Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 29, 2025

S 31: An act relating to a temporary suspension of the ambulance agency provider tax

This bill suspends the ambulance agency provider tax for fiscal years 2026-2028, directly relieving ambulance agencies from paying this fee. To offset the lost revenue, the bill requires transferring an equivalent amount from the PILOT Special Fund to the General Fund each year. The suspension applies to all ambulance agencies, while the fund transfer ensures the General Fund maintains its projected revenue level. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and affects state budget allocations without altering ambulance service regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill suspends ambulance tax for direct relief to agencies, offset by fund transfer to maintain revenue. Provides targeted tax relief, aligning with support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 20, 2025

H 300: An act relating to an income tax credit for emergency first responders

This bill creates a $500 refundable income tax credit for qualified emergency responders in Vermont, effective for taxable years beginning January 1, 2025 (retroactive to that date). It directly affects licensed emergency medical personnel, first responders, and volunteer firefighters meeting specific eligibility criteria under Vermont law. The credit is designed to recognize their public service, with eligibility defined by existing statutes covering their roles and volunteer status. The bill also updates related statutes to establish standards for volunteer firefighter eligibility and clarifies the credit's purpose. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides refundable tax credit ($500) for emergency responders, offering tax relief to qualifying lower-income public servants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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passed · Vermont · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 138: An act relating to commercial property-assessed clean energy projects

S.138 expands Vermont's property-assessed clean energy program to include commercial and industrial buildings, which were previously excluded. The bill allows municipalities to create "clean energy districts" through voter approval, enabling property owners of commercial/industrial buildings to voluntarily enter written agreements with their town or city. These agreements would subject qualifying properties to a special property tax (replacing traditional financing) to fund renewable energy or energy efficiency projects, with requirements for energy savings analysis and financial underwriting. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects commercial property owners seeking to finance clean energy upgrades.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates special property tax to fund renewable energy projects, advancing fiscal mechanisms for clean energy financing.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands clean energy program to commercial buildings via property tax funding for renewable projects, directly promoting renewable energy infrastructure and access.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands clean energy program to commercial buildings via special tax funding for renewables, directly promoting environmental protection through clean energy adoption.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 426: An act relating to transportation initiatives to improve equity and infrastructure, increase resiliency, and reduce emissions

H.426 provides funding for electric vehicle and eBike incentive programs, including $6 million for new plug-in electric vehicle purchases and $150,000 for eBike incentives in fiscal year 2026. It imposes a $0.30 fee on retail deliveries (subject to sales tax) to generate revenue for transportation initiatives and allocates $2.8 million to public transit agencies to maintain service levels. The bill also requires updated transportation standards to include complete streets and green infrastructure, establishes rules for electric vehicle charging equipment installation, and directs evaluations of projects to reduce vehicle miles traveled and emissions. These changes directly affect vehicle buyers, retail delivery vendors, public transit agencies, and municipalities seeking infrastructure funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes $0.30 delivery fee (tax) to fund transportation initiatives, allocating $6M for EVs and $2.8M for transit, directly advancing public spending priorities.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds $6M for plug-in EV purchases and green infrastructure to reduce emissions, directly advancing renewable energy adoption and clean transportation infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds EV/eBike programs ($6M/$150K), mandates green infrastructure, and explicitly targets emission reductions in transportation initiatives.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds EV/eBike programs, public transit maintenance, and green infrastructure initiatives to improve transportation systems and reduce emissions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Public Transit Transportation Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 8: An act relating to a tax credit for home modifications for safety and livability

This bill creates a Vermont personal income tax credit for homeowners who make safety and accessibility modifications to their primary residence (homestead). It covers qualified expenses like ramps, stair lifts, widened doorways, bathroom renovations, and other safety-focused home improvements, up to a lifetime maximum of $15,000. Unreimbursed costs for these modifications can reduce income tax liability, with unused credit amounts carried forward for up to three years. The credit applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and is designed to help residents safely age in place.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates personal income tax credit reducing liability for home safety modifications, providing targeted tax relief per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 31, 2025

S 38: An act relating to conserving habitat corridors and wildlife crossings

Vermont's S.38 requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to create a program funding habitat corridors (land connecting wildlife areas) and wildlife crossings (infrastructure like overpasses to safely move animals across roads). It directly affects land conservation efforts across Vermont, including state, federal, municipal, and private lands, aiming to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and support biodiversity. Key mechanisms include creating a biennial inventory of suitable lands, developing a conservation plan by 2028 using Vermont Conservation Design, and updating this inventory to track progress. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes: funding land acquisition, protecting aquatic systems, and implementing connectivity strategies as defined in existing climate and conservation plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates funding for habitat corridors program, directly allocating state budget resources to conservation initiatives, advancing government spending on environmental management.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds habitat corridors and wildlife crossings to reduce collisions and support biodiversity, directly advancing habitat conservation and wildlife protection per summary.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill funds wildlife crossings (road infrastructure) to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, directly enhancing transportation safety and aligning with transportation infrastructure improvements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · Vermont · House Mar 12, 2025

H 420: An act relating to tax increment financing for flood-impacted communities

This bill creates a program allowing Vermont towns and cities in areas affected by major floods (specifically in counties with a 2023-2024 FEMA disaster declaration) to use increases in property tax revenue to fund flood-related improvements. Municipalities must develop a project plan for repairs, infrastructure, or affordable housing, secure local approval, and get the Vermont Economic Progress Council to review it for compliance with criteria like flood resiliency or brownfield cleanup. The program uses existing tax revenue growth - without requiring new taxes - to finance projects that meet specific community needs, administered by the Vermont Economic Progress Council.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows municipalities to redirect property tax revenue increments for flood infrastructure, promoting fiscal management of existing tax resources for essential community needs.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly permits tax increment funds for affordable housing projects in flood-impacted communities, directly advancing housing access through funding mechanisms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Affordable Housing Property Taxes

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 377: An act relating to the local media advertising tax credit

H 377 creates a refundable income tax credit for Vermont small businesses that advertise in qualifying local media outlets. Small businesses (defined as those with under $10 million in gross income and fewer than 100 full-time employees) can claim a 50% credit on advertising expenses, capped at $250 per year. To qualify, media outlets must meet specific criteria, including producing original local news content and meeting audience or publication requirements. The credit applies to advertising in local broadcast organizations or news organizations that serve Vermont communities, effective January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates refundable tax credit for small businesses, reducing their tax burden and supporting local media advertising through fiscal relief.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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signed · Vermont · House Apr 8, 2026

H 50: An act relating to identifying underutilized State buildings and land

This bill requires Vermont state agencies to annually report detailed information about their buildings and land to the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services. Agencies must track metrics like available space, current usage, vacant properties, and costs per square foot, including whether land is unused for its intended purpose. The Commissioner will compile this data biannually and submit it to legislative committees by January 15 each biennium. The law creates a formal system for identifying underutilized state properties but does not authorize selling or repurposing them. It directly affects all state agencies and the Buildings Commissioner.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires tracking underutilized state assets to identify cost-saving opportunities, promoting fiscal responsibility in government spending management.85% confidence

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 31, 2025

H 131: An act relating to Reach Up grant calculation

This bill changes how Vermont calculates Reach Up grants for families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). It requires the Department for Children and Families to adjust the grant formula by using the current year's basic living costs (subsistence level) instead of previous years' rates and to eliminate a reduction based on household size (ratable reduction). These changes aim to provide more accurate and potentially higher grants for eligible families. The bill directly affects low-income households in Vermont who rely on Reach Up grants as part of their TANF support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdjusts grant formula to increase payments for TANF families, directly increasing state budget allocation for essential support programs.90% confidence

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