Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 951: An act relating to making appropriations for the support of the government

This bill establishes the state of Vermont's budget for fiscal year 2027, providing funding for all state agencies, departments, and government operations. It authorizes specific spending amounts for various government functions and defines key terms like operating expenses, personal services, and grants to clarify how funds can be used. The legislation limits the creation of new state positions to those explicitly authorized during the 2026 legislative session and requires that agency staffing levels match the appropriated funds unless otherwise specified. It also outlines procedures for accepting federal funds and addresses how to handle errors in the budget totals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes state budget for FY2027, providing funding for all state agencies and government operations, directly supporting fiscal management and appropriations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 5, 2026

H 888: An act relating to passing a yield bill before Town Meeting Day

H 888 requires Vermont's General Assembly to pass legislation setting the statewide education tax revenue amounts (referred to as "yields") before school districts can vote on their budgets at annual town meetings. This bill directly affects all Vermont school districts and town meeting participants by establishing a new timing requirement for budget votes. The key provision mandates that the legislature must finalize and submit the education tax yield law to the Governor before Town Meeting Day each year. This procedural change ensures school districts have a fixed tax revenue amount to base their budgets on before voting occurs. The bill does not alter tax rates or funding levels, only the sequence of legislative actions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates legislature to set education tax yields before town meetings, promoting fiscal responsibility in budgeting and ensuring tax revenue alignment with district budgets.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue State Budget

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signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 902: An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the City of Barre

H 902 approves charter amendments for the City of Barre that allow the City Manager or councilors (with City Council approval) to authorize the sale of city property. It also changes rules for the city's unspent funds, limiting how much can be kept as an undesignated balance to 5% of the general fund budget. Any funds exceeding this 5% threshold must be used to reduce the tax rate in the next budget. These changes follow voter approval on May 13, 2025, and take effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesLimits unspent funds to 5% of budget; excess must reduce tax rate, providing direct tax relief per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

signed · Vermont · House Mar 25, 2026

H 790: An act relating to fiscal year 2026 budget adjustments

H.790 adjusts specific line items in Vermont's fiscal year 2026 budget, primarily modifying existing funding allocations rather than creating new programs. It increases renter rebate funding from $9.5 million to $11 million (a $1.5 million increase) and decreases homeowner rebate funding from $19 million to $17.5 million (a $1.5 million reduction). The bill also raises legislative counsel funding by $720,000 (from $4.88 million to $5.60 million) and makes minor adjustments to other state agency budgets. These changes directly affect renters and homeowners through rebate program funding levels, while state government operations are impacted through revised budget allocations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases renter rebates (lower-income focus) while decreasing homeowner rebates, shifting funds toward middle/lower income taxpayers via budget reallocation.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases renter rebate funding by $1.5M (from $9.5M to $11M), directly advancing affordable housing access for tenants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Homeownership Renters

signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 243: An act relating to distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project

This bill appropriates $150,000 from the Vermont General Fund to the Department of Health for the Vermont Language Justice Project. The funds will be used to create multilingual informational materials about disease outbreaks or public health emergencies, specifically for Vermonters who speak languages other than English. The materials must be ready for distribution during health crises, such as pandemics or outbreaks. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects non-English speaking Vermonters during public health emergencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $150,000 from General Fund for multilingual health materials, directly increasing state funding for essential public health services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds multilingual public health materials for non-English speakers during health crises, directly enhancing access to healthcare information during emergencies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Public Health

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 774: An act relating to a three-year education property tax freeze

H.774 would freeze Vermont's education property tax rates at 2026 levels for the next three years (2027-2029), directly affecting all homeowners and property owners who pay these taxes. The bill requires tax rates to remain at 2026 levels regardless of local budget needs during this period. To ensure education funding stays fully supported, the bill mandates that any shortfall from the frozen rates be covered by redirecting money from the state's General Fund. This policy change provides immediate tax stability for property owners while guaranteeing continued education spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFreezes education property taxes for 3 years while redirecting state General Fund to maintain full education funding, providing tax relief and protecting public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFreezes local education property taxes while mandating state General Fund coverage for any shortfall, ensuring no reduction in school funding during 2027-2029.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 7, 2026

H 591: An act relating to limiting the circumstances under which an asset is subject to judicial forfeiture

This bill (H.591) limits when assets can be seized through judicial forfeiture. It requires that forfeiture only occur after a person is convicted of the underlying criminal offense, rather than before conviction. Proceeds from selling seized assets, after deducting costs ("offset"), must be deposited into the state's General Fund. The bill directly affects individuals facing asset forfeiture proceedings by changing the legal standard for seizure and directing funds to state general revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs forfeiture proceeds to General Fund, increasing state revenue without tax changes, directly supporting budget management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires conviction before asset forfeiture, protecting civil rights and advancing criminal justice reform by preventing pre-conviction seizures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue State Budget

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 673: An act relating to brownfields redevelopment of the Upper Valley Regional Landfill

This bill appropriates $143,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 to the Agency of Natural Resources, which will grant the funds to the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). The money specifically covers GMEDC's costs for a probate proceeding to obtain a Court Appointed Administrator, enabling the transfer of the Upper Valley Regional Landfill site in Post Mills, Thetford, to new ownership. This step is required to redevelop the brownfields site, which is a contaminated or underused industrial property. The bill directly affects GMEDC and the redevelopment plans for the landfill site.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $143k from General Fund for brownfields redevelopment, directly funding state budget allocation for economic development project.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds transfer process for brownfields redevelopment, enabling environmental remediation of contaminated landfill site per brownfields cleanup standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Waste Management

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 21, 2026

S 289: An act relating to reimbursing the Department of Fish and Wildlife for lost license fee revenue

This bill requires the state to reimburse the Department of Fish and Wildlife for lost license fee revenue starting July 1, 2026, due to legally mandated free, discounted, or exempt hunting, fishing, trapping, or combination licenses. It mandates annual accounting of lost revenue by the department and payment from the General Fund by June 30 each year, equal to the exact amount of revenue lost. The reimbursement ensures the department maintains its funding level despite required fee exemptions, directly affecting the state treasury and the department’s budget. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to all statutorily required license exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReimburses Department of Fish and Wildlife for lost license revenue, maintaining budget level via General Fund payments, ensuring continued funding for essential programs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReimburses Fish and Wildlife for lost license fees, maintaining funding for conservation programs and ensuring continued environmental protection efforts without revenue loss.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing State Budget Wildlife

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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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