H.718 establishes a new residential building code (based on the International Residential Code) for Vermont, effective January 1, 2028, to be administered by the Division of Fire Safety. It requires contractors to disclose criminal records, creates a task force to improve the contractor registry and develop voluntary energy certifications, and grants municipalities authority to enforce both residential and commercial building energy standards. This bill directly affects homeowners (through updated construction standards), contractors (via registry changes and disclosure requirements), and local governments (with new enforcement powers). The key changes aim to improve consistency, compliance, and transparency in building energy efficiency standards across Vermont.
This bill limits annual increases in per-pupil education spending for Vermont school districts during fiscal years 2028 and 2029. It requires districts to cap spending growth at a calculated "allowable growth percentage" based on how their per-pupil spending compares to the highest-spending district (excluding certain districts), with a minimum 3% growth allowed. The formula subtracts a district’s prior-year spending from the highest district’s spending, divides that difference by the district’s own spending, then multiplies by 9% to determine the maximum allowable increase. The bill applies to all Vermont public school districts and takes effect July 1, 2026.
Senate Bill S 154 requires health insurance plans and Vermont's Medicaid program to provide coverage for biomarker testing. This testing analyzes a patient's samples to identify biological characteristics relevant to a disease or condition. Coverage is mandated for the diagnosis, treatment, management, and ongoing monitoring of a patient's disease. Such coverage is required when the test is supported by medical and scientific evidence, including FDA approvals, Medicare/Medicaid determinations, or nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines. The bill also specifies that coverage should be provided in a way that minimizes disruptions to patient care.
This bill (H 545) authorizes Vermont's Commissioner of Health to issue immunization recommendations for both children and adults, including standing orders for healthcare providers. It requires health insurers to cover all recommended vaccines without any cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) and allows the Department of Health to purchase vaccines directly from the CDC or other vendors at the lowest cost. The bill directly affects Vermont residents (ensuring free access to recommended vaccines), healthcare providers (who gain liability protection when following standing orders), and health insurers (mandated to cover costs). Key policy changes include eliminating out-of-pocket costs for recommended immunizations and establishing a new advisory committee to set annual vaccine funding assessments.
This bill directs Efficiency Vermont to study creating a statewide community-based energy navigator program. It would provide in-person and remote energy coaching to residential consumers - especially low- and moderate-income households - to help them navigate efficiency options, access grants/rebates, prioritize savings, and connect with contractors. Efficiency Vermont must submit a detailed report by January 2027, including program design, costs, and implementation plans. The bill appropriates $15,000 for the study and $150,000 to support the Climate Economy Action Center’s collaboration on the program. It does not create the program directly but mandates a study to inform future implementation.
This Vermont bill (S.211) changes vehicle inspection requirements from annual to biennial (every two years) for most registered vehicles. It directly affects Vermont vehicle owners by altering inspection frequency, with exceptions for school buses (inspected as prescribed) and motor buses (inspected twice yearly). Key provisions include increasing the inspection fee from $8 to $16 (with half the revenue funding bridge maintenance) and setting an effective date of July 1, 2026. The bill modifies existing law to require safety and emissions inspections every two years instead of annually for standard vehicles.
H 558 transfers sole authority for Vermont's Medicaid school-based services program from current oversight to the Agency of Human Services (AHS), while clarifying the Agency of Education's (AOE) role in coordinating with school districts. The bill establishes a School-Based Medicaid Reimbursement Fund managed by AHS, directing 55% of federal reimbursement funds to supervisory unions (which manage multiple school districts), 25% for AHS and AOE administrative costs, and any remaining balance to the Education Fund. It requires supervisory unions to submit Medicaid claims for eligible students and creates an incentive fund for unions with high participation rates (over 80%). This directly affects supervisory unions, AHS, AOE, and school districts by changing how Medicaid reimbursement funds are distributed and administered.
S.275 creates the Cemetery Vandalism Response Fund to help Vermont cemeteries repair vandalism. It requires cemetery agencies (including town, religious, and association-run cemeteries) to pay a $5 fee per burial or cremation into the fund. When vandalism occurs (e.g., toppled stones or damaged crypts), agencies can apply for a grant to cover repair costs after reporting the incident to the Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA), notifying families about insurance, and providing documentation like photos and contractor bids. Funds are disbursed directly to cemeteries for repairs, with any unused money returned to the fund. The bill aims to address vandalism without relying on regular maintenance budgets or family insurance claims.
H 566 (Vermont) changes how court diversion records are handled for people who successfully complete adult or juvenile diversion programs. Instead of automatically expunging (erasing) these records, the bill requires courts to seal (confidentially restrict access to) records 30 days after the two-year anniversary of program completion, provided the participant has no new convictions, owes no restitution, and meets other specified conditions. The bill also expands the Adult Diversion Program to include municipal violations, such as traffic offenses. This policy change directly affects individuals who complete diversion programs by making their records confidential after meeting the requirements, improving access to opportunities like housing or employment that might otherwise be denied due to past records.
This bill extends deadlines for environmental assessments and reporting, including pushing the battery end-of-life management assessment deadline to 2027 and shifting responsibility from the Agency of Natural Resources to a battery stewardship organization. It allocates $6.1 million in ARPA funds for the Healthy Homes Initiative to repair water/wastewater systems in low-income households and manufactured housing communities, with strict confidentiality rules for applicant data. The bill also requires permits for stream alterations in watercourses with watersheds over 0.5 square miles and removes stormwater impact fees for properties covered by a three-acre general permit. Additionally, it amends rules for flood safety programs, dam regulations, and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
This bill adjusts Vermont's special education funding to keep pace with inflation. It requires the state to calculate annual funding for each supervisory union (school district group) using a base amount adjusted each year by the official inflation rate for government spending. Starting in fiscal year 2027, funding will be determined by multiplying this inflation-adjusted base amount by the union's long-term student enrollment average. The change ensures special education funding maintains its real value over time, directly affecting all Vermont school districts providing federally mandated special education services.
H 548 creates a State Mediator position within Vermont's Labor Relations Board to provide free mediation services when public or private sector collective bargaining reaches a deadlock. This bill directly affects public and private sector workers, unions, and employers who face impasses during contract negotiations. The key provision requires the mediator to help resolve these deadlocks without cost to the parties involved, aiming to prevent work stoppages. The bill does not change existing labor laws but adds a new resource for resolving bargaining disputes.
