An act relating to capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment

Total authorized capital construction amount increased from $122,695,774.67 (House) to $123,564,624.67 (enacted), an increase of approximately $869,000.

First-year biennium appropriation cap reduced from $61,569,761.44 to $61,449,761.44, a decrease of $120,000.

The $3 million project to install Wi-Fi in State correctional facilities was replaced with a $750,000 project to develop a plan for network connectivity that modernizes processes, reduces paper reliance, addresses staff retention, supports data-driven operations, and lays groundwork for wearable technology and mobile device-supported operations, as outlined in the Business Transformation Project Recommendations Report.

New funding added for maintenance, replacement, and renovations at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility or other facilities utilized in response to overcrowding for the incarcerated women's population: $598,850 in FY 2027 (bond-funded) and $500,000 in FY 2027 (cash-funded).

New funding added for Northern State Correctional Facility boiler replacement ($700,000 bond-funded, $1,000,000 cash-funded) and NECC door control system replacements ($1,480,000 in FY 2026 bond-funded, reduced from the House's $9,426,254.21; $2,700,000 cash-funded).

FY 2026 statewide three-acre parcel stormwater compliance funding reduced from $1,100,000 (House) to $500,000 (enacted), a $600,000 cut.

FY 2027 statewide major maintenance for State Buildings reduced from $9,013,413.18 (House) to $8,683,413.18 (enacted), a $330,000 reduction.

New reallocation of $868,850 from 2021 Acts and Resolves No. 50, Sec. 3(b)(1) (women's correctional facilities, replacement) added to the reallocation section, increasing total bonded dollar reallocations from $8,947,268.67 to $9,816,118.67.

FY 2027 cash-funded statewide major maintenance increased from $1,281,173.60 (House) to $1,781,173.60 (enacted), a $500,000 increase.

Commerce and Community Development FY 2027 appropriation increased from $641,000 (House) to $841,000 (enacted), driven by an increase in major maintenance at statewide historic sites from $550,000 to $750,000.

FY 2027 stormwater compliance for State Buildings was restored at $1,100,000 in the enacted version after being marked [Repealed] in the House version.

New reporting requirement: On or before January 15, 2027, the Sergeant at Arms and Commissioner of Buildings and General Services must report to the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Institutions on the status of designs for the State House entryway and second-floor egress, and on estimates for construction costs.

The State House entryway project description was expanded to include 'second-floor egress design' in addition to the existing comprehensive parking plan and delivery truck access components.

Total authorized bonding increased from $111,965,288.44 to $123,564,624.67, an increase of about $11.6 million

FY 2027 HVAC system upgrades at correctional facilities increased from $1,000,000 to $9,426,254.21, the single largest line-item change in the bill

Total Human Services (correctional) appropriation increased from $13,025,000 to $23,050,104.21, nearly doubling due to the HVAC increase and new projects

New FY 2027 project added: State House entryway upgrades, design documents including comprehensive parking plan, delivery truck access, and second-floor egress design at $1,300,000

New FY 2027 project added: Maintenance, replacement, and renovations at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility or other facilities for overcrowding response for incarcerated women's population at $598,850

New FY 2027 project added: Northern State Correctional Facility boiler replacement at $700,000

FY 2026 three-acre parcel stormwater compliance reduced from $1,500,000 to $500,000; the FY 2027 portion ($1,100,000) was repealed entirely

FY 2027 120 State Street HVAC steam lines interior renovation reduced from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000

FY 2027 Northern State Correctional Facility sprinkler system upgrades ($500,000) was repealed

FY 2026 NECC door control system replacements increased from $1,000,000 to $1,480,000; FY 2027 NECC door control increased from $2,600,000 to $2,920,000

FY 2027 major maintenance at statewide historic sites increased from $550,000 to $750,000; roadside historic site markers increased from $25,000 to $45,000

First-year appropriation cap decreased slightly from $61,969,761.44 to $61,449,761.44 despite the overall increase in total authorization

New reporting requirement: On or before January 15, 2027, the Sergeant at Arms and Commissioner of Buildings and General Services must report to legislative committees on the status of State House entryway and second-floor egress designs and construction cost estimates

HVAC system upgrades at correctional facilities increased from $1,000,000 to $9,426,254.21 in FY 2027, a roughly $8.4 million increase that is the largest single change in the bill.

Total reallocated and reverted funds increased from $6,774,938.48 to $16,083,980.37 (an increase of about $9.3 million), with bonded dollars rising from $5,074,938.48 to $8,947,268.67 and cash funds rising from $1,700,000 to $7,136,711.70.

Statewide major maintenance in FY 2027 increased from $8,500,000 to $9,013,413.18.

Three-acre parcel stormwater compliance in FY 2026 decreased from $1,500,000 to $1,100,000.

120 State Street HVAC steam lines interior renovation in FY 2027 decreased from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000.

Roadside historic site markers increased from $25,000 to $45,000 in FY 2027.

An exception was added for eligible mobile home park water systems in the loan interest rate certification rule: the Secretary is now not required to ensure a 1% median household income user cost floor when certifying rates for those systems.

A new introductory block was added identifying the introducing committee (Corrections and Institutions), subject line, and a statement of purpose describing the bill as adjusting the FY 2026 capital construction budget.

Terminology was updated throughout: 'reallocated' changed to 'appropriated' in several places, 'reallocated reverted' used for certain fund returns, and 'Appropriations Act' changed to 'Appropriations Acts' in the cash-funded project authorizations section.

Total authorized capital spending increased from $111,965,288.44 to $122,695,774.67 (about $10.7 million more).

First-year appropriation cap decreased slightly from $61,969,761.44 to $61,569,761.44 ($400,000 less available in FY 2026).

FY 2027 HVAC system upgrades at correctional facilities increased from $1,000,000 to $9,426,254.21, an increase of about $8.4 million - the single largest line-item change in the bill.

FY 2026 statewide three-acre parcel stormwater compliance decreased from $1,500,000 to $1,100,000 ($400,000 reduction).

FY 2027 statewide major maintenance increased from $8,500,000 to $9,013,413.18.

New FY 2027 State Buildings projects added: State House historic interior finishes replacement ($50,000), 120 State Street HVAC steam lines renovation (reduced from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000), and State House entryway upgrades with comprehensive parking plan ($1,300,000).

Roadside historic site markers increased from $25,000 to $45,000.

New FY 2027 clean water appropriations added: $200,000 for forest access road water quality improvements, $800,000 for agricultural water quality projects, and $2,000,000 for land conservation and water quality projects through the Housing and Conservation Board.

New FY 2027 cash-funded project authorizations added totaling approximately $10.3 million: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund match ($2,498,000), Waterbury Dam Penstock cost overruns ($150,000), park infrastructure ($400,000), dam maintenance and safety planning ($200,000), Urban Search and Rescue facility ($500,000), Essex County Courthouse connector ($500,000), White River Junction courthouse renovations ($1,600,000), Vermont Historical Society climate control unit ($566,724), corrections Wi-Fi system ($3,000,000), and women's reentry/correctional facilities replacement ($1,250,000).

Total reallocations and reversions of prior-year funds increased from $6,774,938.48 to $16,083,980.37, with new items including EV charging stations ($995,040), 120 State Street renovation ($1,500,000), and additional prior-year carryover amounts.

FY 2027 statewide three-acre parcel stormwater compliance line item was repealed (the $1,100,000 allocation removed from FY 2027).