Vermont Bills | MyRepTracker

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 819: An act relating to the Division of Substance Use Programs

This bill (H.819) reorganizes Vermont's substance use services by moving the Division of Substance Use Programs from the Department of Health to the Department of Mental Health. It directly affects the division’s administrative structure and the agencies managing substance use treatment programs. The key mechanism is amending statute 3 V.S.A. § 3089 to establish the Department of Mental Health as the successor to the former division, ensuring substance use programs operate under mental health leadership. This change streamlines oversight but does not alter existing program services or eligibility.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 828: An act relating to banning the transfer of military-grade weapons to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies

This bill prohibits Vermont's state, county, and local law enforcement agencies from receiving military-grade weapons transferred from the U.S. Department of Defense, military branches, or other federal agencies. It directly affects all Vermont law enforcement entities by blocking these specific federal transfers. The key mechanism is a clear ban on accepting such weapons from federal sources, preventing their acquisition through existing federal programs. The bill does not address weapons already in possession by law enforcement or restrict local purchases. It focuses solely on halting new transfers of military-grade equipment from federal entities to Vermont agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 823: An act relating to social media warning labels

H.823 requires social media platforms operating in Vermont to display mental health warning labels each time a user accesses the platform. These labels must warn users about potential mental health risks from social media use, provide crisis resource information (including the 988 hotline), and remain visible until the user exits or acknowledges the warning. The bill also mandates pop-up notifications every 30 minutes (customizable up to 60 minutes) showing cumulative daily usage time. The Attorney General must develop guidelines by April 2027, with the law taking full effect July 1, 2027. It applies to platforms meeting Vermont's definition of social media (user-generated content sharing sites/apps).

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 833: An act relating to evaluating the feasibility of developing a public option, high-deductible health insurance plan

H.833 creates a study committee to evaluate the feasibility of a public option health insurance plan for Vermont. The committee would assess a high-deductible plan designed for public employees initially, with potential future expansion to others, including reimbursement rates capped at 10-15% above Medicare (higher in rural areas) and requirements for price transparency. It would analyze cost projections, funding options (like premium tax credits for small businesses and a stabilization fund), and integration into a single risk pool. The committee must submit a report and draft legislation for a potential pilot program by January 15, 2027. This bill does not implement the plan but studies its viability.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 829: An act relating to notification of robocalls that use an artificial voice

H.829 requires businesses or organizations making robocalls with artificial voices (generated or altered using AI) to first play a natural, unrecorded voice announcement before delivering any prerecorded message. This announcement must state the call’s purpose, the caller’s name/address/phone number, ask if the recipient consents to hear the message, and disclose that an artificial voice will be used. The law applies to all robocallers in Vermont using AI-generated voices and imposes civil penalties of $500 for a first violation (rising to $1,000 for repeat offenses), plus potential criminal penalties of up to 90 days in jail or $1,000 per call for willful violations. It directly affects telemarketers, debt collectors, and other entities using automated calls with artificial voices within Vermont.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 824: An act relating to smartphone-connected vehicles

H 824 requires app publishers of smartphone-connected vehicle applications (like those controlling car features or tracking location) to include a simple in-vehicle process allowing occupants to see who is connected to the vehicle and disconnect any user. The process must be as easy as connecting, work inside the vehicle without special tools, and disconnect users within 30 minutes. This directly affects app developers and vehicle app providers, ensuring drivers or passengers can quickly sever remote connections. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and aligns with consumer protection standards for vehicle technology.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 839: An act relating to transitional housing for unaccompanied homeless youths

H 839 authorizes transitional housing for unaccompanied homeless youths in Vermont for up to 24 months. The bill directly affects young people experiencing homelessness without family support by providing longer-term housing options. It establishes a specific definition of "transitional housing" that distinguishes it from emergency shelter services. This policy change creates a formal framework for supporting youth stability through extended housing assistance.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 818: An act relating to mental health screening in schools

H 818 establishes a voluntary mental health screening program for Vermont public school students, administered by school supervisory unions in collaboration with the Agency of Education and Department of Mental Health. The bill requires schools to obtain parental consent before screening students for age-appropriate mental health conditions, provide results to parents, and refer students needing support to resources. Funding of $10,000 is initially appropriated for the program, with 90% distributed based on student enrollment and 10% allocated as needed for additional support. Schools must comply with FERPA privacy rules and provide annual reports on participation and outcomes to the legislature. This affects all Vermont public school students and their families through school-based screening options.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 822: An act relating to the regulation of generative artificial intelligence systems

This Vermont bill (H.822) requires providers of generative AI systems (like chatbots or image generators) to give consumers a tool to detect if content was created or altered by AI, and to offer users an option to add a watermark to AI-generated media. It directly affects AI companies and their users within Vermont. The key provisions are mandatory content detection tools and optional watermarks to identify AI-generated content, aiming to increase transparency for consumers.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 837: An act relating to rounding cash transactions

H 837, the "Nickel Rounding for Cash Transactions Act," authorizes businesses to round cash transaction totals to the nearest five cents when one-cent coins are unavailable. It specifies rounding down for amounts ending in 1-2 or 6-7 cents and up for 3-4 or 8-9 cents, while requiring businesses to post clear notices and calculate taxes based on the pre-rounding amount. The bill applies only to cash payments (not electronic transactions, wages, or federal-regulated transactions) and ensures rounding doesn’t count as a price increase or deceptive practice. It takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting Vermont businesses and customers making cash purchases.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 815: An act relating to health insurance and Medicaid reimbursement for certain health care services

H.815 limits health insurers and Vermont Medicaid from reducing reimbursement rates for mental health, substance use disorder, or developmental disability services below the previous year’s rate. It requires insurers to provide 90 days’ public notice, host stakeholder meetings, and publish impact analyses before changing billing, coding, or service authorization policies affecting these areas. Insurers must also monitor access metrics like provider availability and wait times for 12 months after policy changes and take corrective action if access declines. This directly affects insurers, Medicaid, and mental health providers by standardizing payment stability and increasing transparency in coverage decisions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 826: An act relating to land access and opportunity

H.826 creates the Land Access and Opportunity Board (LAOB) to administer a new Land Access and Opportunity Fund, funded partly by cannabis tax revenue. The bill requires the Department of Taxes to submit an annual affordable housing tax report and establishes a Land Security Working Group. It directs the fund to provide down payment assistance for homeownership (including for farmland access), technical support for BIPOC developers, and grants for community-led housing projects like land trusts. The bill directly affects Vermonters facing housing affordability challenges, particularly disadvantaged communities and people with developmental disabilities, by aiming to expand access to land and housing resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing