Vermont Bills | MyRepTracker

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 832: An act relating to fourth-class licenses and retail alcoholic beverage tasting permits

This bill (H.832) amends Vermont's licensing laws for alcohol manufacturers and tasting events. It allows licensed manufacturers to sell products from up to five other Vermont manufacturers at their fourth-class license locations (capped at 10 locations total), requiring purchases on invoice. It also shortens the application deadline for retail tasting events from five days to one day prior to the event. The changes directly affect alcohol manufacturers, rectifiers, and businesses hosting tasting events by expanding product availability and simplifying event planning. (Citations: 7 V.S.A. § 224(c)(1) & § 255(a)(1))

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 812: An act relating to data loyalty

Vermont's H.812, the "Vermont Duty of Data Loyalty Act," requires businesses (called "covered entities") to handle consumer personal data responsibly by limiting how they store, share, or sell it. It directly affects Vermont consumers and businesses that collect personal data, excluding small businesses, government agencies, and employee data from its scope. Key provisions define "covered data" (information identifying individuals), prohibit selling data for cross-context behavioral advertising without consent, and create a "duty of data loyalty" for covered entities. The law aims to strengthen privacy protections by regulating data practices while specifying what data types and business types are excluded from coverage.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 827: An act relating to flooding disclosures when conveying real estate

This Vermont bill (H 827) updates real estate disclosure requirements for flood history. It requires sellers to inform buyers whether a property experienced flooding during their ownership, but adds an exception: sellers who never lived on the property may provide written notice stating they cannot confirm flooding history due to not residing there. The bill does not change existing requirements for sellers who know about flooding or for disclosing flood insurance status and FEMA flood maps. It directly affects residential real estate sellers who are non-resident owners. The law takes effect upon passage.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 825: An act relating to zoning for construction of wheelchair ramps

This bill (H.825) simplifies the process for property owners to install wheelchair ramps by removing the requirement to submit a zoning permit application. It directly affects property owners seeking to make accessibility improvements and the municipal panels that review development projects. The key provision requires these panels to allow ramp construction without permits and mandates they receive training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it relates to zoning. This change aims to reduce barriers for accessible home modifications while ensuring local officials understand ADA compliance.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 834: An act relating to traffic calming measures for village centers and pedestrian and bicycle safety

This bill allows Vermont municipalities to set speed limits below 25 mph in downtowns, village centers, and "thickly settled districts" (areas with closely spaced buildings over a quarter-mile stretch). It prohibits parking within a specific distance of crosswalks but permits vehicle unloading or bicycle/scooter parking nearby. The bill also restricts using center turn lanes to pass vehicles and requires studies on improving bike/pedestrian infrastructure and converting state highways to lower-speed "class 1 town highways." These changes directly affect local governments, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in communities with designated village centers or dense development areas.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 830: An act relating to the right of a student or parent or guardian to opt out of electronic device usage

H.830 allows Vermont students or their parents/guardians in public and approved independent schools to opt out of using electronic devices for classroom work. Schools must create policies outlining how to exercise this right, including alternative learning methods and protections against discrimination for students who choose not to use devices. The bill also prohibits schools from punishing teachers who teach without electronic devices. It becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 821: An act relating to artificial intelligence

H.821 establishes an updated Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council in Vermont, requiring it to study AI's impacts on education, finance, and public health. The bill mandates that businesses using generative AI in consumer services must disclose this usage to customers. The Council must submit a report by January 15, 2027, with recommendations for ethical AI use in public services and pilot projects for public finance engagement. The bill also specifies the Council's membership composition, including state agency representatives and experts in ethics, health, and education. This legislation directly affects Vermont state agencies, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and businesses offering consumer services using AI tools.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 813: An act relating to ensuring the same accountability, transparency, and education standards for all schools receiving public funding

H 813 requires approved independent schools receiving public funding to meet the same education quality standards, transparency rules, and accountability measures as Vermont public schools. It mandates these schools to develop annual improvement plans, publicly report student performance data (including graduation rates and cost-per-pupil), maintain safe facilities, employ licensed special educators, follow open meeting and public records laws, and not charge extra fees to publicly funded students. The bill directly affects independent schools that accept state tuition payments, ensuring they operate with comparable standards to public schools. Key provisions include standardized reporting formats, safety regulations, and prohibitions on charging additional fees beyond state funding. This extends Vermont’s public school accountability framework to all schools using public funds.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 838: An act relating to Group membership in the State Employees’ Retirement System

H.838 amends Vermont's State Employees’ Retirement System definitions to create a new Group G membership category. It directly affects specific state employees, including Department of Corrections security/treatment staff, justice youth facility workers, Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital employees, sheriffs, and certified deputy sheriffs who perform law enforcement as their primary duty. The bill establishes eligibility requirements: employees must be hired after July 1, 2023 (or elect to join by June 2023), or be current members who elect to join by December 2024, while meeting certification and employment criteria. This changes membership classification without altering retirement benefits or funding.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2026

H 808: An act relating to the Title 16 definition of harassment

This bill (H.808) modifies how harassment is evaluated under Vermont's Title 16 legal code. It specifically requires school districts to consider factors beyond student performance when determining the purpose or effect of harassment incidents. The bill directly affects school districts and their compliance with anti-harassment policies in educational settings. It changes the evaluation criteria for harassment cases by expanding the factors considered, moving away from student performance as the sole metric. The bill does not alter the definition of harassment itself but changes how its impact is assessed.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2026

H 801: An act relating to improving State and regional operations

H.801 proposes creating a working group to improve state and regional government operations. The group, appointed by regional planning commissions, state agencies, municipalities, and stakeholders, must produce a December 2026 report surveying state programs aiding municipalities, assessing their impact, and recommending better regional coordination, service sharing, and potential consolidation of state boards. The report must also include proposals for aligning regional plans with state processes. The working group will consult with Vermont's AI Advisory Council and Division of AI to explore public engagement strategies using artificial intelligence, including incentives to improve social health determinants.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2026

H 811: An act relating to election of Adjutant and Inspector General of the Vermont National Guard

This bill (H 811) is a technical correction to Vermont law. It updates the legal reference in the statute governing the election of the Adjutant and Inspector General of the Vermont National Guard. Specifically, it adds a cross-reference to the existing law (2 V.S.A. § 10(c)) within the statute that sets the election process (20 V.S.A. § 363(a)(1)). The bill does not change the election process, timing, or who is elected - it only ensures the statutory references are consistent. This is a procedural update affecting only the legislative text, not the actual election procedures.