Education

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.

This bill (S 244) proposes to repeal most provisions of 2025 Acts and Resolves No. 73, which was a comprehensive education and tax reform package. It specifically retains changes to tuition eligibility for approved independent schools (16 V.S.A. § 828), State Board of Education appointment rules (16 V.S.A. §§ 161-162), and the creation of regional assessment districts. The bill also creates new property tax classifications for second homes/short-term rentals and seasonal residential properties, taxing them like nonhomestead nonresidential properties. These changes affect Vermont school districts, taxpayers, and education funding structures by undoing prior legislative actions while maintaining specific education governance and tax provisions.

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.

This bill limits annual increases in per-pupil education spending for Vermont school districts during fiscal years 2028 and 2029. It requires districts to cap spending growth at a calculated "allowable growth percentage" based on how their per-pupil spending compares to the highest-spending district (excluding certain districts), with a minimum 3% growth allowed. The formula subtracts a district’s prior-year spending from the highest district’s spending, divides that difference by the district’s own spending, then multiplies by 9% to determine the maximum allowable increase. The bill applies to all Vermont public school districts and takes effect July 1, 2026.

This bill (H 770) directs Vermont to opt out of a federal tax credit program that allows states to subsidize contributions to scholarship organizations for school expenses. It designates the Vermont General Assembly as the sole entity authorized to make this election, explicitly stating Vermont "shall not participate" in the program under federal law (26 U.S.C. § 25F). The policy change means Vermont residents will no longer be eligible for state tax credits when contributing to scholarship organizations, as the state declines to join the federal program. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.