H 861 Vermont House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to establishing an Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator

H.861 would create an independent position for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator within Vermont's state government. The coordinator's role would focus on ensuring state agencies comply with federal and state disability rights laws. This bill directly affects how state services are delivered to Vermonters with disabilities by requiring a dedicated official to oversee accessibility. The bill summary does not specify additional duties, funding, or implementation details beyond establishing the position.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 3, 2026 Last action Mar 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) → As Passed By the House (OfficialOpens in a new window) · 4 edits · Mar 25, 2026

MODERATE

The transition from unofficial to official version of H.861 primarily restructures the funding and effective date provisions. The $150,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is moved from a condition on the effective date into its own standalone appropriation section (new Sec. 2), and the effective date (Sec. 3) no longer depends on that appropriation being made. A short-form header with bill metadata was also added. Notably, the official version appears to contain a clerical error where both the new restructured sections and the old conditional effective date section are present simultaneously.

FISCAL

The $150,000 fiscal year 2027 appropriation was moved from being a condition on the effective date into its own dedicated appropriation section (new Sec. 2), explicitly stating it comes from the General Fund to establish the ADA Coordinator position.

TIMELINE

The effective date provision was restructured: the new Sec. 3 simply states the act takes effect July 1, 2026 without any condition tied to appropriation, whereas the old version made effectiveness contingent on the $150,000 being appropriated.

TECHNICAL

A short-form header section was added containing bill metadata: sponsor (Rep. Burrows of West Windsor), committee referral line, subject classification, and a statement of purpose.

The official version appears to contain a drafting error where both the new Sec. 2 (appropriation) and Sec. 3 (unconditional effective date) are included alongside the old Sec. 2 (conditional effective date), resulting in duplicate and conflicting provisions.

As IntroducedOpens in a new window → As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · 6 edits · Mar 25, 2026

MODERATE

The bill transitioned from a short-form introduction (title and purpose statement only) to a full operative text establishing a permanent Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator position within the Agency of Administration. The passed version adds detailed qualifications, a restricted hiring process limited to candidates nominated by four disability advocacy entities, eleven specific duties, and an effective date of July 1, 2026 conditioned on $150,000 being appropriated in the FY2027 budget.

Scope change

Expanded from a one-page short-form bill with no operative text to a three-page full bill creating a new permanent State position with defined qualifications, a restricted nomination-based hiring process, detailed duties, and a funding-conditioned effective date.

SCOPE

Establishes a permanent ADA Coordinator position within the Agency of Administration with authority to coordinate accessibility across all State programs, services, and activities.

ELIGIBILITY

The Coordinator must have lived experience of a disability and must have completed a recognized ADA coordinator certificate program, plus comprehensive knowledge of the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and related disability rights law.

REQUIREMENT

Hiring is restricted: the Secretary of Administration may only consider candidates nominated by four specific entities - the Human Rights Commission, Disability Rights Vermont, the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, and the Vermont Center for Independent Living.

Eleven specific duties are enumerated, including compliance monitoring, consulting to State employees and leadership, ensuring effective communication with individuals with disabilities, educating employees on legal obligations and ableism, auditing programs and facilities, overseeing self-evaluation processes, monitoring federally required transition plans, providing public notice of ADA rights, applying for grants and accepting donations, maintaining relationships with advocacy organizations, and facilitating partnerships.

FISCAL

The act takes effect July 1, 2026, but only if $150,000 is appropriated in the FY2027 budget for the Coordinator position.

TECHNICAL

The Coordinator is entitled to administrative, legal, and technical support from the Agency of Administration.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 27, 2026

Introduced

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report of Committee on General and Housing, as amended, agreed to

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rep. Noyes of Wolcott moved to amend the report of the Committee on General and Housing, as amended, which was agreed to

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report of Committee on General and Housing amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rep. Stevens of Waterbury recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rep. Burrows of West Windsor reported for the Committee on General and Housing

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Introduced

Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Introduced

Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced

Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Introduced

Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors