Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 325: An act relating to Vermont’s adoption of the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact

H 325 would have Vermont adopt the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, enabling school psychologists licensed in Vermont to practice in other participating states without repeating background checks, education verification, or other redundant licensing steps. This directly affects school psychologists seeking to work across state lines, particularly in states that have joined the compact, and addresses workforce shortages by streamlining mobility. The key mechanism creates "equivalent licenses" that recognize a psychologist's qualifications from their home state, while ensuring all practitioners meet each state's scope of practice and safety standards. By adopting this compact, Vermont aims to improve access to school psychological services - such as academic, mental, and behavioral health support - across member states.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 347: An act relating to expanding coverage of the minimum wage and overtime laws and maintaining the authority of the Attorney General to enforce complaints of employee misclassification

H.347 would raise Vermont's minimum wage to $20.00 per hour starting January 1, 2026, with annual adjustments based on inflation. It eliminates the current exemption for agricultural workers from overtime pay, phasing in overtime requirements over time (from 60 hours/week to 40 hours/week by 2036), and removes the separate "tipped minimum wage," requiring all tipped workers to earn at least the full minimum wage. The bill also sets a new salary threshold of $1,128,000 annually (adjusted yearly) for workers to qualify as exempt from overtime and minimum wage rules, and removes the option for subminimum wages for people with disabilities. It maintains the Attorney General's authority to enforce employee misclassification complaints.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 316: An act relating to the governance of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation and the University of Vermont

H.316 changes governance for Vermont's State Colleges Corporation and the University of Vermont (UVM). It eliminates two legislative trustees from each board and adds one faculty trustee and one staff trustee per institution, both serving four-year terms. The Vermont State Colleges board will grow from 15 to 17 members, while UVM's board will increase from 25 to 27 members. These new faculty and staff trustees will be appointed or elected per the bill's specified processes, with the changes effective by August 1, 2025. The bill directly affects the composition and representation on both boards.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 324: An act relating to mandatory retirement age of the Vermont State Retirement System

H 324 raises the mandatory retirement age for Vermont police and law enforcement officers in the State Retirement System from 57 to 65 years. It specifically affects Group C members of the Vermont State Retirement System who work in the Department of Public Safety, including current officers and the Commissioner of Public Safety appointed before July 1, 2000. The bill changes the retirement rule so these employees must stay in service until they reach age 65, unless they are serving a fixed-term appointment (allowing them to stay until their term ends). The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 317: An act relating to credit card fees on taxes and gratuities

H 317 prohibits credit card networks and payment processors from charging merchants fees on the tax or tip portion of a transaction. It requires merchants to report tax and gratuity amounts during payment processing, and if they don't, they may face fees on the full transaction amount. Merchants can correct inaccurate reports within 30 days, and payment networks must refund fees on tax/tip amounts if documentation is provided within 180 days. The law applies to all Vermont merchants accepting credit cards and takes effect July 1, 2025. Violations carry $1,000 penalties per transaction.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 86: An act relating to establishing penalties for the failure of a candidate to file campaign finance disclosures

This bill requires candidates for Vermont state and county offices to submit a simple "affirmative statement" if they haven't made or received campaign contributions or expenses above reporting thresholds. It also adds penalties for late filings: $10 per day (capped at $1,000 total) after a 5-day grace period to correct missing reports. Candidates must file this statement even when no other reporting is required under existing law. Penalties may be reduced if the candidate demonstrates good cause for the delay. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 335: An act relating to payroll records of workers on State construction projects

H 335 requires employers and subcontractors working on Vermont state construction projects to maintain detailed payroll records for three years. These records must include each worker's name, address, hours worked, wages paid, pay rate, and job classification, and must be submitted weekly to the overseeing state agency. The records must be preserved for inspection by the Commissioner of Labor or Attorney General and become publicly accessible under Vermont's Public Records Act. This bill directly affects contractors on state projects (excluding Transportation and Parks projects) and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 314: An act relating to a top-four nonpartisan primary election system

This bill changes Vermont's primary elections to a nonpartisan top-four system. It removes party labels from primary ballots and requires that the four candidates receiving the most votes in each race advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. This applies to all statewide and local offices, including governor, legislature, and county positions. The bill eliminates party-specific primaries and replaces them with a single ballot where voters select any candidate without party designation.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 82: An act relating to traffic cameras and traffic violations for illegally passing a school bus

This bill requires all Type I and II school buses in Vermont to install live digital video systems that capture license plates of vehicles illegally passing stopped buses with flashing lights. It allows traffic citations based on verified camera images, with school bus operators submitting sworn statements and photos within five days of the violation. The system must only record license plates (not people), retain footage for 90 days unless used for enforcement, and destroy it after penalties are paid. This directly affects school bus operators (who must install cameras), drivers who pass stopped buses, and Vermont's traffic enforcement process for school bus safety violations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 331: An act relating to a victim’s right to be heard at an appeal or postconviction remedy hearing

This bill requires Vermont prosecutors to inform victims of certain crimes when a defendant appeals or seeks postconviction relief, explaining the process and providing hearing details. It mandates that courts at these hearings ask victims if they wish to speak about the case and consider their statements. Victims who cannot attend must have their written or oral views considered by the court. The law applies to victims of specified crimes and takes effect July 1, 2025. This changes how victims participate in legal proceedings after a conviction.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 346: An act relating to charges for towing and storage of motor vehicles belonging to crime victims

This bill sets maximum fees for towing and storing abandoned vehicles in Vermont, capping towing at $130 or $4.50 per mile (whichever is greater) and storage at $35 per day. It directly affects crime victims by exempting them from paying towing and storage fees if they reported their stolen vehicle to law enforcement before it was towed, including fees accrued prior to seven days after a second notice to the owner. The bill also creates a working group of state officials to study funding mechanisms for reimbursing towing services when they cannot collect fees for stolen vehicles. The group must report by November 15, 2025, with recommendations for legislative action.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 343: An act relating to making State lands available for farming by citizens of State-recognized Native American Indian tribes

H.343 would allow certified citizens of Vermont's State-recognized Native American Indian tribes to lease State-owned lands for farming. The bill requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to identify suitable lands (without disturbing wildlife corridors or timber) by July 2027 and issue leases for up to five years, renewable twice. Leases must comply with Vermont's Required Agricultural Practices, and the Secretary must establish an application process and recommend a fee structure by 2027. This directly affects tribal members seeking agricultural land access and State lands managed by the Agency of Natural Resources. The bill does not change land ownership but creates a formal leasing mechanism for farming use.

Bill results