An act relating to the inclusion of use value appraisal land in the conserved land inventory
Vermont's H.70 would add land enrolled in the state's Use Value Appraisal Program to the official "conserved land" inventory. This program allows landowners to pay lower property taxes in exchange for maintaining agricultural or forest land. The bill updates legal definitions so this land counts toward Vermont's conservation goals of protecting 30% and 50% of land by 2030 and 2050, respectively. It directly affects landowners in the Use Value Appraisal Program and state conservation planning efforts. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025.
Bill status
failed
2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
House Failed
May 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2025
Last action May 12, 2026
Floor votes · House May 12, 2026
How they voted
54–73
Failed · 12 other
Total votes 139
May 12, 2026
D
Democratic83
84% Nay
I
Independent3
33% Nay
R
Republican53
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
2
May 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rep. Higley of Lowell moved to relieve the Committee on Environment
lower
May 12, 2026
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (54-73-12)
house
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rep. Galfetti of Barre Town moved to relieve the Committee on Environment
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment
lower
30 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Beth Quimby
RRepublican
P
Chris Keyser
RRepublican
P
Chris Taylor
RRepublican
P
Christopher Howland
RRepublican
P
Debbie Powers
RRepublican
P
Gina Galfetti
RRepublican
P
Greg Burtt
RRepublican
P
Jed Lipsky
IIndependent
P
Jim Casey
RRepublican
P
Joe Luneau
RRepublican
P
Joseph Parsons
RRepublican
P
Josh Dobrovich
RRepublican
P
Kenneth Goslant
RRepublican
P
Larry Labor
RRepublican
P
Leland Morgan
RRepublican
P
Lisa Hango
RRepublican
P
Lynn Dickinson
RRepublican
P
Mark Higley
RRepublican
P
Marty Feltus
RRepublican
P
Mary Morrissey
RRepublican
P
Mike Morgan
RRepublican
P
Mike Southworth
RRepublican
P
Mike Tagliavia
RRepublican
P
Penny Demar
RRepublican
P
Richard Bailey
RRepublican
P
Richard Nelson
RRepublican
P
Todd Nielsen
RRepublican
P
Tom Oliver
RRepublican
P
Topper McFaun
RRepublican
P
Woody Page
RRepublican
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