Budget & Taxes (Property Tax)

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 22, 2026

H 759: An act relating to a flat income tax

H.759 proposes replacing Vermont's current complex tax system - including income, sales, property, and estate taxes - with a single flat income tax. It would repeal 12 existing tax types (like education property tax, sales tax, and estate taxes) and simplify tax filing for all Vermont residents and businesses. The bill includes targeted relief for low-income households and rural communities to offset potential regressive impacts, while aiming to fund essential services like education and infrastructure through the new system. This change would affect every Vermont taxpayer subject to income tax, with specific adjustments to taxable income calculations outlined in the bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReplaces complex taxes with flat income tax, includes low-income relief, and funds education/infrastructure per summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Property Tax

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signed · Vermont · Senate May 20, 2026

S 255: An act relating to establishing a pilot Law Enforcement Governance Council in Windham County

This bill establishes a pilot Law Enforcement Governance Council in Windham County to provide regional law enforcement and related services (including dispatch and animal control) to participating municipalities. To join, towns must vote at a town meeting to become "member municipalities," pay a special property tax based on population, and receive services through the Council. The Council, governed by one representative per member town, sets annual budgets, service levels, and performance standards, with funding collected solely from participating towns until June 2034. Non-member municipalities are not affected by the tax or service provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a special property tax for member municipalities to fund the Council's annual budgets and services, directly advancing fiscal management for regional law enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 21, 2026

S 280: An act relating to an increased education property tax rate for certain residential properties

S.280 increases the property tax rate for nonhomestead residential properties (including second homes and short-term rentals) to $2.00 per $100 of property value, up from a lower rate. It also creates a new classification for nonhomestead seasonal properties (such as seasonal vacation homes), taxing them at the nonhomestead nonresidential rate. Additional revenue from the higher tax rate on nonhomestead residential properties will fund a new special school construction fund. This bill directly affects Vermont property owners who use homes as second residences or short-term rentals by raising their property tax burden.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases property tax on nonhomestead properties to fund a new school construction fund, directly advancing public education funding through targeted tax revenue.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases property tax on nonhomestead properties to fund a new school construction fund, directly advancing school infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 698: An act relating to various changes to 2025 Acts and Resolves No. 73

This bill (H.698) revises Vermont's 2025 education funding and policy framework. It removes provisions requiring schools to maintain minimum class sizes, eliminates a rule allowing receiving districts to charge sending districts extra fees for high school students, and reverts unused funds from a school district voting group back to the state General Fund. The bill also updates the state's education funding formula to add a "secondary student weight" for high school students and removes recent changes to property tax classifications affecting schools. These changes directly impact school districts, state education funding calculations, and the administration of public school tuition payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reverts unused education funds to General Fund, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReverts unused education funds to General Fund (defunding) while removing class size requirements and fees, indicating reduced educational funding priorities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget Higher Education K-12 Education School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 21, 2026

S 282: An act relating to increasing taxes on higher income earners and creating the School Construction Aid Special Fund

This bill creates new taxes on high-income Vermonters to fund school construction. It imposes a 2% surcharge on personal income above $250,000 (and 6% above $500,000) and a 4% "wealth proceeds tax" on individuals, estates, or trusts with taxable income exceeding $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It also doubles property tax rates for nonhomestead residential properties compared to homesteads. All revenue generated flows into a dedicated "School Construction Aid Special Fund" for public school infrastructure projects. The bill directly affects high earners and property owners with significant nonhomestead holdings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes higher taxes on high-income earners (2%+ surcharge, 4% wealth tax) to fund school construction, directly advancing public education spending via dedicated revenue stream.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates dedicated tax revenue specifically for school construction funding, directly advancing K-12 infrastructure investment through new surcharges on high earners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Fees & Licensing Property Tax School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2026

H 794: An act relating to increasing taxes on higher income earners and creating the School Construction Aid Special Fund

H.794 creates new tax rates for higher earners and modifies property taxes to fund school construction. It imposes a 2% surcharge on individual income above $250,000 and a 6% surcharge above $500,000, plus a wealth proceeds tax on individuals (with taxable income over $200,000 single/$250,000 married) and estates/trusts (over $15,200). It also doubles property tax rates for nonhomestead residential properties compared to homesteads. All new revenues will flow into the newly created School Construction Aid Special Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases taxes on high earners (>250k) and wealth to fund school construction, aligning with progressive taxation and public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates School Construction Aid Special Fund via new taxes to directly fund school infrastructure, advancing educational facilities per bill's purpose statement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 11, 2025

H 177: An act relating to income-based education funding

H 177 proposes replacing Vermont’s education property tax with a new education income tax starting in fiscal year 2027. It would tax all Vermont residents’ income (both homeowners and renters) using progressive rates based on income brackets, with rates adjusted per school district according to local education spending. The bill eliminates the homestead property tax benefit for homeowners while continuing the renter credit and updating property tax credits to provide broader relief for taxpayers by 2026. This directly affects all Vermont residents through their state income tax filings, shifting the funding mechanism for public education from property-based to income-based.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReplaces property tax with progressive income tax for education funding, broadening relief via adjusted credits - directly advances fiscal management for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReplaces regressive property tax with progressive income tax for education funding, adjusts rates by district spending to ensure equitable resource allocation, and broadens tax relief to stabilize school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Property Tax School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Mar 19, 2025

H 486: An act relating to homestead declarations and the property tax credit

This bill extends the deadline for filing homestead declarations and offers relief for late submissions. It raises the household income limit for qualifying for the property tax credit and increases the amount of land value considered when calculating the credit amount. These changes directly affect Vermont homeowners who file homestead declarations to access property tax relief. The bill simplifies eligibility by making it easier to qualify for the credit through higher income thresholds and expanded land value inclusion. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands property tax credit eligibility by raising income limits and increasing land value consideration, directly providing tax relief to homeowners as described in the summary.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends property tax credit eligibility and increases income limits, reducing housing costs for Vermont homeowners through direct tax relief.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Property Taxes

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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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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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