Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 254: An act relating to orders permitting alternate service of process in civil proceedings

This bill (H 254) clarifies court procedures for serving legal documents in civil cases. It requires that when a Vermont court approves alternate service of process (such as publishing a notice or leaving documents at a defendant's home), that order automatically applies to all future service steps in the same case - including post-judgment actions - without needing new court orders. The bill directly affects civil court proceedings where alternate service is used, streamlining the process for plaintiffs and courts. It specifically updates Vermont Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d)(1) and applies to all existing and future cases using such service methods.

Wayne Laroche (R) James Gregoire (R) Mary Morrissey (R) Joe Luneau (R) Matt Walker (R)

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 239: An act relating to temporary State employees

This bill (H 239) would extend key rights to temporary Vermont state employees who work over 1,280 hours annually for two years. It requires temporary workers to receive comparable pay, whistleblower protections, sick/annual leave, and health insurance meeting ACA standards after six months of employment. The bill also prohibits termination without good cause and clarifies that such employees qualify as "State employees" for labor rights purposes. These changes apply to temporary workers in state agencies, colleges, and courts who meet the hour threshold, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 241: An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists

This bill expands the scope of practice for optometrists in Vermont by creating an "advanced therapeutic procedures specialty." Qualified optometrists with this specialty may now perform specific procedures, including removing small superficial eye lesions (like chalazia), certain laser treatments (such as for cataracts), and targeted injections for conditions like chalazia or vision testing. The bill also explicitly prohibits optometrists from performing retinal surgeries, corneal transplants, or injections into the back of the eye. Optometrists seeking this specialty must complete additional continuing education hours focused on advanced procedures. The changes aim to clarify and modernize what optometrists can legally provide while maintaining patient safety through defined boundaries.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 18, 2025

S 73: An act relating to requiring notice of an adverse possession claim to the record property owner

This bill requires anyone claiming property through adverse possession to notify the current property owner (as listed in public records) at least six months before the 15-year period for such a claim expires. Currently, claimants could file without informing the owner until after the 15 years, but this change gives owners time to respond or challenge the claim. The bill directly affects both potential claimants and current property owners in Vermont. It does not alter the 15-year timeframe but adds a mandatory notice step to the process.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 240: An act relating to authorizing drawdown of dams during emergency flood events

This bill (H 240) allows Vermont's Governor to temporarily waive water quality permits for dam operators during declared flood emergencies. It directly affects dam operators and the Agency of Natural Resources, authorizing them to lower water levels in dams before a flood to prevent damage to people or property. The key mechanism requires the Governor, after consulting with the Natural Resources Secretary, to determine that lowering water levels will significantly reduce flood risk, while mandating dam operators to minimize environmental harm during the drawdown. The waiver applies only during active emergencies and expires 180 days after the emergency ends.

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 236: An act relating to authorizing the use of State waters by hydroelectric generation facilities

H 236 authorizes small hydroelectric facilities (with a proposed capacity of five megawatts or less) to use Vermont's Class B(2) waters, which are currently designated for recreation, fishing, irrigation, and public water sources. The bill requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to amend Vermont's Water Quality Standards by July 1, 2026, to formally include hydroelectric generation as a "suitable use" for Class B(2) waters. It also prohibits denying such projects before 2026 unless the project would impair water quality. This directly affects small hydroelectric developers seeking to use state waters for power generation. The bill makes a specific classification change to existing water quality rules without creating new regulatory requirements.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 255: An act relating to establishing increased criminal penalties for an assault of a public transit worker

H 255 increases criminal penalties for assaulting public transit workers in Vermont. It adds up to one year in prison for a first assault offense and up to 10 years for repeat offenses against workers while they perform their duties. The bill also prohibits intentionally exposing transit workers to bodily fluids (like blood or vomit), punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. "Public transit worker" is defined to include drivers (employees or volunteers) and support staff at transit centers. The law applies to all such assaults committed while workers are on duty, excluding individuals under 18 in residential facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 18, 2025

S 72: An act relating to divestment of State pension funds of investments in the fossil fuel industry

Vermont's S.72 requires the state pension investment commission to review the fossil fuel holdings in three public retirement systems (state employees', teachers', and municipal employees' funds) by December 2025. The bill mandates a plan to fully divest these systems from fossil fuels by December 2030, with a longer-term goal to divest private investments containing fossil fuels by December 2040, unless holdings are below a "de minimis" threshold (less than 2% of portfolios). The commission must submit annual progress reports to legislative committees starting in 2027. This directly affects Vermont's public employee pension funds, not private retirement accounts.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 234: An act relating to determining the appropriateness of a collective bargaining unit for adjunct faculty

This bill changes when adjunct faculty at the University of Vermont and Vermont State Colleges can join a union bargaining unit. It requires the Labor Relations Board to allow adjuncts to be included in a bargaining unit starting on either the effective date of their employment contract or their first teaching day - whichever comes first. This makes it easier for new adjunct faculty to gain union eligibility immediately upon starting their role. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 246: An act relating to supports to help students experiencing homelessness and students exiting the foster care system succeed in postsecondary educational institutions

H 246 requires all postsecondary schools in Vermont to designate a Student Liaison Officer to assist students experiencing homelessness and those exiting the foster care system with financial aid, housing, and academic resources. Schools must implement policies providing these students priority access to class enrollment, on-campus housing (with a half-time enrollment requirement), and housing during breaks. The bill also mandates fee waivers for registration and laboratory costs for eligible students. These requirements will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 247: An act relating to cardiac emergency response plans in schools

H 247 requires all Vermont school districts and independent schools to create written cardiac emergency response plans by the 2025-2026 school year. These plans must include specific steps for responding to sudden cardiac arrest, such as establishing response teams, placing and maintaining AEDs, training staff in CPR/AED use, and integrating with local emergency services. The bill directly affects schools by mandating evidence-based protocols aligned with American Heart Association guidelines, covering both general school settings and athletic programs. Key provisions include annual plan reviews, staff training requirements, and coordination with community emergency responders. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 233: An act relating to requirements for State-funded grants

H 233 requires Vermont state agencies to execute grant agreements with nonprofits within 30 days of funding approval or award notice, and to pay approved expenses within 30 days of a valid request. It mandates updating Administrative Bulletin 5 by July 2025 to establish a uniform process for nonprofits to use indirect rates above the standard "de minimis" rate. The bill also creates an online reporting system for grantees to document delays and a public database to track these issues. A working group will analyze grant processes, including payment delays and indirect rate consistency with federal standards, and submit recommendations by September 2026. This directly affects nonprofits receiving state-funded grants by clarifying payment timelines and administrative procedures.

Bill results