Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 698: An act relating to various changes to 2025 Acts and Resolves No. 73

This bill (H.698) revises Vermont's 2025 education funding and policy framework. It removes provisions requiring schools to maintain minimum class sizes, eliminates a rule allowing receiving districts to charge sending districts extra fees for high school students, and reverts unused funds from a school district voting group back to the state General Fund. The bill also updates the state's education funding formula to add a "secondary student weight" for high school students and removes recent changes to property tax classifications affecting schools. These changes directly impact school districts, state education funding calculations, and the administration of public school tuition payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reverts unused education funds to General Fund, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReverts unused education funds to General Fund (defunding) while removing class size requirements and fees, indicating reduced educational funding priorities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget Higher Education K-12 Education School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 22, 2026

S 293: An act relating to brownfields redevelopment of the Upper Valley Regional Landfill

This bill appropriates $143,000 from the General Fund to the Agency of Natural Resources for a grant to the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). The funds will cover GMEDC's costs to reinitiate brownfields redevelopment at the Upper Valley Regional Landfill in Post Mills, Thetford, specifically for a probate proceeding to appoint GMEDC as administrator. This facilitates transferring the landfill site to new ownership for redevelopment. The grant is for fiscal year 2027 and directly affects GMEDC and the landfill site's future use.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $143,000 from General Fund for brownfields redevelopment grant, directly funding government spending on economic development project.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds brownfields redevelopment at contaminated landfill, facilitating cleanup and repurposing to reduce pollution and prevent further environmental harm.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Waste Management

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 21, 2026

S 282: An act relating to increasing taxes on higher income earners and creating the School Construction Aid Special Fund

This bill creates new taxes on high-income Vermonters to fund school construction. It imposes a 2% surcharge on personal income above $250,000 (and 6% above $500,000) and a 4% "wealth proceeds tax" on individuals, estates, or trusts with taxable income exceeding $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It also doubles property tax rates for nonhomestead residential properties compared to homesteads. All revenue generated flows into a dedicated "School Construction Aid Special Fund" for public school infrastructure projects. The bill directly affects high earners and property owners with significant nonhomestead holdings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes higher taxes on high-income earners (2%+ surcharge, 4% wealth tax) to fund school construction, directly advancing public education spending via dedicated revenue stream.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates dedicated tax revenue specifically for school construction funding, directly advancing K-12 infrastructure investment through new surcharges on high earners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Fees & Licensing Property Tax School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2026

H 794: An act relating to increasing taxes on higher income earners and creating the School Construction Aid Special Fund

H.794 creates new tax rates for higher earners and modifies property taxes to fund school construction. It imposes a 2% surcharge on individual income above $250,000 and a 6% surcharge above $500,000, plus a wealth proceeds tax on individuals (with taxable income over $200,000 single/$250,000 married) and estates/trusts (over $15,200). It also doubles property tax rates for nonhomestead residential properties compared to homesteads. All new revenues will flow into the newly created School Construction Aid Special Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases taxes on high earners (>250k) and wealth to fund school construction, aligning with progressive taxation and public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates School Construction Aid Special Fund via new taxes to directly fund school infrastructure, advancing educational facilities per bill's purpose statement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 603: An act relating to excluding military disability retirement from personal income taxation

This bill (H.603) excludes U.S. military disability retirement income from Vermont's personal income tax. It directly affects Vermont veterans receiving military disability retirement pay under 10 U.S.C. chapter 61. The bill provides full exclusion for taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income under $125,000, partial exclusion for incomes between $125,000-$175,000 (proportional to income above $125,000), and no exclusion for incomes of $175,000 or more. The change applies retroactively to taxable years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes military disability retirement from state income tax, providing tax relief for veterans with income under $125k, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle-income groups.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExcludes military disability retirement from state income tax, providing direct financial relief to Vermont veterans. Directly advances veteran financial benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Veteran Benefits

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 13, 2026

H 643: An act relating to purchase and use tax revenue

H.643 redirects all revenue from Vermont's purchase and use tax to the Transportation Fund instead of the Education Fund, phasing out the education allocation over six years. The bill gradually reduces the annual cap for education funding - from $50 million in 2026 down to $10 million in 2030 - before fully repealing it by 2031. This change directly affects state budget allocations, shifting funds from education to transportation infrastructure without altering the tax itself. The policy change takes effect annually starting July 1, 2026, with full implementation by 2031.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRedirects education funding to transportation, phasing out education allocations ($50M→$10M cap) over 6 years, defunding essential education programs.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill redirects education tax revenue to transportation, phasing out $50M annual cap by 2031, directly cutting education funding.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRedirects purchase/use tax revenue to Transportation Fund, increasing infrastructure funding by phasing out education allocations over 6 years.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax State Budget Transportation Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2026

H 799: An act relating to the Free Degree Promise Program

H.799 creates the Free Degree Promise Program to provide tuition-free associate's degrees at Vermont's Community College of Vermont (CCV) for eligible high school graduates. It directly affects Vermont students who complete CCV's Early College program (earning 20+ credits) and submit financial aid applications. The program covers tuition/fees after other aid, provides stipends for books and transportation, and includes career advising. Funding comes annually from the Vermont Education Endowment Trust Fund (5% of assets), with the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation designated as a recipient. This codifies an existing initiative to reduce student debt and expand access to postsecondary education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds tuition-free education program via state endowment, increasing public service spending and aligning with fiscal responsibility for workforce development.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition-free associate's degrees at CCV, covers fees after aid, provides stipends for books/transportation, and funds through education endowment - directly expands access and funds higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 323: An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

This bill prohibits municipalities from regulating farming activities already covered by Vermont's Required Agricultural Practices Rule, clarifying that local bylaws cannot restrict farm structures or operations. It provides income, capital gains, and property transfer tax exemptions for qualifying farmers and agricultural property sales, and establishes "farm kitchen operations" as a new type of food processing establishment. The bill also allows milk producers to request administrative hearings for purchasing disputes and gives the Agency of Agriculture flexibility to use contracts (not just grants) for farm-to-school programs. These changes directly affect Vermont farmers, local governments, and food processing businesses by reducing regulatory barriers and offering financial incentives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides explicit tax exemptions (income, capital gains, property transfer) for farmers, aligning with tax relief indicators under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

in committee · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 323: An act relating to mental health programming funded by the Mental Health Innovation Special Fund

H 323 proposes creating the Mental Health Innovation Special Fund, financed through voluntary tax checkoffs on state income returns. The fund would support three main programs: mandatory school mental health screenings for students, a peer-to-peer mental health support pilot in schools, and a statewide mental health and substance misuse literacy curriculum for students. It directs the Department of Health and Education to develop and implement these initiatives, with grant funding available for innovative mental health and substance misuse treatment programs targeting youth and workforce development. The bill establishes mechanisms for public contributions via tax forms and annual reporting requirements for fund usage, directly affecting Vermont students, schools, and mental health care providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Mental Health Innovation Special Fund via voluntary tax checkoffs to fund school mental health programs, directly advancing tax-based public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds mandatory school mental health screenings, peer support pilot, and literacy curriculum - directly enhancing student mental health programs within K-12 education95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health initiatives via new Special Fund for school screenings, peer support, and literacy curriculum, directly advancing mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Mental Health

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 354: An act relating to a thermal efficiency benefits charge

H 354 creates a new "thermal efficiency benefits charge" that Vermont utility customers using unregulated fuels (like oil or propane for heating) would pay as a separate line item on their bills starting July 1, 2025. The funds collected would go into an Electric Efficiency Fund to support programs, including a 25% incentive for installing high-efficiency biomass heating systems (without requiring other energy upgrades). The charge aims to fund societally cost-effective thermal efficiency programs that help meet greenhouse gas reduction goals under Vermont law. It directly affects residential and commercial customers of unregulated fuels, not electricity or natural gas utility customers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new utility charge to fund Electric Efficiency Fund, directly allocating tax revenue for public thermal efficiency programs.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates fund for thermal efficiency programs including 25% incentive for high-efficiency biomass heating systems, directly advancing energy efficiency and renewable thermal solutions.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds thermal efficiency programs with 25% biomass heating incentives, promoting cleaner energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel reliance per bill's purpose.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Climate Change

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