Budget & Taxes

passed · Vermont · House Apr 1, 2026

H 67: An act relating to legislative operations and government accountability

H.67 creates a new Joint Government Oversight and Accountability Committee to strengthen state government accountability. The committee, composed of eight legislators (four from each chamber with party balance requirements), examines major issues affecting Vermont - such as costly failures, vulnerable populations, or audit shortcomings - and makes recommendations to prevent future problems. It must issue annual reports detailing its investigations and needs, while also reviewing how well state agencies meet policy goals. The bill also updates reporting rules for the Chief Performance Officer to ensure consistent tracking of government outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates oversight committee to examine audit shortcomings and costly failures, promoting fiscal responsibility through accountability measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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signed · Vermont · Senate Mar 27, 2026

S 60: An act relating to establishing the Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund to provide payments for farm and forestry operation losses due to weather conditions

Bill S.60 establishes the Farm Security Special Fund in Vermont to provide grants to farms that incur financial losses due to eligible severe weather conditions. This fund aims to help farmers recover by reimbursing up to 50 percent of their uninsured losses, with a maximum of $150,000 per farm annually. A new Farm Security Special Fund Review Board will assist in evaluating applications and recommending awards. The bill defines eligible weather conditions, such as flooding or drought, and outlines reimbursable losses, including lost income, replanting costs, and infrastructure repair.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new Farm Security Special Fund, allocating state budget resources to reimburse farm losses from weather, funding essential agricultural support.95% confidence

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 11, 2025

S 107: An act relating to reimbursing the Department of Fish and Wildlife for revenue lost due to issuance of free licenses

This bill requires the state to reimburse the Department of Fish and Wildlife for revenue lost when free hunting, fishing, trapping, combination, or lifetime licenses are issued after July 1, 2025. It directly affects the state budget (which must pay the reimbursement) and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (which receives the funds). The key mechanism mandates the Department to track lost revenue annually and submit an accounting to the Department of Finance and Management by January 15 each year; the Finance Department must then pay the amount from the General Fund into the Fish and Wildlife Fund within 60 days. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, ensuring financial accountability if the legislature authorizes free licenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state budget reimbursement to Fish & Wildlife for lost license revenue, directly increasing state spending to fund department operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 320: An act relating to stabilizing Vermont’s rural hospitals

H.320 aims to stabilize Vermont's rural hospitals by delaying certain financial changes until July 2026 while advancing other recommendations. The bill blocks the Green Mountain Care Board from implementing policies that limit hospital subsidies, restrict outpatient units, or standardize accounting methods before 2026, but requires them to simplify licensing and support freestanding clinics. It mandates the Board to collect hospital data to create stabilization plans by March 2026, directs health insurers to expand coverage options on Vermont's health exchange, and tasks medical education programs with placing trainees in rural hospitals using scholarship programs. These provisions directly affect rural hospitals, the Green Mountain Care Board, health insurers, and medical training programs across Vermont.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBlocks restrictions on hospital subsidies, preventing funding cuts; maintains current budget allocations for rural hospitals through 2026.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBlocks limits on hospital subsidies/outpatient units, mandates data-driven stabilization plans, and supports freestanding clinics to protect rural healthcare access and prevent funding restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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signed · Vermont · House Jun 3, 2025

H 488: An act relating to the fiscal year 2026 Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation

H 488 adopts Vermont's Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation Program, allocating over $150 million for transportation projects aimed at reducing emissions and saving households money. Key provisions include $2.4 million for new park-and-ride spaces (60 total), $21.9 million for bike/pedestrian infrastructure across 40+ towns, $6.5 million for environmental and trail projects, $52.7 million for public transit services like Go! Vermont, and $61.9 million for rail service. The bill directly affects Vermont residents through improved infrastructure and aligns with state climate goals outlined in the Comprehensive Energy Plan. It was signed into law by the governor on June 2, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $150M+ for transportation infrastructure including public transit and emissions projects, directly funding public services through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds $52.7M for public transit and $61.9M for rail to reduce emissions, directly advancing clean transportation infrastructure and lowering fossil fuel dependence.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates $21.9M for bike/pedestrian infrastructure, $6.5M for environmental projects, and $52.7M for public transit to reduce emissions, explicitly targeting environmental protection.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $150M+ for transportation projects including bike/pedestrian infrastructure, public transit, rail, and emissions-reducing initiatives, directly advancing transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Pedestrian Safety Public Transit Rail

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 112: An act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports

H.112 provides medical debt relief for Vermont residents by appropriating $1 million to contract with a nonprofit to purchase and erase qualifying medical debt. It directly affects Vermonters with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or those owing medical debt equal to 5% or more of their household income. The bill prohibits credit bureaus from reporting medical debt on credit reports and bans healthcare providers from submitting such debt to credit agencies. It requires debt relief contractors to remove adverse credit information after debt abolition, ensuring no cost or tax impact for affected residents.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $1M from state budget to fund medical debt relief, directly allocating public funds for a public service program.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill eliminates medical debt burden and prohibits credit reporting, improving patient access and financial protection in healthcare.95% confidence

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 11, 2025

H 189: An act relating to funding support services for persons who use drugs and eliminating misdemeanor criminal penalties for possessing or dispensing a personal use drug supply

H.189 eliminates criminal penalties for possessing or dispensing small personal amounts of drugs in Vermont, directly affecting individuals currently facing misdemeanor charges for such activities. It creates the Community Care, Health, and Safety Special Fund, using 40% of cannabis tax revenue and opioid settlement funds to support community-based harm reduction services, overdose prevention, and substance use treatment. The bill requires law enforcement to provide service referrals (like treatment or harm reduction resources) instead of arresting people for small drug amounts, and establishes a new advisory board to define "personal use" quantities. This shift aims to reduce overdose deaths and racial disparities in drug enforcement while redirecting resources from prosecution toward public health services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses 40% of cannabis tax revenue to fund harm reduction services, directing existing tax funds toward essential community health programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates misdemeanor drug possession penalties, redirects funds to harm reduction/treatment instead of criminalization, aligning with reform goals like reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates cannabis tax and opioid settlement funds to fund harm reduction, overdose prevention, and substance use treatment services, directly advancing healthcare access for substance use disorders.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy Law Enforcement Public Health Substance Abuse

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 273: An act relating to the Use Value Appraisal Program

This bill updates Vermont's Use Value Appraisal Program, which helps farmers pay lower property taxes by valuing farmland at its agricultural use value instead of market value. It changes the eligibility requirement to require at least 25% of a farmer's annual income from farming (including a new provision for those earning 25% from raising horses) and reduces the land use change tax rate from 10% to 6% when agricultural land is developed. These changes aim to make the program more accessible to a wider range of agricultural operations, including horse-related businesses. The bill directly affects farmers and landowners seeking to enroll agricultural land in the program or develop previously enrolled land.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces property tax burden for farmers via lower appraisal value and decreases land development tax rate from 10% to 6%, providing targeted tax relief.95% confidence

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 20, 2025

H 291: An act relating to enrollment of posted land in the Use Value Appraisal Program

This bill changes Vermont's tax treatment for land enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal Program. Landowners who post their land (marking it off-limits to hunting, fishing, or trapping under 10 V.S.A. § 5201) will pay a 25% higher tax rate than agricultural or managed forestland enrolled in the program. The tax increase is calculated as 25% of the difference between the land's use value (taxed at agricultural/farm rates) and its market value. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, directly impacting landowners who post their land and enroll it in this tax program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases tax rate on posted land by 25% of value difference, strengthening tax collection for specific land classification.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentHigher tax rate for land posted under conservation restrictions disincentivizes environmental protection efforts, weakening conservation incentives in the Use Value Appraisal Program.85% confidence

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 376: An act relating to the creation of the Treatment and Recovery Fund and the labeling and taxation of alcoholic beverages

H 376 requires all alcoholic beverages sold in Vermont to display clear labels showing alcohol content in U.S. Standard Drinks, along with cancer warnings and serving facts (like calories and sugar). It increases taxes on beer, hard cider, wine, and spirits, with future tax hikes tied to inflation starting in 2027. The bill creates the Treatment and Recovery Fund, which will use all new tax revenue to fund mental health services in schools and alcohol treatment/supportive housing programs. This affects alcohol manufacturers, retailers, and consumers across Vermont by changing labeling rules, raising costs for certain beverages, and directing new tax revenue to public health services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases taxes on alcoholic beverages with inflation-linked hikes, using all new revenue to fund mental health services via Treatment and Recovery Fund.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates Treatment and Recovery Fund using alcohol tax revenue to directly fund mental health services in schools and alcohol treatment programs, aligning with healthcare funding indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds supportive housing programs via Treatment and Recovery Fund using new alcohol tax revenue, directly advancing housing access through dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Mental Health Public Health Substance Abuse Homelessness

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