An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Added introductory matter including the introducing committee (Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry), a blank date field, a subject line, and a statement of purpose summarizing the bill's provisions.

Removed the assigned bill number 'No. 167' and the governor signature date (June 18, 2026) that appeared in the enacted version.

Changed document formatting from a 19-page layout with 'No. 167 / Page X of 19' headers to a 22-page layout with 'BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE / H.942 / Page X of 22' headers and line numbers.

Water quality training provisions changed from mandatory ('shall') to discretionary ('may') in multiple places, giving the Secretary more flexibility in adopting and phasing in training requirements for farm operators.

Non-sewage waste transport approval changed from 'The Secretary may require' to 'This section shall apply to,' making the pre-transport approval requirement mandatory rather than discretionary for anyone transporting non-sewage waste or waste materials to a farm.

New definition of 'convenience store' added to the retail pricing chapter, defining it as a store selling a limited number of everyday items that does not offer sufficient consumer commodities to make unit pricing useful. The Secretary has discretion to determine whether a store qualifies.

Convenience stores added as an exemption from unit price disclosure requirements in the retail pricing chapter (new subsection 686(a)(2)).

Entirely new Section 4 requires the Commissioner of Taxes to study and recommend whether equine farming (defined as raising, feeding, or managing four or more equines for gain or profit) should be included in the Use Value Appraisal Program, with recommendations due to legislative committees by December 15, 2026.

Entirely new Section 5 creates the Rural Economic Development Initiative, administered by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, to help small towns (population under 5,000) and rural areas access grants and technical assistance. Priority projects include milk plants, outdoor recreation enterprises, value-added food operations, farm operations with phosphorus removal technology, coworking spaces, commercial composting facilities, and historic building restoration.

New Section 6 establishes a 15-day deadline for the Review Board to recommend Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund awards after receiving complete applications, and a further 15 days for the Secretary to make final award determinations.

Added introductory metadata block including the introducing committee (Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry), a date field, subject lines, and a statement of purpose summarizing the bill's provisions.

Changed document header from 'AS PASSED BY HOUSE' to 'BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE' on all pages.

Removed the internal tracking number footer 'VT LEG #388214 v.1' that appeared at the bottom of several pages in the unofficial version.

Water quality training for farm owners and operators was changed from mandatory to discretionary. The word 'shall' was replaced with 'may' in multiple places, meaning the Secretary now has the option but not the obligation to require training classes or programs.

The non-sewage waste transport provision was changed from discretionary to mandatory. Previously the text read 'The Secretary may require' a person transporting non-sewage waste or waste materials to a farm to obtain approval. It now reads 'This section shall apply to a person transporting,' making the approval requirement automatic rather than dependent on the Secretary's decision to invoke it.

A new subsection (f) was added stating that as of July 1, 2026, the mandatory water quality training requirements in the Required Agricultural Practices Rule are repealed. The Secretary may prospectively determine appropriate training requirements going forward.

A specific penalty was added to the retail pricing chapter: a person who violates the chapter shall be fined not more than $500. This supplements the existing provision that retail establishments are subject to penalties under sections 15, 16, and 17 of the title.

The grounds for exempting classes of retail establishments from unit price requirements were broadened. The Secretary may now exempt a class if compliance is 'impracticable and unreasonable and unnecessary for adequately protecting individuals,' adding 'unreasonable' as an additional criterion beyond the prior standard.