Vermont Bills | MyRepTracker

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 768: An act relating to consumer protections related to the towing and storage of vehicles

H.768 creates the "Vermont Consumer Protection Towing Act" to establish minimum standards for towing and storage companies operating in Vermont. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to regulate towing companies, set up a consumer complaint system, and prohibit solicitation at crash scenes. It specifically mandates that net proceeds from selling abandoned vehicles must be distributed to owners through the state’s unclaimed property system. The law directly affects vehicle owners (especially those with abandoned vehicles), towing companies, and storage lots, while excluding automobile clubs, dealers, and insurance companies from its regulations.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 300: An act relating to screening for fentanyl during a hospital-administered urine drug screening

This bill requires Vermont hospitals to include fentanyl testing in any urine drug screening conducted to diagnose a patient's condition. It directly affects licensed hospitals and their patients, mandating that fentanyl be tested alongside other drugs during standard diagnostic screenings. The bill also prohibits hospitals from sharing fentanyl screening results with law enforcement without a warrant or subpoena, and provides legal immunity for hospitals following this rule. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 296: An act relating to development agreements for tax increment financing

This bill requires developers using tax increment financing (TIF) for municipal projects to provide specific financial guarantees to protect municipalities. Developers must guarantee that project tax increments will cover the municipality's debt payments for the project's duration, backed by security like letters of credit or bonds. Additionally, developers must include at least one extra protection - such as property value safeguards, project continuity measures, or equity arrangements - in their agreements. These rules apply to all TIF projects, including housing developments under the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, ensuring municipalities have financial recourse if developers fail to meet obligations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 760: An act relating to the Vermont Green FC license plate

H 760 creates a new "Vermont Green FC" license plate for eligible vehicles (pleasure cars, trucks under 26,001 pounds, and state agency vehicles), requiring a $45 initial fee and $45 annual renewal. The majority of these fees (77% initially, 84% annually) will fund a new Vermont Green FC Special Fund. This fund will provide grants to support environmental justice and Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy, managed by a board including state officials and representatives from the Vermont Green Football Club and the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 763: An act relating to how to count certain offenders for the purpose of periodic reapportionment of districts for the General Assembly

H 763 (Vermont House Bill) changes how incarcerated individuals are counted for redistricting. It requires Vermont’s Department of Corrections to track offenders’ pre-incarceration addresses and share this data with the Legislative Apportionment Board before each census. The Board must then adjust population counts so that incarcerated people are counted at their home address (not the prison location) when redrawing voting districts for the state legislature. This applies to all offenders except those serving life sentences without parole, who remain counted at the prison location. The bill aims to ensure districts reflect where people actually live, not where they are imprisoned.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 302: An act relating to limiting the collection of personally identifying information

S.302 prohibits Vermont public agencies from collecting or disclosing certain personally identifying information, including immigration status and religious affiliation, unless required by federal law. It specifically bans using state resources to assist federal registration programs based on such data and requires agencies continuing to collect immigration information to explain why by December 2026. The bill affects all state and local government entities, including police, schools, and social services, by restricting how they handle sensitive personal data. It includes exceptions for compliance with federal laws like 8 U.S.C. §§ 1373 and 1644, and permits sharing aggregated, non-identifiable data. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 765: An act relating to qualified mental health professionals

H.765 expands Vermont's definition of "qualified mental health professional" to include licensed clinical mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychoanalysts, and other specific licensed practitioners (such as advanced practice nurses and psychologists), removing the prior requirement that they must be employed by designated agencies. This directly affects mental health providers who can now qualify under the law for roles like emergency examinations and court testimony. The bill modifies statutes to allow these expanded professionals to perform duties previously restricted to a narrower group, such as applying for emergency warrants and providing expert testimony. It does not change eligibility for patient services but broadens who can provide certain legally defined mental health services.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 774: An act relating to a three-year education property tax freeze

H.774 would freeze Vermont's education property tax rates at 2026 levels for the next three years (2027-2029), directly affecting all homeowners and property owners who pay these taxes. The bill requires tax rates to remain at 2026 levels regardless of local budget needs during this period. To ensure education funding stays fully supported, the bill mandates that any shortfall from the frozen rates be covered by redirecting money from the state's General Fund. This policy change provides immediate tax stability for property owners while guaranteeing continued education spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 22, 2026

H 746: An act relating to potable water supply and wastewater system permitting

H.746 simplifies permitting rules for potable water and wastewater systems to support housing development in Vermont. It requires a minimum 75-foot distance between water and wastewater systems (unless site conditions require more), allows public buildings like schools to switch uses without redesign, and sets new design standards for systems under paved areas. The bill reduces required water flow rates to enable compact housing, exempts village infrastructure projects from certain permits, and removes land use taxes for water system construction on enrolled agricultural land. These changes aim to lower development costs while maintaining health and environmental protections.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 22, 2026

S 294: An act relating to the creation of the Whole Home Repairs Program

S.294 creates Vermont's Whole Home Repairs Program within the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide funding for homeowners and private landlords. The program offers competitive grants and forgivable loans (capped at $50,000 per unit) to address habitability issues (like mold or lead), improve energy/water efficiency, or make homes accessible for people with disabilities. Landlords must contribute 20% in matching funds, cannot displace current tenants during repairs, and are prohibited from using renovated units as short-term rentals during the grant period. All grant details, including recipient names and amounts, will be publicly reported quarterly on the department’s website. This directly affects Vermont residents needing home repairs, particularly low-income households and landlords maintaining rental properties.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 22, 2026

H 748: An act relating to regional plan future land use maps

H.748 amends Vermont's regional land use planning maps to clarify and update land use categories affecting development. It adds specific requirements for "village areas" (e.g., needing public water or adequate wastewater disposal) and defines "transition or infill areas" to encourage higher-density redevelopment while banning new commercial strip development that could harm existing commercial districts. The bill also creates a new "designated neighborhood" status for areas adjacent to village centers, prioritizing climate resilience and infill development within workforce housing zones near job-rich census tracts. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, directly impact municipalities and developers by shaping where and how new construction can occur under state land use regulations.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 22, 2026

H 745: An act relating to immigration enforcement

This bill requires federal immigration authorities to obtain a judicial warrant before entering nonpublic areas of Vermont's schools, healthcare facilities, polling places, public libraries, or childcare centers. It also prohibits Vermont's Department of Corrections from assisting federal immigration enforcement beyond what federal law permits and limits civil arrests in government buildings. The Human Rights Commission must create a model policy for sensitive locations by April 2027, guiding institutions on refusing warrantless access requests. These provisions directly affect federal immigration agents, Vermont schools, healthcare providers, and other sensitive location operators.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Immigration