This bill (H 750) changes how Vermont school districts calculate "excess spending" for state funding purposes. It excludes capital construction costs from the definition of "education spending," meaning these costs won't count toward limits on district budgets. The bill also allows school districts that begin construction before July 1, 2026, to be considered as having "good cause" even without final state approval for their projects. These changes take effect immediately for the spending definition and July 1, 2026, for the construction approval provision. The bill directly affects school districts planning or starting construction projects during the state's moratorium on approving new construction aid.
H 807 eliminates mandatory school attendance rules when a student misses school due to hazing, harassment, or bullying. This bill directly affects students experiencing these harmful behaviors, allowing them to avoid compulsory attendance without facing truancy penalties. The key provision removes the requirement for schools to count such absences as truancy, shifting focus from punishment to addressing the underlying issue. The bill aims to prevent further harm by not penalizing students for avoiding unsafe school environments.
S 200 transfers sole authority for Vermont's Medicaid school-based services program from the current shared arrangement to the Agency of Human Services (AHS), requiring AHS to ensure all federal Medicaid compliance. It establishes a School-Based Medicaid Reimbursement Fund managed by AHS, directing 55% of federal reimbursement funds to supervisory unions (groups managing multiple schools) based on submitted cost reports, and up to 25% to cover administrative costs for both the Agencies of Education and Human Services. The bill also mandates AHS to adopt rules for service eligibility, documentation, and provider requirements to meet federal standards. This directly affects supervisory unions receiving funds, the Agencies of Education and Human Services in their administrative roles, and students eligible for Medicaid-covered school health services.
This bill imposes a 2% surcharge on hotel room rentals, taxable meals, and alcoholic beverages in Vermont. Businesses selling these items must collect the surcharge in addition to existing taxes and clearly label it as funding the School Construction Aid Special Fund. Revenue from this surcharge will be deposited directly into the School Construction Aid Special Fund, which supports public school construction projects. The surcharge applies to the same tax base as Vermont's current meals and rooms tax, effective August 1, 2026.
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.
This bill proposes transforming Vermont's career technical education (CTE) system to ensure all high school students have equitable access to CTE programs. It mandates expanding CTE opportunities to middle school and early high school years, removing barriers like transportation and scheduling conflicts, and requiring high schools to award credits recommended by CTE centers. The bill also directs CTE programs to align with Vermont's current workforce needs and establishes flexible delivery models (including hybrid options) to improve accessibility. It aims to create a sustainable funding system and strengthen coordination between secondary and adult CTE programs. The changes will take effect July 1, 2026.
H 813 requires approved independent schools receiving public funding to meet the same education quality standards, transparency rules, and accountability measures as Vermont public schools. It mandates these schools to develop annual improvement plans, publicly report student performance data (including graduation rates and cost-per-pupil), maintain safe facilities, employ licensed special educators, follow open meeting and public records laws, and not charge extra fees to publicly funded students. The bill directly affects independent schools that accept state tuition payments, ensuring they operate with comparable standards to public schools. Key provisions include standardized reporting formats, safety regulations, and prohibitions on charging additional fees beyond state funding. This extends Vermont’s public school accountability framework to all schools using public funds.
This bill allows students in Vermont school districts designated as "geographically isolated" to use state-funded prekindergarten programs in New Hampshire under specific conditions. It requires the Vermont State Board of Education to define "geographically isolated" districts and sets rules for eligibility: the New Hampshire program must be state-approved for public prekindergarten and located within 25 miles of the Vermont border. Vermont school districts would pay the same statewide tuition rate for these out-of-state programs as they would for local providers, ensuring access for students who cannot find approved prekindergarten options within their district boundaries.
S.233 allocates $250,000 to establish a two-year pilot program providing neutral advocates for families of K-12 students with disabilities during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. The program will award grants to school districts, parent child centers, and nonprofits to train advocates and offer parent education, aiming to improve school-family collaboration and prevent costly disputes. It requires grantees to provide in-person IEP meeting support and develop strategies for early issue resolution. The Agency of Human Services must report on the pilot's effectiveness by November 2027.
Vermont's S.259 allows the classroom portion of driver education to be completed through approved online courses. It directly affects Vermont students aged 15+ enrolled in public or independent high schools. The bill requires online courses to meet specific standards: using rotating exams, verifying student identity, tracking study time, ensuring data security, and providing technical support. Courses must align with the state's Novice Teen Driver Education standards and will be approved by the Agency of Education and DMV. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
