Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 9, 2026

S 234: An act relating to the Vermont Green FC license plate

This bill creates a special "Vermont Green FC" license plate option for eligible vehicles, including pleasure cars, light trucks under 26,001 pounds, and state agency vehicles. Vehicle owners who choose this plate pay a $45 initial fee and $45 annual renewal fee, with 77% of the initial fee and 84% of renewal fees deposited into a new Vermont Green FC Special Fund. The fund, managed by a board including representatives from the Climate Action Office and outdoor business groups, provides grants to support environmental justice initiatives and Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy. All fees collected directly fund these specific public purposes, with no administrative costs deducted from the grants.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new license plate tax with 77-84% fees funding climate grants, advancing fiscal support for specific programs via dedicated revenue stream.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates climate-focused fund via license plate fees, managed by Climate Action Office with 77-84% fee allocation to environmental grants92% confidence

Sub-Topics Environmental Justice Parks & Recreation

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 6, 2026

S 204: An act relating to electric ratepayer assistance and utility disconnections

S.204, the "Vermont Energy Equity Law," creates a state program to help low- and moderate-income households afford electricity bills and adds new protections against utility disconnections. It requires the Public Utility Commission to develop a draft assistance program by January 2027, with input from utilities, consumer groups, and agencies, targeting households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Key provisions include banning disconnections during extreme heat and requiring utilities to halt disconnections if a doctor certifies a health risk from service loss. The program must include automatic enrollment via existing state assistance programs (like Medicaid or food stamps) and fund the initiative equitably across all customers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program requiring budget allocation for low-income energy assistance, directly advancing fiscal support for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill protects low-income energy consumers through affordability programs and bans disconnections during extreme heat, aligning with energy equity and consumer protection indicators.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides utility assistance to low-income households, reducing a key cost of housing affordability and aligning with affordable housing goals.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Utility Regulation

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 6, 2026

S 165: An act relating to grand list values of parcels with wetlands

This bill requires Vermont property assessors to consider development restrictions on wetlands when calculating the grand list value (taxable value) of affected parcels. It specifically applies to properties containing Class I wetlands (as defined by state rules), Class II wetlands (from the Vermont Significant Wetlands Inventory), or land designated as significant by the Secretary of Natural Resources, including required buffer zones. Assessors must account for any reduced property value caused by these legal restrictions when setting tax assessments. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill lowers taxable value for wetland-affected properties, reducing property taxes - direct tax relief for affected owners.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires assessors to factor wetland restrictions into property taxes, ensuring conservation value is recognized and protecting wetland ecosystems from development pressures.95% confidence

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signed · Vermont · Senate May 26, 2026

S 173: An act relating to vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeships

This bill (S.173) simplifies access to job training help for injured workers under Vermont's workers' compensation system. It removes outdated screening requirements and allows workers to start vocational rehabilitation services themselves if employers don't assign a provider within 90 days of injury. The bill also creates a new, funded position for a State Mediator at the Vermont Labor Relations Board, providing free mediation to resolve disputes between public and private employers and employees. These changes directly affect injured workers, employers, and the Labor Relations Board, aiming to improve access to rehabilitation services and dispute resolution. The mediator role will be funded with $115,000 in fiscal year 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new funded position for State Mediator at Vermont Labor Relations Board, allocating state funds for dispute resolution services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves barriers for injured workers' rehab access and adds free mediation for disputes, strengthening worker support and rights under workers' comp system95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Workforce Development

passed · Vermont · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 220: An act relating to the excess spending threshold

This bill limits annual increases in per-pupil education spending for Vermont school districts during fiscal years 2028 and 2029. It requires districts to cap spending growth at a calculated "allowable growth percentage" based on how their per-pupil spending compares to the highest-spending district (excluding certain districts), with a minimum 3% growth allowed. The formula subtracts a district’s prior-year spending from the highest district’s spending, divides that difference by the district’s own spending, then multiplies by 9% to determine the maximum allowable increase. The bill applies to all Vermont public school districts and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly limits annual education spending growth, capping increases at a calculated percentage, restricting public service funding.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationLimits per-pupil spending growth cap, restricting funding increases despite minimum 3% allowance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 14, 2026

S 253: An act relating to adding transparency to Vermont’s tuitioning system

This bill requires Vermont school districts to publicly disclose in their annual budgets the names of schools they pay tuition to, the number of students attending each school, and the total tuition paid to each. It also sets new requirements for independent schools seeking or maintaining state approval to receive public tuition funds, including annual reporting of student data and written disclosure to parents about their approval status. These provisions aim to increase transparency around public funding for student placements at independent schools, directly affecting school districts, independent schools, and families receiving tuition-based education services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires public disclosure of tuition spending in annual budgets, enhancing fiscal transparency and accountability in state fund allocation.95% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 296: An act relating to development agreements for tax increment financing

This bill requires developers using tax increment financing (TIF) for municipal projects to provide specific financial guarantees to protect municipalities. Developers must guarantee that project tax increments will cover the municipality's debt payments for the project's duration, backed by security like letters of credit or bonds. Additionally, developers must include at least one extra protection - such as property value safeguards, project continuity measures, or equity arrangements - in their agreements. These rules apply to all TIF projects, including housing developments under the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, ensuring municipalities have financial recourse if developers fail to meet obligations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates financial guarantees to protect municipalities' TIF debt payments, strengthening fiscal responsibility and preventing budget shortfalls in development projects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Tax Incentives

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 766: An act relating to a local option tax on gasoline and diesel sales

H.766 would allow Vermont municipalities to impose a local tax of $0.01 per gallon on gasoline and diesel fuel sales, collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Municipalities would need voter approval through a majority vote at a public meeting to adopt the tax, which would generate revenue for general municipal services (not education). The bill specifies that 75% of collected revenue would go directly to the municipality where the tax was collected, after covering administrative costs. This option is limited to five new municipalities per year, requiring certification by the Commissioner of Taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables local gasoline tax to fund municipal services, increasing local budget revenue through voter-approved tax mechanism for general services.95% confidence

Tags Local Government

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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 & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts mobile homes from sales tax and removes property taxes for low-income housing co-ops, providing tax relief to target demographic.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill removes property taxes for LECs (affordable housing for low/moderate-income) and exempts mobile homes from sales tax, making housing more affordable. Classifies LECs as nonprofits serving low/moderate-income, advancing affordable housing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Zoning

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 621: An act relating to personal income tax brackets

This bill creates two new personal income tax brackets in Vermont, applying a 11.75% tax rate to higher income levels. Specifically, it adds a bracket for married couples filing jointly with taxable income over $500,000 but not over $1,000,000, and a separate bracket for heads of households with income over $455,300 but not over $910,600. These changes directly affect high-income Vermont residents whose earnings fall within these new ranges. The bill modifies existing tax tables to adjust the rate structure for the top earners, maintaining the 13.75% rate for even higher income levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases tax rates on high-income earners (11.75% for $500k+ couples), strengthening state revenue collection for fiscal management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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