Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 11, 2024

H 739: An act relating to raising awareness of military-related postsecondary opportunities

This bill requires Vermont school districts to include military-related postsecondary opportunities in career development and personalized learning plans for students in grades 7 through 12. It also mandates that the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation provide information about military-related postsecondary options and financial aid in all planning resources it produces. The changes aim to ensure students are aware of military education pathways as part of their broader career and postsecondary planning. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Laura Sibilia (I) Lisa Hango (R) Sarita Austin (D) Matt Birong (D) Mary-Katherine Stone (D) · 33 co-sponsors

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 11, 2024

H 762: An act relating to a single process for sealing criminal history records

This bill proposes to create a single, unified process for sealing criminal history records in Vermont, simplifying the current system where different procedures apply to expungement and sealing. It would allow certain individuals with qualifying criminal convictions to have their records sealed from general public access while still permitting specific entities like law enforcement and employers to view them for legitimate purposes. The legislation removes the requirement for people requesting criminal records to provide the date of birth of the individual they are seeking and eliminates a disclaimer that currently warns requestors that name-only searches may return multiple people. By consolidating these procedures and adjusting how records are handled, the bill aims to streamline access to criminal history information while maintaining protections for individuals with certain types of convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 11, 2024

H 767: An act relating to increasing penalties for drug-related offenses

This bill proposes to strengthen penalties for drug-related offenses in Vermont by clarifying legal definitions and increasing punishments for specific violations. It directly affects individuals charged with drug crimes, particularly those involving minors, repeat offenders, and cases resulting in death. The legislation amends the definition of "knowingly" to include conscious disregard of risk, increases penalties for selling drugs to minors and using minors in drug crimes, doubles penalties for second and subsequent trafficking offenses with mandatory minimum sentences, and prevents defendants from using the presence of multiple drugs as a defense when a death results from drug use.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 11, 2024

H 747: An act relating to appropriating funds to reimburse the Burlington Fire Department for assisting individuals experiencing a drug overdose

This bill allocates $200,000 from the state's General Fund to reimburse the Burlington Fire Department for emergency medical services provided to individuals experiencing drug overdoses. The money is distributed through the Department of Health as a grant to the City of Burlington, with the requirement that these funds supplement rather than replace existing city funding for the fire department. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and is intended to help cover the costs associated with responding to overdose incidents in Burlington.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Carolyn Branagan (R) · 45 co-sponsors

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 11, 2024

H 761: An act relating to penalties and point assessments for using a portable electronic device while operating a moving motor vehicle and the Distracted Driving Diversion Program

This bill proposes to increase fines and add more points to driving records for using portable electronic devices like phones while driving in Vermont. It directly affects all drivers who use handheld devices or text while operating a moving vehicle on highways. The bill establishes higher penalties for violations in school zones and work zones where construction or maintenance crews are present, with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 and additional points on driving records. It also creates a new Distracted Driving Diversion Program to offer an alternative to traditional penalties for eligible first-time offenders. The legislation applies to both junior operators and licensed drivers, with specific provisions preventing duplicate penalties for the same incident.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Brian Smith (R) · 59 co-sponsors

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 11, 2024

H 765: An act relating to health insurance coverage for obesity care

This bill requires health insurance plans in Vermont, including Medicaid, to provide comprehensive coverage for obesity treatment. It directly affects individuals with obesity and the insurance companies that serve them. The law mandates coverage for FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, lifestyle interventions like nutrition counseling and exercise planning, bariatric surgery, and ensures equal cost-sharing for obesity care compared to other medical conditions. Coverage decisions must be based on medical necessity rather than solely on body mass index calculations, and prior authorization processes should not create unnecessary barriers to care. The changes will take effect for plans issued on or after January 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 11, 2024

S 251: An act relating to State boards and commissions and State employees

This bill establishes new ethics rules for Vermont State board members and employees by prohibiting board members from holding outside positions that involve policy development or advocacy related to their official duties, and it restricts state employees from engaging in certain political activities. The legislation creates a formal complaint process managed by the Executive Director to address ethics violations, including a mechanism to remove board members who violate the new restrictions after a hearing. State employees are barred from using their official authority to influence elections, coercing colleagues into political contributions, serving as political party officers, or running for partisan office without taking an unpaid leave of absence. The bill also defines permissible and impermissible political activities for state workers and sets potential penalties including fines and imprisonment for intentional violations.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 10, 2024

H 720: An act relating to improper disclosure of discovery information in criminal proceedings

This bill would allow Vermont courts to punish criminal defendants who improperly share discovery information obtained from prosecutors to harass, intimidate, or damage the reputation of individuals mentioned in that information. Under the new law, if a defendant in the Superior Court's Criminal Division publicly uses such information for improper purposes, the judge must order them to stop and could impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000. Anyone who refuses to comply with a court order issued under this provision would face civil contempt proceedings. The measure applies specifically to defendants in criminal cases and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 10, 2024

H 715: An act relating to climate change resilience under Act 250

This bill modifies Vermont's Act 250 land use law to better support climate change resilience and infrastructure development. It directly affects utility companies, developers, and local communities by requiring a "certificate of public good" before new electric and gas infrastructure projects can begin construction. The bill also clarifies that certain energy and telecommunications facilities are exempt from specific development definitions under Act 250, while establishing stricter timelines for processing applications and requiring annual performance reports from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Additionally, it mandates that applicants provide notice to landowners and local officials at least 30 days before filing applications, with provisions for dismissing incomplete applications after six months to prevent delays.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 10, 2024

H 716: An act relating to career and technical education

This bill modifies Vermont's career and technical education system by changing how school districts are charged tuition based on student enrollment, requiring career exposure for younger students, and shifting oversight from the State Board of Education to the Secretary of Education. It mandates that students in grades six through eight visit CTE centers annually, ensures middle and high school students have access to career exploration courses, and requires local unions to adopt comprehensive career development policies aligned with state models. The legislation also establishes a timeline for developing these policies, includes CTE facilities in state construction aid updates, and creates accountability measures for districts that fail to comply with new requirements.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 10, 2024

H 733: An act relating to General Assistance emergency housing

This bill requires hotels and motels participating in Vermont's General Assistance emergency housing program to undergo biannual inspections by the Department of Health. If a facility fails inspection due to issues that cannot be quickly fixed, it will be condemned, and former residents will be given priority for jobs and training related to the building's renovation. Additionally, the bill limits the rates charged to participating hotels and motels to no more than the average rate of other similar properties in the same county. These measures directly affect housing providers, the state health department, and individuals receiving emergency housing assistance.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 10, 2024

H 718: An act relating to the calculation of a school district’s long-term membership

This bill changes how Vermont school districts calculate their long-term membership numbers, which are used to determine education funding. It allows districts to use their current year's average daily membership if that number is higher than the average from the previous two years, instead of always using the two-year average. The change also applies to supervisory unions, which can use either their current year's membership or the average of the past three years, whichever is larger. This adjustment takes effect on July 1, 2024, and directly impacts how state funding is distributed to school districts based on enrollment figures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Bill results