This bill restructures the governance of the Vermont State Colleges Corporation by eliminating the Chancellor position and reducing the number of legislative trustees on the Board of Trustees from two to one, while adding one faculty trustee and one staff trustee. The changes shift representation on the board to include more voices from the college community, with the student trustee being elected by students and the faculty and staff trustees being appointed by their respective unions. Additionally, the bill proposes reducing required structural deficit reductions for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 and includes various updates to related state statutes to align with these governance changes.
This bill creates a new Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and Fund to help Vermont municipalities prepare for and reduce the impact of natural disasters. The program would provide grants to cities, towns, and other local governments for projects like slope stabilization, watershed restoration, and drought mitigation, with priority given to communities facing higher vulnerability. Funding comes from a $15 million appropriation in fiscal year 2024 and an annual assessment on insurance companies writing policies in Vermont, capped at $4.3 million. The Department of Public Safety would administer both the grant program and the fund, which must keep records and submit annual reports on how money is spent.
This bill would limit hospital liens on patient injury settlements in Vermont by prohibiting hospitals from claiming liens when patients have health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, or plans where the hospital is a participating provider. It would cap hospital liens at 25 percent of the net amount received by the patient and require hospitals to pay a fair share of legal and administrative costs associated with obtaining the settlement. The changes would apply to patients injured in accidents not covered by workers' compensation and would take effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill would update Vermont law to protect parental rights when children access reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. It states that Vermont recognizes access to these health services as a legal right and would not enforce laws from other states that remove parental rights based on a parent allowing their child to receive such care. The legislation applies to any custody or parental rights cases currently pending in Vermont courts. It takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill requires general contractors in Vermont to be held liable for injuries or property damage caused by their subcontractors during construction projects, specifically when the subcontractor does not have adequate liability insurance. The legislation amends existing state law to establish this responsibility regardless of any private agreements between the contractor and subcontractor. It also strengthens payment protections by mandating timely payments to subcontractors and requiring interest charges on late payments. The changes apply to all construction contracts in the state and take effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill reorganizes Vermont's health care regulatory structure by transferring certain duties from the Green Mountain Care Board to the Director of Health Care Reform in the Agency of Human Services. It establishes new requirements for health insurers to participate in multipayer alternative payment models and mandates nonbinding mediation before terminating contracts between health care providers and health plans. The legislation also creates processes for certifying Medicare-only accountable care organizations, requires alignment of insurer credentialing practices and data collection, and sets up an advisory group to provide input to the Board. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for hospital budget reviews, merger approvals, and the establishment of a student nurse apprenticeship program.
This Vermont joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to grant statehood to the District of Columbia, which would provide its residents with full voting representation in Congress including a U.S. Senate seat. The bill highlights that current laws limit D.C. residents' political rights compared to state citizens, such as the inability to vote for presidential electors before the 23rd Amendment and the lack of full congressional representation. It points out that Congress retains the power to override local D.C. laws and control the district's budget, and that the mayor lacks independent authority over the National Guard. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to federal officials and D.C. leadership to advocate for these changes.
This bill directs the Vermont Community Broadband Board to create a transfer plan before its scheduled end date of July 1, 2029, ensuring a smooth transition of its responsibilities and assets. The Board must include specific factors in its annual report, such as the status of broadband projects, digital equity initiatives, financial sustainability, and recommendations for which state entity should take over support for communications union districts. The legislation also requires the Board to consider how future broadband funding should be structured and whether staff expertise could continue benefiting state programs after the Board dissolves. This measure focuses on establishing clear guidelines for the Board's final operations and planning for the future management of broadband initiatives in Vermont.
This bill requires legislative approval for significant sales or leases of property owned by telephone companies regulated by the Public Utility Commission. It applies to transactions where the property represents 10 percent or more of a company's state-based assets used for public service, excluding routine replacements or exchanges. The process involves a Public Utility Commission hearing to determine if the transaction benefits the state, followed by a General Assembly vote for final approval. The law applies to any pending or future petitions filed on or after January 1, 2024, and takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill amends Vermont's Open Meeting Law to clarify that members of the public attending electronic meetings do not need to sign in or provide personally identifying information if they are not speaking or participating in the meeting. The change specifically applies to individuals who simply wish to observe electronic meetings without taking an active role in the proceedings. By removing this requirement, the bill aims to reduce barriers to public access for those watching meetings remotely. The legislation does not alter the ability of participants to speak or the general rules governing electronic meetings, only the sign-in process for non-participating observers.
This bill allows businesses with first- or third-class liquor licenses to sell sealed containers of alcohol for takeout anywhere within their licensed premises. It directly affects liquor store owners and operators who currently hold these specific license types in Vermont. The key change permits off-premises sales of alcoholic beverages in closed containers throughout the entire licensed area, rather than restricting such sales to specific zones. The law also clarifies that businesses holding both first- and second-class licenses, or second- and third-class licenses, can operate from the same location while selling alcohol for takeout. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill requires Vermont school districts that close an existing elementary or high school to designate three or fewer public schools to serve as the district's public schools for those students. The law mandates that when a school closure occurs, the district must ensure education continues by assigning students to designated public schools rather than automatically paying tuition to outside schools. Parents retain the right to request tuition for their children to attend other approved schools if they believe it better serves their child's needs, though the school board makes the final decision on such requests. The bill also allows certain districts in rural areas to designate public high schools in neighboring states like New York as their public schools under specific conditions.
