Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 118: An act relating to agricultural economic development

This bill, titled "The Food Security Act," supports Vermont farms by reducing regulatory burdens and providing tax benefits. It exempts farms using direct soil injection for liquid manure application from seasonal bans, removes the requirement for a three-acre stormwater permit for compliant farms, and protects farms from nuisance or trespass claims under the right-to-farm law. The bill also exempts farm structures (like fences) and employee housing from municipal regulations, and excludes certain farm income and property sale profits from Vermont income tax. These changes directly affect farmers, farm businesses, and property transfers within agricultural operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 116: An act relating to crimes against an unborn child

Vermont's S.116 would define an unborn child as a "person" under criminal law when bodily injury or death results from a crime, allowing prosecutors to charge perpetrators without proving they knew about the pregnancy or intended harm to the fetus. This directly affects individuals who commit crimes (like assault or homicide) causing fetal harm, while explicitly protecting pregnant women from prosecution for their own actions and legal medical procedures like abortions with consent. The bill adds a new section to Vermont law clarifying that an unborn child is deemed a person for criminal offenses involving injury or death, but excludes abortion and medical treatments from prosecution. It aims to resolve inconsistencies in past court rulings about fetal personhood under criminal statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 120: An act relating to funding support services for persons who use drugs and eliminating misdemeanor criminal penalties for possessing or dispensing a personal use drug supply

S 120 creates the Community Care, Health, and Safety Special Fund using 40% of cannabis tax revenue and opioid settlement funds to support community harm reduction services for people with substance use disorder. It eliminates misdemeanor penalties for possessing or dispensing small personal amounts of drugs, instead requiring law enforcement to provide service referrals and health assessments. The bill establishes a Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to define "personal use" quantities and prioritize health services over criminal penalties. This policy shift aims to reduce overdose deaths by redirecting resources from prosecution toward evidence-based harm reduction and treatment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 119: An act relating to the licensure of early childhood educators

S 119 requires early childhood educators in Vermont to obtain state licensure to work with children from birth through age eight. It establishes three license levels (I, II, III) with specific responsibilities, such as Early Childhood Educator I working under supervision, while II and III can serve as lead educators or provide guidance. The bill creates a Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators to oversee licensing, define practice standards, and enforce rules, excluding teachers already licensed under existing education programs. This directly affects early childhood educators in both public and nonpublic settings who currently do not hold state licenses.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 114: An act relating to charging for actual cost under Vermont’s Public Records Act

S 114 allows Vermont public agencies to charge requesters for the actual cost of staff time spent fulfilling public records requests under specific conditions. Agencies may charge for staff time only if the work exceeds 30 minutes, they agree to create a new record, or they provide records in a nonstandard format (with time over 30 minutes). The bill requires written requests and payment before delivery for these charges, and mandates agencies to calculate costs based solely on paper/equipment expenses and utilities - not labor rates. This affects anyone requesting public records from Vermont state or local government agencies, making the process clearer but potentially adding costs for complex requests.

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 13, 2025

H 473: An act relating to the reintroduction of catamounts to the State of Vermont

This bill requires Vermont's Department of Fish and Wildlife to conduct a feasibility study on reintroducing catamounts (cougars) into the state. The study must address suitable locations, conflict management with humans, success metrics, a timeline, and costs for reintroduction. The department must submit the study results to relevant legislative committees by January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects the state wildlife agency and sets a process for evaluating future reintroduction efforts, but does not authorize actual reintroduction.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed both · Vermont · Senate Mar 13, 2025

JRS 17: Joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment on March 14, 2025

This joint resolution adjusts the Vermont legislative schedule for March 2025. It directs both the Senate and House to adjourn on Friday, March 14, 2025, and reconvene no later than Tuesday, March 18, 2025. The resolution affects the state legislature's calendar by preventing a weekend break in session during that period. It is a procedural measure with no substantive policy changes.

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 12, 2025

H 466: An act relating to flood response and the creation of a voluntary buy-out program

Vermont's H.466 proposes a voluntary buyout program for flood-prone properties that are ineligible for federal FEMA buyouts or identified by municipalities for flood-resilient redevelopment. It also creates a homeowner assistance program to help residents elevate homes, relocate to permanent housing, or rebuild using flood-resistant materials and designs. The bill directly affects Vermont homeowners in high-risk flood areas, requiring the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to administer both programs. Key provisions include expanding options for flood-prone property owners beyond federal programs and providing financial support for specific resilience measures.

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 12, 2025

H 468: An act relating to flood response and assistance programs for flood resilient infrastructure improvements

H 468 establishes state programs to provide technical assistance to Vermont municipalities for planning flood-resistant infrastructure projects, such as adapting roadwork and applying for federal or state grants. It directly affects towns and cities in flood-prone areas by supporting their efforts to improve resilience. Key provisions include funding for specialized mitigation work like lifting or removing flood-risk bridges and eliminating dangerous dams. The bill focuses on concrete infrastructure changes to reduce flood damage, without specifying funding amounts or timelines.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 12, 2025

H 467: An act relating to flood response and the duties of the Agency of Transportation

This bill requires Vermont's Agency of Transportation to fund infrastructure upgrades for rural and flood-prone municipalities, including roads, bridges, culverts, and emergency access routes. It mandates the agency to design stormwater management improvements like larger culverts and reinforced drainage systems, and to create a statewide tracking system for flood response equipment and personnel. The bill also directs the agency to provide state-funded regional fleets of vacuum trucks and heavy equipment to assist municipalities with debris removal and maintenance after floods. These changes directly affect local governments in flood-prone areas by increasing state support for resilience and recovery.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Vermont · Senate Mar 12, 2025

S 29: An act relating to establishing the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program at the Agency of Natural Resources

S.29 establishes Vermont's Chloride Contamination Reduction Program under the Agency of Natural Resources to train commercial salt applicators (paid professionals) and municipal salt applicators (town/municipal employees) in best practices for efficient salt or salt alternative use. The program requires certification, sets standards to minimize salt runoff into waterways, mandates record-keeping of application details, and establishes annual salt usage data collection and reduction targets. Certified applicators are presumed compliant with water quality laws when following program guidelines, and the program includes liability protections for certified users who implement these practices. The bill aims to reduce chloride pollution in Vermont's water systems through standardized training, reporting, and measurable salt reduction goals.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 12, 2025

H 469: An act relating to flood response and the duties of the Agency of Natural Resources

H 469 requires Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources to implement specific flood resiliency projects, including creating floodways, clearing debris from waterways, restoring flood-retaining systems, and naturalizing riverbanks to reduce erosion and improve floodwater absorption. The bill directly affects communities in flood-prone areas and the Agency of Natural Resources, which must now carry out these projects. Key provisions allow the Agency to expedite permitting for cost-effective flood mitigation solutions to speed up implementation and lower costs. This bill focuses on concrete changes to flood response duties and project approval processes.

Topics ✓ Environment

Bill results