S 125 Vermont Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to collective bargaining

This bill amends Vermont's collective bargaining law (3 V.S.A. §§ 941, 1021, 1581, 1584, 1992) to clarify who qualifies for union representation. It redefines "employee" to exclude judges, court staff, interns, probationary workers, and certain managers (Sec. 5), while adjusting petition thresholds: 30% signatures for new bargaining units and 50%+1 for ending union representation (Sec. 5a). It also requires school districts to hold referendums using 50%+1 signatures to challenge current union representation (Sec. 5d). The bill directly affects public-sector workers in state agencies and schools, altering how unions form and gain recognition.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Vetoed
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 18, 2025 Vetoed Jun 16, 2025
Floor votes · House May 13, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
51
Key actions
11
Committee
10
Amendments
11
Jun 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committed to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs on motion of Senator Clarkson
upper
Jun 16, 2025
Vetoed
Governor vetoed bill
upper
Jun 13, 2025
Vetoed
Senate Message: Vetoed by Governor June 9, 2025
lower
Jun 13, 2025
Vetoed
Governor vetoed bill
upper
Jun 13, 2025
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor & placed on notice calendar for June 13, 2025
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Vetoed
Governor vetoed bill on June 9, 2025
upper
May 23, 2025
Introduced
Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in
lower
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
As passed by Senate and House
upper
May 21, 2025
Introduced
Title amended
upper
May 21, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment concurred in
upper
May 21, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment; text
upper
May 21, 2025
Introduced
Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment
upper
May 20, 2025
Introduced
New Business/House Proposal of Amendment
upper
May 16, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment
upper
May 16, 2025
Introduced
House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment with proposal of amendment
upper
May 14, 2025
Introduced
Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 66 of 132 to Pass -- Yeas = 81, Nays = 51
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report of Committee on General and Housing agreed to
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Greer of Bennington moved to amend the report of the Committee on General and Housing
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Dodge of Essex reported for the Committee on General and Housing
lower
May 9, 2025
Introduced
Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Marcotte of Coventry moved that the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development be relieved of the bill and that the same be committed to the Committee on General and Housing, which was agreed to
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations agreed to
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably by Senator Watson for Committee on Appropriations with recommendation of amendment
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Introduced
Committee bill read first time & placed on Notice Calendar per Senate Rule 48
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.