Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 83: An act relating to protections against medical debt

S 83 protects Vermont residents from medical debt harming their credit and finances by banning credit bureaus from reporting medical debt on credit reports. It limits interest on medical debt to 1.5%-4% annually (based on Treasury yields) and prohibits wage garnishment or property seizure to collect such debt. The bill applies to hospitals, clinics, and debt collectors, and also stops them from selling or reporting medical debt to credit agencies. It takes effect July 1, 2025, with interest limits applying only to new debt incurred after that date. Patients receiving financial assistance under state law are exempt from all interest and late fees.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 81: An act relating to prohibiting municipal regulation of the use of hygienic face masks

This bill prohibits Vermont municipalities from enacting rules that limit or ban the use of hygienic face masks. It directly affects local governments (cities and towns) and residents by preventing them from adopting mask restrictions through ordinances or other local regulations. The law adds a new provision to state law (24 V.S.A. § 2295a) that overrides any conflicting local charter provisions. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2025, and currently awaits committee review after its first reading on February 25, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 348: An act relating to protecting workers from extreme temperatures in the workplace

H.348, the Extreme Temperature Worker Protection Act, requires employers to create workplace plans addressing hazards from extreme heat or cold. It directly affects workers in outdoor or uncontrolled environments, such as construction, agriculture, and landscaping, who face risks of heatstroke or hypothermia. The key provision mandates employers to evaluate temperature risks and implement controls like hydration breaks, rest periods, or shelter access. The bill aims to prevent occupational illnesses, injuries, and fatalities caused by temperature extremes.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 84: An act relating to State contracting standards for advertising

S 84 requires Vermont's State Commissioner of Buildings and General Services to spend at least 80% of the annual budget for print, digital, radio, and television advertising on local news and broadcast organizations. It directly affects all state agencies purchasing advertising, mandating they contract with organizations meeting specific local criteria (e.g., producing original local content, employing dedicated staff, meeting publication frequency standards, and disclosing ownership). The bill exempts tourism-focused ads from the 80% requirement and mandates an annual report to the legislature by June 30 detailing all state advertising spending. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 338: An act relating to unemployment compensation

This bill amends Vermont's unemployment compensation law to allow striking workers to receive benefits under specific conditions. It removes disqualifications for workers not participating in a labor dispute, those affected by employer lockouts (not temporary work suspensions), and those unemployed for more than 14 days due to a labor dispute (unless replacement workers were hired during that period). The change directly affects workers involved in labor disputes who meet these criteria, ensuring they can access unemployment benefits during strikes or lockouts. The bill modifies existing disqualification rules in Section 1344 of Vermont law without altering broader eligibility. It is currently before the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 345: An act relating to prohibiting the sale or distribution of glitter containing intentionally added synthetic polymers

This bill prohibits the sale and distribution of glitter that contains intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles, which are small plastic particles added to give glitter its reflective quality. The law defines glitter as decorative flat particles and specifies that the ban applies to products containing at least 0.01% synthetic polymer microparticles by weight, while allowing biodegradable, soluble, or natural glitter without these particles. The prohibition takes effect on January 1, 2028, though the bill itself becomes effective on July 1, 2025, giving businesses time to adjust their product offerings. This measure directly affects manufacturers, retailers, and distributors of decorative glitter products in Vermont by restricting the sale of conventional plastic-based glitter.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 350: An act relating to automatic opening knives

H 350 removes criminal penalties for possessing, selling, or offering for sale automatic opening knives (like switchblades) with blades three inches or longer. Currently, Vermont law imposes fines up to $100 or up to 90 days in jail for these items under 13 V.S.A. § 4013. The bill amends this statute to eliminate those penalties entirely. It is pending before the Judiciary Committee after its first reading on February 25, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 332: An act relating to the creation of the Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange

H 332 creates Vermont's Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange, providing grants and professional support to eligible small and mid-sized Vermont businesses. The program offers up to $5,000 per business for services like business operations, digital strategy, manufacturing upgrades, and legal consulting, administered by regional development corporations. To qualify, businesses must be for-profit, Vermont-based, with at least $5,000 annual revenue, and higher-income owners must provide a 50% match. The Exchange prioritizes outreach to rural businesses and historically marginalized groups, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Vermonters, New Americans, and others. Annual reports on program performance are required, with funding of $1.25 million appropriated for fiscal year 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 315: An act relating to nondiscrimination concerning a parent with a disability

This Vermont bill (H 315) prohibits using a person's disability as a reason to deny or restrict parental rights, foster care, guardianship, or adoption opportunities when those decisions are otherwise in the child's best interests. It requires courts and agencies to consider "supportive parenting services" (like assistive technology) as an alternative to restricting rights, shifting the burden to prove disability harms a child to clear and convincing evidence. The bill directly affects parents, prospective parents, foster parents, and guardians with disabilities in family court and child welfare proceedings. If rights are restricted, courts must provide specific written reasons explaining why support services weren't used as a reasonable accommodation.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 333: An act relating to collective bargaining for agricultural workers

This bill removes the exclusion of agricultural workers from Vermont's State Labor Relations Act, granting them collective bargaining rights previously denied. It directly affects farm workers across Vermont by amending the definition of "employee" to include them, ending a specific exemption that had kept them outside labor protections. The key mechanism is revising Section 1502 of the law to delete the provision that barred agricultural laborers from being covered under collective bargaining rules. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 318: An act relating to computer science in Vermont’s public schools

H 318 requires all Vermont public schools to offer computer science education starting in the 2025-2026 school year: high schools must provide at least one course for grades 9-12, middle schools must offer exploratory computer science for grades 6-8, and elementary schools must teach foundational computer science and computational thinking. The bill establishes standards for course quality, mandates annual reporting on student participation (disaggregated by gender, race, disability status, etc.) and teacher qualifications, and creates a grant program to fund teacher professional development in computer science. School districts must submit detailed reports to the Agency of Education, which will publicly post aggregated data on course offerings and student demographics. This bill directly affects Vermont's public schools, teachers, and students by integrating computer science into the curriculum while supporting educator training and tracking equity in access.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 85: An act relating to approval of railroad lease extensions

This bill requires Vermont's General Assembly to approve all extensions of leases for State-owned railroad property, shifting authority from the Secretary of Transportation. It directly affects state railroads and their operators, who will need legislative consent for any lease extension beyond the current term. Key provisions mandate that the Secretary notify transportation committees 12 months before lease expiration or extension, and specify that short-term leases (up to six months) may be arranged without immediate approval. The bill amends existing law to ensure legislative oversight of railroad lease renewals, while maintaining existing federal approval requirements.

Bill results