it quarterly to the state. The tax applies to all retail transactions except those exempt under Vermont law, such as transfers to law enforcement or immediate family members. Revenue from the tax will be deposited into the Domestic and Sexual Violence Special Fund, which supports victim services. The tax takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 411: An act relating to public safety

H 411 updates Vermont's public safety laws with several key changes. It extends extradition timelines to 120 days for individuals violating bail, probation, or parole in another state, and mandates a minimum five-year prison sentence for high-risk sex offenders who fail to comply with registry requirements. The bill restricts judges from using alternative sentences for repeat offenders or those violating probation without written justification, and changes the process for sealing criminal records to make sealing standard for most completed sentences with limited access for criminal justice and licensing purposes. Additionally, it transfers juvenile case jurisdiction for certain offenses from the Family Division to the Criminal Division and repeals a law that had raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 19.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 412: An act relating to land use and housing development

This bill modifies Vermont's land use regulations to encourage housing development, primarily affecting developers and municipalities. Key provisions include creating an exemption for "priority housing projects" (mixed-income housing in designated downtowns, growth centers, or neighborhoods with required infrastructure) and defining "mixed use" development requiring at least 40% residential space. It also revises rules for road construction to prevent fragmentation of natural resource areas while allowing clustered housing designs. These changes aim to streamline approvals for housing in specific zones without altering broader conservation protections.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 421: An act relating to the authority to create a regional council of governments

This bill requires Vermont's regional planning commissions to establish regional councils of governments by July 1, 2027, through agreements with their member municipalities. These councils, composed of elected municipal officials, will coordinate shared services like emergency management, waste disposal, economic development, and regional planning across participating towns. The councils may receive state/federal funding, hire staff, and coordinate intermunicipal projects but cannot assume essential powers like taxation or eminent domain. The bill also sets a deadline for the state to develop a process for determining council structures and membership.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 419: An act relating to the City of Barre tax increment financing district

This bill extends two key deadlines for Barre's tax increment financing (TIF) district. It delays the city's deadline for incurring new debt related to the district from March 2026 to March 2028, and extends the period during which the city can retain tax increments (future tax increases above a base level) until June 2039. The TIF mechanism allows Barre to use projected future tax growth from a designated area to fund current development or infrastructure projects within that district. The extension directly affects the City of Barre's ability to manage its TIF district finances and project timelines.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 414: An act relating to the Vermont Commission on Aging

H.414 establishes the Vermont Commission on Aging within the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living to coordinate policies and services for Vermonters aging. The commission, composed of 16 members including state agency heads, public advocates, aging adults from diverse backgrounds, and representatives from key committees, reviews aging-related policies and recommends improvements. It must annually report to the legislature on services for aging Vermonters, including disaggregated data on race, gender, location, and disability. The bill appropriates $155,000 for the commission’s initial operations, including hiring a Director of Aging to lead its work.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 415: An act relating to Franklin County Field Days

H.415 provides $350,000 for purchasing land and $350,000 for relocating existing fair structures from the Franklin County State Airport to support the Franklin County Field Days agricultural fair. The bill directly funds the Franklin County Field Days agricultural fair association for land acquisition and physical relocation costs. It appropriates these funds from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026, effective July 1, 2025. The bill focuses solely on providing specific grant funding for infrastructure needs of the fair association.

Bill results