Ways and Means

This bill (S.212) allows Vermont municipalities with sufficient capacity to handle permitting and technical reviews for new or modified connections to public water and wastewater systems, instead of requiring state-level review by the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). It requires ANR to create a general permit for these connections when reviewed by delegated municipalities. The change directly affects municipalities that gain authority to process these connections and property owners needing new or modified water/wastewater connections. The bill does not alter the requirement for permits but shifts the review responsibility from ANR to local governments.

This bill updates Vermont's tobacco regulations by requiring businesses selling tobacco products or nicotine pouches (now explicitly defined as "tobacco substitutes") to obtain separate licenses (ending the prior requirement to hold a liquor license). It increases license fees, imposes higher penalties for selling to minors or without a license, and removes penalties for minors possessing tobacco products. All funds from fines, settlements, and new tobacco license fees will be directed to the Tobacco Trust Fund for prevention and cessation programs. The bill also mandates tax stamps for tobacco substitutes, increases taxes on high-nicotine products, and creates a new enforcement position within the Department of Liquor and Lottery.

Vermont's S.179 enacts the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act, creating a standardized legal process for individuals to refuse inherited property or interests after someone dies. The bill requires disclaimers (refusals of inheritance) to be in writing, signed, and delivered properly to be valid, and clarifies that disclaimers do not count as asset transfers. It directly affects Vermont residents who inherit property (e.g., through wills or trusts) and may wish to decline it to avoid tax consequences or redirect assets to other heirs. The law also specifies that fiduciaries (like executors) and parents of minors can make disclaimers under defined conditions.

Vermont's S.142 creates a new licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians (those educated outside the U.S. but licensed in their home country) to practice medicine in Vermont. It establishes two license types: a **provisional license** (valid for two years with mandatory supervision at approved facilities) requiring proof of prior practice, U.S. medical exam scores, and employment with a participating health care facility. After two years of supervised practice under this provisional license, physicians become eligible for a **limited license** (valid for up to two years), which leads to full licensure after two more years. The bill directly affects foreign-trained doctors seeking to work in Vermont and requires participating hospitals to provide mentorship, evaluation, and malpractice coverage during the supervised training period.

Vermont's S.157 establishes a voluntary certification program for recovery residences (temporary housing for people recovering from substance use disorders) through the Department of Health. To become certified, residences must meet standards including peer-support certification, compliance with health/safety rules, transparent complaint procedures, and annual reporting of resident data like stay length and employment outcomes. The bill also requires certified residences to follow specific exit policies for residents violating safety or substance use rules, with strict conditions for immediate transfers. This applies directly to recovery residences seeking certification, not to residents themselves, and mandates annual data reporting to both the Department of Health and state legislative committees.