An act relating to expanding equal pay protections

H.149 expands Vermont's equal pay law to cover all protected classes under state fair employment practices, including sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and other characteristics like race, religion, and age. The bill prohibits employers from paying less for equal work based on these factors and allows pay differences only for legitimate reasons such as seniority, merit, or a business-related factor that doesn't perpetuate discrimination. It applies to all Vermont employers and takes effect on July 1, 2025. The law clarifies that employers cannot reduce other employees' wages to comply with the new requirements.