An act relating to extending the sunset of 30 V.S.A. § 248a

The sunset date for new certificate of public good applications under 30 V.S.A. 248a was changed from July 1, 2030 (in the unofficial version) to July 1, 2029 (in the official version), reducing the extension from four years to three years.

The effective date of the act was changed from 'on passage' to a specific date of July 1, 2026.

The amendment was restructured from amending the entire section 248a to a targeted amendment of only subsection (i), and legislative tracking information (sponsor, committee referral, subject line) was removed in the official version.

The sunset date for new applications under 30 V.S.A. section 248a was changed from July 1, 2029 to July 1, 2030, giving the Commission two additional years of authority to consider new telecommunications siting applications.

The PUC must submit its overview of the process, recommendations, and description of any changes made to the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy by December 15, 2027.

The effective date was changed from July 1, 2026 to 'passage,' meaning the law takes effect immediately upon enactment rather than waiting until a fixed future date.

A new Section 2 requires the Public Utility Commission to recommend changes to section 248a aimed at increasing transparency, efficiency, fairness, and public participation in the telecommunications siting process.

The PUC must hold at least two workshops and invite specific stakeholders including telecommunications providers that have used the process, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, regional planning commissions, Vermonters for a Clean Environment, and relevant state agencies.

The workshops must address eight specific topics: advance notice procedures, postpetition comment periods, contested case proceedings, evidentiary hearings, evidentiary burdens and presumptions of compliance, standards for supplements and amendments, streamlined transfer processes for certificates, and any other topics the Commission identifies.

The entire House Section 2 requiring the Public Utility Commission to hold at least two workshops, invite specific stakeholders (telecom providers, Vermont League of Cities and Towns, regional planning commissions, Vermonters for a Clean Environment, etc.), address eight specific procedural topics, and submit a report to legislative committees by December 15, 2027 was deleted in its entirety.

New subsection (e) requires applicants to serve written notice at least 60 days before filing an application on municipal legislative bodies, planning commissions, the Secretaries of Natural Resources and Transportation, the Division for Historic Preservation, the Commissioner of Public Service, the Land Use Review Board (if a prior permit was issued under chapter 151), and adjoining landowners. A copy must also be filed with each affected planning commission.

New subsection (e)(2) requires that for any application other than a de minimis modification or a facility of limited size and scope, the municipal legislative body or planning commission must hold a public meeting within the 60-day notice period. The applicant must attend, the Department of Public Service attends on request, and the Department must consider comments made at the meeting in its recommendations to the Commission.

The effective date changed from July 1, 2026 (House version) to 'on passage' (enacted version), with the Governor signing on June 15, 2026. This means the new notice and public meeting requirements took effect immediately upon signing rather than waiting until July 1.

The bill was redesignated as Act No. 129 in the enacted version, and formatting was updated to match the standard enrolled act format.

The sunset date for new applications under section 248a was extended from July 1, 2029 (as introduced) to July 1, 2030 (as passed), giving telecom companies one additional year to file new siting applications.

The Commission must submit a report to the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy by December 15, 2027, describing its process, recommendations, and any changes made to the section 248a process.

A new Section 2 requires the Public Utility Commission to recommend changes to section 248a to increase transparency, efficiency, fairness, and public participation in telecommunications siting. The Commission must hold at least two workshops with specified stakeholders including telecom providers, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, regional planning commissions, Vermonters for a Clean Environment, and multiple state agencies.

The workshops must address eight specific topics: advance notice procedures, postpetition comment periods, contested case proceedings, evidentiary hearings, evidentiary burdens and presumptions, standards for supplements and amendments, streamlined certificate transfer processes, and any other topics the Commission identifies.

The effective date was changed from July 1, 2026 to 'on passage,' meaning the law takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature rather than waiting until mid-2026.