This bill adjusts Vermont's 2026 capital construction budget and modifies funding allocations for various state projects across multiple agencies. It directly affects state departments responsible for buildings, corrections, veterans' services, environmental conservation, and community development by changing specific dollar amounts and project timelines. The legislation reauthorizes funding for state building maintenance, stormwater compliance, HVAC upgrades at correctional facilities, Veterans' Home renovations, and clean water initiatives, while also adjusting the total legislative intent for biennium spending from $111.9 million to $122.7 million. Key changes include reducing certain FY 2026 appropriations while increasing or maintaining FY 2027 funding for specific environmental and infrastructure projects, with some line items being repealed entirely.
This bill establishes the state of Vermont's budget for fiscal year 2027, providing funding for all state agencies, departments, and government operations. It authorizes specific spending amounts for various government functions and defines key terms like operating expenses, personal services, and grants to clarify how funds can be used. The legislation limits the creation of new state positions to those explicitly authorized during the 2026 legislative session and requires that agency staffing levels match the appropriated funds unless otherwise specified. It also outlines procedures for accepting federal funds and addresses how to handle errors in the budget totals.
This bill adopts Vermont's Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation Program and makes various updates to state transportation laws. It directly affects the Agency of Transportation, local municipalities, contractors, and transportation project stakeholders. Key provisions include defining project categories for budgeting purposes, repealing old rules for a municipal equipment loan fund, updating highway design standards, requiring contractors to post performance bonds, and making adjustments to funding authorizations for transportation projects. The legislation also addresses electric vehicle infrastructure, public transit advisory councils, and specific infrastructure improvements across the state.
This bill amends Vermont's judicial procedures to clarify how courts handle profits obtained from crimes and strengthens protections for victims seeking financial recovery. It expands the legal definition of "profits from crimes" to include income generated from selling illicit goods, assets obtained through unique criminal knowledge, and property whose value increased due to the notoriety of a conviction. The legislation requires businesses that pay profits from crimes to notify the Attorney General, who must then inform all known victims. It also establishes a three-year window for victims to sue for damages up to the value of the profits and allows the state to recover certain incarceration costs if victims do not claim the full amount. Additionally, the bill updates penalties for minors under 21 who misrepresent their age to purchase alcohol, possess alcohol or cannabis, or drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or higher.
This bill makes several administrative and policy adjustments to Vermont's tax laws, affecting property owners, businesses, and taxpayers. Key changes include repealing a tax credit denial for S corporations, adjusting property transfer tax rates for non-principal residential properties, and establishing a 10 percent land use change tax when agricultural or forest land is developed. The legislation also outlines procedures for withdrawing land from use value appraisal and sets timelines for assessing fair market value when land is converted from protected uses. These provisions aim to clarify tax calculations and update administrative processes across various tax categories.
H 902 approves charter amendments for the City of Barre that allow the City Manager or councilors (with City Council approval) to authorize the sale of city property. It also changes rules for the city's unspent funds, limiting how much can be kept as an undesignated balance to 5% of the general fund budget. Any funds exceeding this 5% threshold must be used to reduce the tax rate in the next budget. These changes follow voter approval on May 13, 2025, and take effect upon passage.
H.915 requires beverage manufacturers and distributors to join a producer responsibility organization (PRO) that will manage the collection and recycling of beverage containers. The PRO would handle logistics currently managed through Vermont’s deposit system (5 cents for most containers, 15 cents for liquor), shifting responsibility from consumers and retailers to producers. It applies to standard containers made of glass, aluminum, or plastic (excluding biodegradable materials and containers over three liters). The current deposit system remains in place, but the PRO would administer collection and disposal instead of state-run redemption centers.
H.907 repeals outdated or unnecessary reporting requirements for Vermont state agencies. It specifically eliminates annual reports on performance contracts (requiring agencies to track compliance rates), seasonal employment authorizations (tracking positions over seven months), and certain dairy industry reports. These changes directly affect agencies like the Chief Performance Officer, the Commissioner of Personnel, and the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The bill streamlines administrative burdens by removing reports the General Assembly deems no longer useful, without creating new policy requirements.
This bill amends Vermont's alcohol licensing laws to update regulations for manufacturers, retailers, and events. It modifies fourth-class license rules, allowing producers to sell limited amounts of their own beverages at farmer's markets (up to 8 ounces total) and tasting rooms (up to 16 ounces of malt beverages), while restricting sales to no more than five other licensed businesses. The bill removes specific daily sales hours (previously 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.) for off-premises alcohol sales and adjusts requirements for special event permits and tasting events, requiring applications to be submitted at least one business day in advance. These changes directly affect small breweries, wineries, distilleries, and event organizers operating under these license categories.
H 583 prohibits certain financial transactions involving health care entities (like hospitals, clinics, and insurers with $1 million+ assets/revenue) and bans corporations from interfering with medical professionals' clinical decisions. It requires public reporting on ownership and control of these entities, and treats violations as breaches of the Consumer Protection Act. The bill specifically targets acquisitions, mergers, and management agreements that could shift control away from health care providers. It excludes clinical trials, graduate medical education, and direct hiring of individual providers. This legislation aims to protect medical judgment by limiting corporate influence over health care delivery.
This bill allows students in Vermont school districts designated as "geographically isolated" to use state-funded prekindergarten programs in New Hampshire under specific conditions. It requires the Vermont State Board of Education to define "geographically isolated" districts and sets rules for eligibility: the New Hampshire program must be state-approved for public prekindergarten and located within 25 miles of the Vermont border. Vermont school districts would pay the same statewide tuition rate for these out-of-state programs as they would for local providers, ensuring access for students who cannot find approved prekindergarten options within their district boundaries.
H.577 establishes the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, administered by the State Treasurer, to help all Vermont residents lower prescription drug costs. The program pools purchasing power with other states, territories, and organizations to negotiate discounts directly with drug manufacturers and centralize purchasing. It requires the Treasurer to report annually on participation and savings, may charge reasonable fees to cover costs, and includes $50,000 in startup funding for development. The program takes effect on July 1, 2026, with implementation reporting due by January 2027.
