Vermont Bills

signed · Vermont · Senate Jun 13, 2025

S 124: An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

This bill requires Vermont's Agriculture and Natural Resources agencies to coordinate on agricultural water quality programs, including implementing federal Clean Water Act requirements for farms. It establishes mandatory vegetative buffer zones (25 feet from waterways, 10 feet from ditches) for most farms to reduce pollution, with exceptions for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) that follow federal rules instead. The bill also sets permit thresholds for new or expanded barns housing large livestock (e.g., 700 dairy cows or 10,000 swine), requiring state review for water quality compliance. Both agencies must annually report on performance metrics related to these programs to legislative committees. The law directly affects farms, particularly large operations, by changing pollution prevention rules and permitting processes.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Vermont · Senate Jun 13, 2025

S 109: An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures

This bill amends multiple Vermont statutes to adjust court procedures and criminal justice policies. It creates an adult court diversion program allowing prosecutors to refer eligible defendants (post-charge, with court probable cause) to restorative options instead of prosecution, while expanding the definition of "victim" to include family members and certain professionals. Key provisions include restricting public internet access to court records (allowing limited access for attorneys and law enforcement), adding a $100 surcharge for criminal cases to fund investigative units, and establishing automatic expungement for certain switchblade knife convictions prior to July 2025. These changes directly affect courts, prosecutors, defendants, victims, and law enforcement agencies. The bill is now law after being signed by the governor on June 12, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Vermont · House Jun 13, 2025

H 238: An act relating to the phaseout of consumer products containing added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances

H 238 phases out the intentional use of PFAS ("forever chemicals") in specific consumer products where they serve a functional purpose, such as stain resistance or water repellency. It directly affects manufacturers of items including mattresses (excluding cribs), most apparel (excluding military gear and extreme outdoor wear), dental floss, cookware, artificial turf, cleaning products, and rugs. The law bans intentionally added PFAS in these products, with exemptions for items like "outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions" (e.g., kayaking gear) and products containing PFAS above 100 parts per million only if they serve a technical function. The bill, signed into law in June 2025, targets the most common PFAS applications in everyday goods while allowing limited exceptions for safety-critical uses.

signed · Vermont · House Jun 13, 2025

H 472: An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation

H 472 updates fees and requirements for professionals regulated by Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). It reduces biennial renewal fees for peer support providers from $50 to $75, increases verification license fees to $30, and requires cosmetology schools to include specific training on textured hair care (including cultural competency) in their curriculum. The bill also clarifies that disciplinary surcharges fund a Professional Regulatory Fee Fund and prohibits boards from charging renewal fees during lapsed license periods. These changes affect all licensed professionals under OPR, including nurses, cosmetologists, and peer support specialists, modernizing fee structures and training standards.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

signed · Vermont · House Jun 13, 2025

H 484: An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

H 484 amends Vermont’s agricultural regulations to clarify definitions for products used in farming, directly affecting farmers, manufacturers, and distributors of agricultural inputs. The bill creates a new regulatory category for "beneficial substances" (excluding fertilizers and pesticides), including plant biostimulants, soil amendments, and inoculants, and defines key terms like "distributor" and "labeling" for these products. It requires manufacturers to provide guaranteed analysis (nutrient content) on labels and ensures products meet specific quality standards, such as for "exceptional quality biosolids." This streamlines oversight under the Secretary of Agriculture while providing clearer rules for producers and consumers. The bill was signed into law by Vermont’s Governor on June 11, 2025.

signed · Vermont · House Jun 13, 2025

H 397: An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response

H 397 updates Vermont's emergency management and flood response systems. It requires the Division of Emergency Management to annually report on mitigation plans to legislative committees and revise the State Emergency Management Plan every five years to cover response coordination, preparedness, and local planning templates. The bill expands grant funding for flood mitigation projects, including voluntary buyouts for flood-affected properties, and mandates new assistance for municipalities to access river monitoring and weather alert systems. It also provides municipalities with greater flexibility to borrow funds for emergency-related expenses and manage unspent budget balances. These changes directly affect state agencies, local governments, and communities in flood-prone areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Vermont · Senate Jun 13, 2025

S 45: An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

S.45 protects Vermont farmers from nuisance lawsuits by establishing that agricultural activities are presumed not to be nuisances if conducted responsibly. It directly affects farmers (who gain legal protection) and neighbors (who must first attempt mediation before suing). Key provisions include requiring activities to follow state regulations and "generally accepted practices," mandating mediation before filing suit, and limiting protection if negligence or health impacts occur. The law aims to prevent lawsuits from forcing farms off agricultural land while preserving local farming operations.

signed · Vermont · Senate Jun 13, 2025

S 69: An act relating to an age-appropriate design code

This bill, S 69 (Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act), requires online services popular with minors to redesign their platforms to protect children’s privacy and safety. It directly affects businesses that generate most revenue from online services likely accessed by Vermont minors under 18 and collect their personal data. Key provisions mandate age-assurance methods to identify minors, set default privacy settings to the most protective level, ban features causing "compulsive use" (like addictive content algorithms), and restrict data collection for minors. The law also defines strict rules for handling biometric, genetic, and derived data of minors, ensuring data processing aligns with their developmental needs. It applies broadly to digital products like apps and websites, excluding physical products and basic internet services.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Vermont · House Jun 9, 2025

H 231: An act relating to technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes

This bill makes technical updates to Vermont's fish and wildlife statutes by removing outdated definitions and correcting references to repealed laws. It deletes obsolete terms like "pike perch" from definitions and revises penalty points for violations by striking references to now-repealed sections (e.g., snaring animals, crossbow transport rules). The bill also clarifies rules about carrying crossbows in vehicles, ensuring consistency with current enforcement practices. These changes streamline existing laws without introducing new restrictions or penalties.

signed · Vermont · House Jun 9, 2025

H 482: An act relating to Green Mountain Care Board authority to adjust a hospital’s reimbursement rates and to appoint a hospital observer

H.482 grants Vermont's Green Mountain Care Board new authority to adjust hospital reimbursement rates when a domestic health insurer faces an immediate solvency threat due to low capital levels. The Board can reduce rates for hospitals meeting specific financial criteria (e.g., over 135 days of cash on hand or a positive operating margin) but must ensure hospitals maintain at least 125 days of cash. It also allows the Board to appoint independent observers to monitor hospitals that misrepresent data or fail to comply with budget requirements, though this observer authority expires in 2030. The bill directly affects Vermont hospitals and insurers, aiming to balance insurer solvency with hospital financial stability through targeted rate adjustments and oversight.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Vermont · House Jun 9, 2025

H 1: An act relating to accepting and referring complaints by the State Ethics Commission

This bill amends Vermont's State Ethics Commission procedures for handling complaints about government ethics violations. It requires the Commission's Executive Director to accept all complaints regarding state government conduct, campaign finance, or municipal ethics, then conduct an initial review to refer them to the appropriate entity (e.g., departments, municipalities, or the Commission itself). Complaints must be referred within 60 days for consultation, and all complaint records remain confidential except for final actions like warnings or reprimands. The bill directly affects state agencies, municipalities, and public officials by standardizing how ethics complaints are processed and ensuring confidentiality in the review process.

signed · Vermont · House Jun 9, 2025

H 458: An act relating to the Agency of Digital Services

H 458 requires Vermont's Agency of Digital Services to increase transparency around state IT projects. It mandates detailed annual reports to the legislature and a publicly accessible website inventory showing the status of all active projects costing $500,000 or more. The inventory must update monthly and include project scope, budget, timeline, and whether they're on track. Independent reviews are also required for new projects exceeding $1 million in cost. The bill directly affects the Agency of Digital Services and the public, who can track project progress through the new reporting system.

Bill results