Environment (Public Lands)

This bill sets new conservation targets for Vermont: requiring 30% of the state's land to be conserved by 2030 and 50% by 2050, including public, private, and federal lands. It replaces previous conservation goals with these specific targets and mandates biennial updates to a public land conservation inventory. Key mechanisms include requiring resource mapping of forest blocks and habitat connectors to guide development decisions, and updating rules to minimize forest fragmentation while supporting agricultural and historic land uses. The bill directly affects landowners, developers, and conservation groups by changing how land use permits are reviewed and how conservation progress is tracked. These changes aim to align development with ecological goals under Vermont's Act 250 land use framework.

S.290 requires Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to ensure no net loss of state-owned or controlled lands available for hunting or fishing by July 1, 2026. If lands are closed to these activities (except for management, safety, or legal reasons), the Secretary must acquire replacement land within 25 miles that allows the same uses. The bill mandates annual reports to legislative committees detailing acreage closed, opened for replacement, and total available land. This directly affects state land management agencies and public access for hunters and anglers. (Effective July 1, 2026)

This bill requires Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to update stormwater management rules to align with recent state land use changes that support higher-density development in walkable neighborhoods. It mandates incorporating existing EPA-approved stormwater management standards - such as off-site treatment and alternatives for high-density areas - into the state's permitting system. The policy directly affects developers and municipalities seeking to build denser housing in designated high-density zones. The changes aim to streamline permitting for projects that meet updated environmental standards without requiring new infrastructure.