Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

H 119: An act relating to the beverage container redemption system

H 119 expands Vermont's beverage container redemption system to include cider, hard kombucha, noncarbonated water, and noncarbonated soft drinks, while increasing the refundable deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents for most containers. Consumers pay this deposit when purchasing qualifying beverages and receive it back when returning empty containers to retailers or redemption centers. Manufacturers and distributors will reimburse retailers 3.5-4 cents per container for redemption processing. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to all affected beverage types sold in the state.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

H 122: An act relating to the sustainable realignment of Vermont’s school districts

H.122 requires Vermont to merge all existing school districts as of July 1, 2025 into no more than 25 new unified school districts by July 1, 2030. It sets minimum size requirements for schools (450 students and 18 students per class for elementary, 600 students and 25 students per class for high school) and allows districts to designate limited independent schools for students with commutes exceeding 45 minutes (elementary) or 75 minutes (high school). The bill creates a Commission of retired superintendents to review the Secretary of Education’s merger plan and finalize the realignment by November 2029. This directly affects all Vermont public school students and districts, particularly those in smaller or geographically isolated communities.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

H 121: An act relating to affordable broadband service

This bill requires Vermont internet service providers to offer affordable broadband service to low-income households starting October 2025. It defines "affordable" as 25 Mbps for $15/month (including fees) or 200 Mbps for $20/month, targeting households qualifying for federal Lifeline or Vermont's Home Heating Fuel Assistance Program. Providers must report on service availability, customer eligibility verification, and pricing annually, while the Public Utility Commission will adjust prices for inflation and review speed standards every five years. Small providers serving under 20,000 customers may be exempt if compliance would cause financial hardship.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

H 116: An act relating to limiting campaign contributions for State Representatives and State Senators

H 116 would limit campaign contributions for Vermont State Representative and State Senator candidates. It sets a $1,000 maximum per source (including political committees) for Representatives and $1,500 for Senators, with a total cap of $29,000 from all sources per election cycle. The bill also clarifies that candidates may contribute unlimited amounts to their own campaigns. These limits apply specifically to candidates for State Representative and State Senator positions, not to other offices like Governor or county officials. The bill does not restrict contributions from political parties.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

H 120: An act relating to the study and design of a long-term care trust fund

H 120 requires Vermont's Secretary of Administration to study and design a long-term care trust fund. The study must examine funding through income-based contributions (starting July 2026 for Vermont residents with taxable income over 150% of the federal poverty level), a two-year payment requirement for benefits, and how the fund would interact with Medicaid. The Secretary must submit a report by January 15, 2026, including proposed legislation to establish the fund. This bill would directly affect Vermont residents who pay into the program and future beneficiaries of long-term care services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

H 115: An act relating to tax debt forgiveness for victims of fraud

This bill (H.115) would allow Vermont's Commissioner of Taxes to forgive income tax debt for individuals who lost income due to fraud. It directly affects victims of fraud who have unpaid tax liabilities tied to stolen funds. The key provision gives the Commissioner authority to waive these specific tax debts upon verification of fraud. The bill does not change tax rates or create new taxes, but provides targeted relief for fraud victims. It was recently referred to the Committee on Ways and Means for review.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

JRH 1: Joint resolution constituting an application for a convention of the States under Article V of the United States Constitution

Vermont's JRH 1 is a joint resolution applying to Congress for a Convention of the States under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It requests that such a convention propose constitutional amendments specifically focused on imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting federal power and jurisdiction, and establishing term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution states this application remains active until two-thirds of U.S. states apply for the same purpose, and directs the Secretary of State to send copies to federal officials and other state legislatures. This is a procedural step seeking to initiate a potential constitutional convention, not a direct policy change affecting residents.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

H 117: An act relating to general election candidates

H.117 would prevent candidates who lose a major party primary election from appearing on the general election ballot as independents or for another party for the same office. This rule directly affects candidates who compete in a primary but do not win their party's nomination. The bill amends Vermont election law to explicitly bar such candidates from being listed on the general ballot under any other party or as independents. The change would take effect immediately upon the bill's passage.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

H 123: An act relating to driving while ability impaired

This bill proposes creating a new civil violation for driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between 0.06 and 0.079, distinct from existing DUI laws that begin at 0.08 BAC. It would apply to drivers whose BAC falls in this range, subjecting them to a civil penalty of up to $500 and license suspension (similar to DUI penalties) but without creating a criminal record. The bill amends Vermont law to define "impaired by alcohol" as BAC 0.06-0.079 under Section 1201(a)(4), separating this offense from criminal DUI charges. This change aims to address lower-level impairment without triggering criminal consequences. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 108: An act relating to filial support

This bill would remove criminal penalties for adult children who fail to support their destitute parents in Vermont. Currently, adult children who refuse to provide financial support to a parent unable to support themselves (and living in Vermont) could face up to two years in jail or a $300 fine. The bill specifically repeals these criminal penalties under Vermont law but does not change the underlying obligation for adult children to support parents in need. It directly affects Vermont residents who are adult children and parents in destitute circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 95: An act relating to updating and reorganizing the health insurance statutes in 8 V.S.A. chapter 107

This bill (H.95) replaces Vermont’s outdated health insurance statutes (8 V.S.A. Chapter 107) with a reorganized, updated version. It defines key terms like "covered individual" and "health insurance plan," aligns Vermont’s rules with federal laws (including the Affordable Care Act and No Surprises Act), and sets standards for advertising practices. The bill directly affects health insurers, health care providers, and the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, and Health Care Administration, which enforces these rules. It modernizes the legal framework without changing coverage requirements or creating new benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 110: An act relating to a reciprocity requirement for out-of-state consumer shipping licenses

This bill requires out-of-state breweries to have reciprocal shipping rights with Vermont. It directly affects breweries in other states seeking to sell malt beverages directly to Vermont consumers. The key provision blocks Vermont from issuing shipping licenses unless the other state allows Vermont breweries to ship malt beverages to its residents. This creates a mutual requirement for direct-to-consumer shipping access, changing the licensing process to ensure reciprocity.

Bill results