Labor & Employment in Vermont

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 333: An act relating to collective bargaining for agricultural workers

This bill removes the exclusion of agricultural workers from Vermont's State Labor Relations Act, granting them collective bargaining rights previously denied. It directly affects farm workers across Vermont by amending the definition of "employee" to include them, ending a specific exemption that had kept them outside labor protections. The key mechanism is revising Section 1502 of the law to delete the provision that barred agricultural laborers from being covered under collective bargaining rules. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

introduced · Vermont · Senate May 16, 2025

S 155: An act relating to the use of automated traffic law enforcement (ATLE) systems by municipalities

Bill S 155 authorizes municipal law enforcement agencies to use Automated Traffic Law Enforcement (ATLE) systems, such as traffic cameras, as part of a pilot program until July 1, 2027. These systems can be deployed in municipal work zones to enhance worker safety and at other locations with high rates of crashes or speeding where traditional enforcement is impractical. The bill requires clear signage notifying drivers of ATLE use, engineering analysis for deployment locations, and that systems in work zones only operate when workers are present. It also mandates annual calibration, daily logs of activity, and an annual report from the Agency of Transportation detailing system usage, violations, and collected penalties.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 336: An act relating to enhancing enforcement of employment laws

H.336 allows employees, worker organizations, or whistleblowers to file lawsuits on behalf of Vermont’s Labor Commissioner to enforce workplace laws, such as minimum wage or misclassification rules. It directly affects workers who face violations (e.g., unpaid wages or improper contractor status) and provides a mechanism for them to seek penalties and remedies. Key provisions include sharing recovered fines (70% to the Labor Department, 30% to the filer if the Commissioner doesn’t intervene) and requiring 25% of those funds to support workforce education programs. The bill also prohibits contracts from blocking these lawsuits and sets clear court procedures for filing claims.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Minimum Wage

signed · Vermont · House May 22, 2025

H 461: An act relating to expanding employee access to unpaid leave

H 461 expands Vermont's unpaid leave protections by updating definitions to include more family relationships and caregiving situations. It specifically broadens eligibility for family leave to cover individuals standing "in loco parentis" (day-to-day caregivers without legal ties), domestic partners meeting specific cohabitation requirements, and nontraditional family structures. The bill also clarifies safe leave for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including specific protections for estate administration during bereavement. These changes directly affect Vermont workers who care for extended family members, LGBTQ+ partners, or victims of violence, ensuring they qualify for leave under the same standards as traditional family situations. The law, signed by the Governor on May 22, 2025, aligns state policy with inclusive standards for low-income workers and nontraditional households.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 22, 2025

H 60: An act relating to prohibiting discrimination based on immunization status

This bill adds "immunization status" to Vermont's existing anti-discrimination laws, prohibiting discrimination based on vaccination history in three key areas: public accommodations (like restaurants and stores), housing (including rentals and sales), and employment. It defines "immunization status" as an individual's vaccination record for infectious diseases. The law prevents businesses, landlords, and employers from refusing service, housing, or jobs, or imposing different terms, due to a person's vaccination status. This applies to all covered entities across Vermont, expanding current protections to include vaccination history as a protected characteristic.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Health

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 340: An act relating to regulating developers and deployers of certain automated decision systems

This Vermont bill regulates developers and deployers of automated decision systems (ADS) used in consequential decisions - such as hiring, housing, loan approvals, or healthcare access - to prevent algorithmic discrimination. It requires businesses to clearly inform consumers before using ADS in such decisions, explaining what data is measured, how it is used, and how it influences outcomes. The bill prohibits the use of ADS that result in discriminatory treatment based on protected characteristics like race, gender, age, or disability. These requirements apply to businesses operating in Vermont that deploy or develop ADS for decisions materially affecting residents' rights, liberties, or welfare.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection

signed · Vermont · House May 12, 2026

H 519: An act relating to Vermont State Employees' Retirement System Group G membership

H 519 proposes to authorize law enforcement officers employed by the Town of Randolph Police Department to enroll in Group C of the Vermont State Employees' Retirement System. This bill directly affects Randolph police officers by allowing them to access the specific benefits and provisions of this state retirement plan. The key mechanism is to grant these municipal officers the option to participate in a state-level retirement system.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 337: An act relating to duties of the Commissioner of Labor

H 337 requires Vermont's Commissioner of Labor to publish enforcement actions against employers for violations of wage and hour, prevailing wage, and child labor laws. The bill mandates that this information be made publicly available in a searchable format on a dedicated website. Data published will exclude complainant identities and information older than six years. The requirement takes effect on July 1, 2025, increasing transparency around labor law enforcement.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 359: An act relating to privatization contracts

H.359 regulates when Vermont state agencies can replace permanent employees with private contractors. It requires agencies to provide 35 days' written notice to unions before seeking bids for privatization contracts, including details on wages (at least equal to comparable state positions) and services. Contracts must include wage standards, health insurance parity, performance metrics, and just-cause employment protections for contractor workers. The bill also mandates Attorney General certification that contracts align with merit system principles and requires annual audits to verify 10% cost savings and performance compliance before renewal. This directly affects state agencies, union-represented workers, and private contractors hired for state services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Insurance Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing Public Employees

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2025

H 33: An act relating to expanding employee access to unpaid leave

H.33 expands Vermont's unpaid leave protections to cover domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, bereavement, and military-related family exigencies, directly affecting employees working for businesses with 10+ employees (for parental leave) or 15+ employees (for other leave types). It redefines "family member" to include non-traditional relationships - like caregivers in non-legal bonds or LGBTQ+ families - without requiring legal documentation, and creates "safe leave" for victims of domestic violence or assault. The bill also mandates employer reporting to track how expanded leave impacts workers, particularly low-income employees and non-traditional families. These changes aim to make leave access more equitable while aligning with inclusive standards.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

All labor & employment bills