H.542 terminates ongoing indoor air quality testing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Vermont public schools and approved independent schools built or renovated before 1980. The bill stops all new testing but requires the state to continue funding investigation, remediation, and removal of PCBs at schools that previously tested positive for PCB levels exceeding safety thresholds. It redirects unused funds from prior PCB testing appropriations toward remediation costs and mandates annual reports starting in 2027 on PCB testing status, remediation progress, and funding needs. The bill directly affects schools constructed before 1980, ensuring continued state support for PCB cleanup only where testing had already identified hazardous levels.
This bill requires Vermont schools, school districts, cultural institutions (like museums), and educational programs receiving public funds to consult with and obtain written endorsement from the Odanak and Wôlinak First Nations before using or presenting materials about Indigenous history or culture in Vermont. It directly affects all public schools, approved independent schools, and cultural institutions hosting school groups that develop or use such curriculum. The key mechanism is mandating formal consultation and written approval from these two Abenaki nations, whose ancestral territory includes present-day Vermont, to ensure accuracy and cultural integrity. The bill is grounded in Vermont’s recognition of UNDRIP principles, particularly the right of Indigenous peoples to consent to decisions affecting their cultural heritage.
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.
This bill (H 770) directs Vermont to opt out of a federal tax credit program that allows states to subsidize contributions to scholarship organizations for school expenses. It designates the Vermont General Assembly as the sole entity authorized to make this election, explicitly stating Vermont "shall not participate" in the program under federal law (26 U.S.C. § 25F). The policy change means Vermont residents will no longer be eligible for state tax credits when contributing to scholarship organizations, as the state declines to join the federal program. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
H 650 requires educational technology providers (like software companies) to annually register with Vermont’s Secretary of State by January 31, paying a $100 fee and submitting privacy policies. It mandates the Secretary of State to create certification standards for these products, ensuring they comply with privacy laws and avoid collecting sensitive student data (like health or behavioral information). Schools cannot use uncertified products, and certification must verify that products are designed for education, have clear privacy practices, and do not include features like targeted advertising or compulsive usage triggers. This directly affects tech providers and Vermont schools by establishing a formal review process before products can be used in classrooms.
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.
Vermont's S.104 would replace the current education property tax with an income-based education tax starting in 2027, eventually applying to all residents (homeowners and renters) by 2030. The bill eliminates the homestead property tax but keeps nonhomestead tax on non-residential property, while creating new renter credits against the income tax and adjusting property tax credits to provide broader relief for lower-income households. It also establishes a new top income tax rate to offset revenue losses from these credit changes. The bill is currently in the Finance Committee after its first reading on February 28, 2025.
This bill requires Vermont public schools to adopt and enforce inclusive policies aligned with state education standards. It prevents schools from implementing federal mandates that conflict with Vermont's equity and inclusivity standards. The Vermont Agency of Education gains authority to provide guidance and support to schools resisting such conflicting federal requirements. The bill directly affects all public schools and the state education agency, focusing on preempting federal policy conflicts rather than creating new school obligations.
S 52 requires Vermont's Agency of Education to create a detailed framework for school districts considering mergers or closures. The framework must address cultural differences in course offerings, community impacts of school closures, student transition support, building repurposing (including maintenance costs), and transportation logistics. The bill also establishes new funding sources to help districts cover operational costs after closure, repurpose buildings, and manage cultural differences during transitions. This directly affects school districts planning mergers or closures and the Agency of Education, which must develop and implement the guidance.
H 173 would amend Vermont law to grant employees at public colleges and universities (including the Vermont State Colleges and University of Vermont) the right to strike, removing their current exemption from the general prohibition on state employee strikes. The bill specifically changes Section 903 to eliminate the existing exception and updates Section 962 to clarify that encouraging strikes by these employees is not an unfair labor practice. This change applies only to public higher education employees, not all state workers, and would take effect on July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects faculty, staff, and other employees at Vermont's public higher education institutions.
