Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 31, 2025

H 131: An act relating to Reach Up grant calculation

This bill changes how Vermont calculates Reach Up grants for families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). It requires the Department for Children and Families to adjust the grant formula by using the current year's basic living costs (subsistence level) instead of previous years' rates and to eliminate a reduction based on household size (ratable reduction). These changes aim to provide more accurate and potentially higher grants for eligible families. The bill directly affects low-income households in Vermont who rely on Reach Up grants as part of their TANF support.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 31, 2025

S 38: An act relating to conserving habitat corridors and wildlife crossings

Vermont's S.38 requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to create a program funding habitat corridors (land connecting wildlife areas) and wildlife crossings (infrastructure like overpasses to safely move animals across roads). It directly affects land conservation efforts across Vermont, including state, federal, municipal, and private lands, aiming to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and support biodiversity. Key mechanisms include creating a biennial inventory of suitable lands, developing a conservation plan by 2028 using Vermont Conservation Design, and updating this inventory to track progress. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes: funding land acquisition, protecting aquatic systems, and implementing connectivity strategies as defined in existing climate and conservation plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 32: An act relating to providing a free fishing license to persons with developmental disabilities

This bill, S.32, provides Vermont residents with developmental disabilities a free permanent fishing license. It directly affects Vermonters certified by a physician as having developmental disabilities, defined per 18 V.S.A. § 9302. The key provision requires submission of a physician-signed statement to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for license issuance. This creates a new category for free licenses, distinct from existing provisions for veterans, the legally blind, or paraplegic residents, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 37: An act relating to unemployment insurance eligibility and benefits

This Vermont bill (S 37) changes unemployment insurance rules for workers at educational institutions. It makes employees in non-teaching roles (like administrative staff) eligible for benefits between academic terms, removing a previous barrier that denied benefits if they had a reasonable expectation of returning to the same job. The bill also clarifies that wages earned in jobs that wouldn’t qualify for benefits shouldn’t count toward calculating weekly benefit amounts. This directly affects education workers between school terms who previously faced eligibility hurdles. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 30, 2025

H 127: An act relating to deed restrictions and renewable energy devices

H 127 requires homeowners associations (HOAs) to remove any deed restrictions that block the installation of renewable energy devices (like solar panels), as these restrictions conflict with Vermont law (27 V.S.A. § 544). The bill directly affects HOAs and property owners who want to install such devices without facing restrictive covenants. It mandates that HOAs update their governing documents to align with state law, ensuring property owners can pursue renewable energy options without undue barriers. The bill is procedural, focusing on removing outdated restrictions rather than creating new regulations.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 30, 2025

H 126: An act relating to universal basic income payments for youth exiting foster care

This bill (H 126) requires Vermont's Department for Children and Families to provide monthly universal basic income payments to youth who have recently aged out of foster care. It directly affects young adults transitioning from state foster care systems, typically those turning 18 or 21. The key provision mandates regular, automatic monthly payments without requiring recipients to apply or meet income thresholds. The bill aims to provide immediate financial stability during a critical transition period, as outlined in its stated purpose.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 34: An act relating to lowering the rate of increase for mobile home lot rents

This bill (S 34) limits mobile home park owners in Vermont to increasing lot rents by no more than one percentage point above the U.S. Consumer Price Index for Housing, instead of a higher previous threshold. It directly affects mobile home residents and park owners by restricting rent hikes and requiring mediation if increases exceed this limit. The key mechanism establishes a mandatory mediation process: if residents dispute an increase, they can petition for mediation within 15 days, and the park owner must provide documentation justifying the hike. The mediator helps resolve disputes before the rent increase takes effect, with the process ending 10 days prior to the increase date. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 30, 2025

H 128: An act relating to unlawful drug activity in a dwelling by a person who is not a legal tenant

H 128 requires the State's Attorney to request a specific release condition when someone not legally renting a dwelling is charged with unlawful drug activity there. The bill mandates that courts may prohibit such individuals from coming within a fixed distance of the dwelling as part of their release terms. This directly affects people facing drug charges in properties they do not lease or own. The provision applies to arraignment on next business day after citation or arrest for drug activity in non-tenant dwellings. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 35: An act relating to automated traffic law enforcement systems

This bill makes permanent the Agency of Transportation's authority to use automated traffic enforcement systems (like speed cameras) in road work zones. It repeals temporary provisions from a 2024 law that limited this authority, ensuring the systems can continue operating without needing annual legislative renewal. The policy change directly affects drivers in Vermont work zones where these systems are deployed and the Agency of Transportation, which manages their implementation.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 33: An act relating to establishing a pilot for community nurse programs serving aging Vermonters

S.33 allocates $450,000 for a two-year pilot program to enhance community nursing services for aging Vermonters. Existing community nurse programs can apply for funding to create health worker positions, expand home visits without limits, fill service gaps, and improve data tracking. Participating programs must report on service outcomes, gaps, and improvements by December 2027, with the pilot starting July 2025. This directly affects aging Vermonters receiving services and community nurse programs seeking to expand their reach.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 30, 2025

H 124: An act relating to the Commissioner of Financial Regulation and an annual supervision and regulation report

H 124 requires Vermont's Commissioner of Financial Regulation to produce an annual report to the General Assembly by January 15 each year, starting in 2026. The report must detail regulatory activities (like examinations and enforcement actions), financial conditions affecting consumers, regulatory fee analysis, emerging industry trends, and recommendations. It directly affects the Commissioner's office and the General Assembly, aiming to increase transparency about how the Department oversees banking, insurance, and securities. The bill creates a new reporting requirement under 8 V.S.A. § 25 with specific content mandates but does not change existing regulations or fees.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 29, 2025

S 31: An act relating to a temporary suspension of the ambulance agency provider tax

This bill suspends the ambulance agency provider tax for fiscal years 2026-2028, directly relieving ambulance agencies from paying this fee. To offset the lost revenue, the bill requires transferring an equivalent amount from the PILOT Special Fund to the General Fund each year. The suspension applies to all ambulance agencies, while the fund transfer ensures the General Fund maintains its projected revenue level. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and affects state budget allocations without altering ambulance service regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results