Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 418: An act relating to an excise tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition

This bill imposes an 11% excise tax on the retail sale of firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition in Vermont. Licensed firearm dealers and ammunition vendors must collect the tax at the point of sale (during background checks) and remit it quarterly to the state. The tax applies to all retail transactions except those exempt under Vermont law, such as transfers to law enforcement or immediate family members. Revenue from the tax will be deposited into the Domestic and Sexual Violence Special Fund, which supports victim services. The tax takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 11% tax on firearms sales to fund domestic violence programs, directly generating state revenue for public services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 24, 2025

H 85: An act relating to the taxation of vehicles used for forestry operations

This bill (H 85) expands Vermont's tax exemptions for vehicles used in forestry operations. It adds motor trucks, semi-trailers, tractors, truck cranes, and other specific forestry equipment (like skidders, log loaders, and whole-tree chippers) to the list of vehicles exempt from sales tax and purchase/use tax. The exemption applies to businesses engaged in forestry activities, including timber cutting, removal, processing, and transportation of forest products. The bill modifies existing tax code sections to include these vehicles and requires state agencies to publish application guidance.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExpands tax exemptions for forestry equipment, reducing state tax revenue and weakening budget.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2025

H 77: An act relating to creating a new income tax bracket

This bill (H 77) creates a new 8.75% income tax bracket for Vermont taxpayers earning above $237,950 annually (for married couples filing jointly), with corresponding thresholds for other filing statuses. It directly affects higher-income earners by increasing their tax rate on income above these thresholds. Revenue from this new bracket will be allocated as follows: 2% to the Education Fund, 1% to the Transportation Fund, and 1% to the Higher Education Endowment Trust Fund. The bill also updates annual inflation adjustments for tax brackets using the Consumer Price Index. The bill is currently pending in the Committee on Ways and Means.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 8.75% tax bracket for high earners ($237k+), allocates revenue to Education/Transportation funds per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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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 & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides targeted tax debt relief for fraud victims, reducing tax liabilities without altering rates or creating new taxes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 12, 2025

H 212: An act relating to creating incentives for AmeriCorps members

This bill creates multiple financial and employment incentives for AmeriCorps members serving in Vermont. It requires state colleges to offer in-state tuition to AmeriCorps members, exempts them from state taxes on both the federal Segal AmeriCorps Education Award and their living allowance, and gives them hiring preference for state jobs. Additionally, it provides a Vermont state education award matching the federal Segal award for Vermont students who completed AmeriCorps service in-state and are enrolled at Vermont colleges. The bill also dedicates state funds to support AmeriCorps program development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts AmeriCorps members from state taxes on education award and living allowance, providing tax relief per Budget & Taxes indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides in-state tuition at state colleges and matching education awards for AmeriCorps members, directly expanding higher education access and financial support for students.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides financial incentives, tax exemptions, hiring preference, and education awards for AmeriCorps members, directly enhancing employment benefits and support for service workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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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 & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects 40% of cannabis tax revenue to fund harm reduction services, advancing public health spending via dedicated tax allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates misdemeanor drug possession penalties, replaces with health referrals/funding harm reduction - direct criminal justice reform to reduce criminalization95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates cannabis tax and opioid funds to fund harm reduction services for substance use disorder, replacing criminal penalties with health referrals and assessments, directly advancing public health access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy Law Enforcement Substance Abuse

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passed · Vermont · House Apr 1, 2026

H 67: An act relating to legislative operations and government accountability

H.67 creates a new Joint Government Oversight and Accountability Committee to strengthen state government accountability. The committee, composed of eight legislators (four from each chamber with party balance requirements), examines major issues affecting Vermont - such as costly failures, vulnerable populations, or audit shortcomings - and makes recommendations to prevent future problems. It must issue annual reports detailing its investigations and needs, while also reviewing how well state agencies meet policy goals. The bill also updates reporting rules for the Chief Performance Officer to ensure consistent tracking of government outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates oversight committee to examine audit shortcomings and costly failures, promoting fiscal responsibility through accountability measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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signed · Vermont · Senate Mar 27, 2026

S 60: An act relating to establishing the Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund to provide payments for farm and forestry operation losses due to weather conditions

Bill S.60 establishes the Farm Security Special Fund in Vermont to provide grants to farms that incur financial losses due to eligible severe weather conditions. This fund aims to help farmers recover by reimbursing up to 50 percent of their uninsured losses, with a maximum of $150,000 per farm annually. A new Farm Security Special Fund Review Board will assist in evaluating applications and recommending awards. The bill defines eligible weather conditions, such as flooding or drought, and outlines reimbursable losses, including lost income, replanting costs, and infrastructure repair.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new Farm Security Special Fund, allocating state budget resources to reimburse farm losses from weather, funding essential agricultural support.95% confidence

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 11, 2025

S 107: An act relating to reimbursing the Department of Fish and Wildlife for revenue lost due to issuance of free licenses

This bill requires the state to reimburse the Department of Fish and Wildlife for revenue lost when free hunting, fishing, trapping, combination, or lifetime licenses are issued after July 1, 2025. It directly affects the state budget (which must pay the reimbursement) and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (which receives the funds). The key mechanism mandates the Department to track lost revenue annually and submit an accounting to the Department of Finance and Management by January 15 each year; the Finance Department must then pay the amount from the General Fund into the Fish and Wildlife Fund within 60 days. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, ensuring financial accountability if the legislature authorizes free licenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state budget reimbursement to Fish & Wildlife for lost license revenue, directly increasing state spending to fund department operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 320: An act relating to stabilizing Vermont’s rural hospitals

H.320 aims to stabilize Vermont's rural hospitals by delaying certain financial changes until July 2026 while advancing other recommendations. The bill blocks the Green Mountain Care Board from implementing policies that limit hospital subsidies, restrict outpatient units, or standardize accounting methods before 2026, but requires them to simplify licensing and support freestanding clinics. It mandates the Board to collect hospital data to create stabilization plans by March 2026, directs health insurers to expand coverage options on Vermont's health exchange, and tasks medical education programs with placing trainees in rural hospitals using scholarship programs. These provisions directly affect rural hospitals, the Green Mountain Care Board, health insurers, and medical training programs across Vermont.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBlocks restrictions on hospital subsidies, preventing funding cuts; maintains current budget allocations for rural hospitals through 2026.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBlocks limits on hospital subsidies/outpatient units, mandates data-driven stabilization plans, and supports freestanding clinics to protect rural healthcare access and prevent funding restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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