Vermont Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 212: An act relating to potable water supply and wastewater system connections

This bill (S.212) allows Vermont municipalities with sufficient capacity to handle permitting and technical reviews for new or modified connections to public water and wastewater systems, instead of requiring state-level review by the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). It requires ANR to create a general permit for these connections when reviewed by delegated municipalities. The change directly affects municipalities that gain authority to process these connections and property owners needing new or modified water/wastewater connections. The bill does not alter the requirement for permits but shifts the review responsibility from ANR to local governments.

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 542: An act relating to testing of schools in Vermont for polychlorinated biphenyls

H.542 terminates ongoing indoor air quality testing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Vermont public schools and approved independent schools built or renovated before 1980. The bill stops all new testing but requires the state to continue funding investigation, remediation, and removal of PCBs at schools that previously tested positive for PCB levels exceeding safety thresholds. It redirects unused funds from prior PCB testing appropriations toward remediation costs and mandates annual reports starting in 2027 on PCB testing status, remediation progress, and funding needs. The bill directly affects schools constructed before 1980, ensuring continued state support for PCB cleanup only where testing had already identified hazardous levels.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Environment

signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 227: An act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools

S.227 requires all Vermont public and approved independent schools to adopt policies preventing the sharing of student information with federal immigration authorities without a judicial warrant. It prohibits schools from collecting immigration status data, designating such information as "directory information" under federal privacy law, or sharing student records with immigration agencies except as legally required. The bill mandates schools to provide immigration resources to staff and students, designate staff as immigration resource officers, and block federal agents from entering nonpublic school areas (like classrooms or cafeterias) without a warrant naming a specific individual. Schools are also barred from entering agreements that aid federal immigration enforcement, with the superintendent as the sole authority to approve any required federal agreements.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 232: An act relating to public libraries and the Department of Libraries

This bill designates the third Monday in October as "Vermont Libraries Day" to raise awareness about library services. It expands funding access for public libraries by explicitly including them as eligible recipients for the Universal Afterschool and Summer Special Fund (supporting after-school/summer reading programs) and early education grants. The bill updates the definition of "collection" to include digital materials in all library statutes, requires the Department of Libraries to publish funding guidance for municipalities, and authorizes towns to issue bonds for library facility improvements. These changes directly benefit Vermont's public libraries and the communities they serve by enhancing their access to resources and infrastructure support.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Technology

signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 243: An act relating to distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project

This bill appropriates $150,000 from the Vermont General Fund to the Department of Health for the Vermont Language Justice Project. The funds will be used to create multilingual informational materials about disease outbreaks or public health emergencies, specifically for Vermonters who speak languages other than English. The materials must be ready for distribution during health crises, such as pandemics or outbreaks. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects non-English speaking Vermonters during public health emergencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 657: An act relating to various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families

This bill (H 657) enables unaccompanied homeless youth aged 16+ to access key services without parental consent. It creates a certification process where youth verified as homeless by school liaisons, shelter directors, or homeless service providers receive a standardized form from the Department for Children and Families. This certification allows youth to obtain medical/dental care, mental health services, driver’s licenses, housing, school enrollment, banking services, and vital records - without needing parental permission. The bill clarifies that parental consent is not required if parents forced the youth out, neglected them, or refused support, with the Department acting in place of a guardian.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 639: An act relating to genetic data privacy

This bill, H.639 (Genetic Information Privacy Act), requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to protect the genetic data of Vermont residents. It mandates that companies obtain clear "express consent" from consumers before collecting or sharing their genetic data (defined as information from DNA analysis, including SNPs and inferred data), prohibits using "dark patterns" to manipulate consent, and limits data sharing without permission. Consumers gain the right to access their own genetic data and must actively authorize its use. The law applies specifically to companies offering genetic testing directly to Vermont residents, excluding deidentified data and research conducted under federal human subjects protections.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 660: An act relating to fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund and Substance Misuse Prevention Special Fund appropriations

This bill allocates funding from Vermont's Opioid Abatement Special Fund for fiscal year 2027. It specifies the appropriations for this dedicated fund without detailing specific programs or recipients. As a procedural appropriations bill, it focuses solely on authorizing the use of existing funds for opioid-related initiatives in the upcoming fiscal year.

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 642: An act relating to youthful offender proceedings

H.642 modifies Vermont's youthful offender proceedings to strengthen court considerations and protections. It requires courts to specifically evaluate whether a youth has acknowledged causing harm (§ 5284(a)(11)) when deciding if public safety allows youthful offender treatment. The bill also mandates revoking youthful offender status if a youth on probation is charged with a violent crime (unless public safety is protected) or fails to attend a probation hearing without valid reason. Additionally, it clarifies victims' right to attend and speak at key hearings. This bill directly affects youth aged 12-18 facing charges, courts making disposition decisions, and the Departments of Children and Families and Corrections responsible for supervision.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 686: An act relating to expanding identification of certain lobbying advertisements

H 686 requires lobbyists, lobbying firms, or their employers to clearly identify themselves in advertisements intended to influence Vermont legislative action. Specifically, any ad paid for by these entities must include their name and a statement that the advertisement was paid for by them, before the end of a legislative session. This applies to all such ads created during the session and takes effect on July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects lobbying organizations and their paid communications with the public.

signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 278: An act relating to cannabis

This bill changes Vermont's cannabis regulations by removing the 30% THC limit for flower and raising the concentrate limit to 70%. It increases the per-transaction retail purchase limit from one to two ounces of cannabis or equivalent products. The bill also eliminates the requirement for cannabis businesses to submit ads to the Cannabis Control Board for review, lowers the excise tax from 14% to 10%, and allows municipalities to condition permits on local ordinances or hold 2026 election votes on cannabis establishment authorization. Additionally, it expands access to the Cannabis Business Development Fund and appropriates $1 million for it.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 757: An act relating to manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives

This bill proposes key changes to manufactured home ownership and limited equity cooperative housing in Vermont. It requires specific warranty deeds for mobile homes financed as real estate, exempts mobile homes from sales tax (shifting to property transfer tax), and removes property taxes for mobile home parks organized as limited equity cooperatives. The bill also prohibits subleasing in new limited equity co-ops unless hardship is proven, classifies them as nonprofits serving low/moderate-income residents for state funding, and allows manufactured housing to be treated equally with other housing in municipal zoning. These changes directly affect manufactured home owners, mobile home park residents, and limited equity cooperative corporations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing