Labor & Employment in Vermont

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 6, 2026

H 551: An act relating to overtime pay for firefighters

This bill requires Vermont fire departments to pay full-time firefighters overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours worked beyond an average of 42 hours per week. It applies to state, municipal, and county fire departments, excluding civilian employees, and defines "hours worked" to include all paid leave. Overtime is calculated using the average weekly hours over the prior eight weeks (based on a seven-day week). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Vermont law at 21 V.S.A. § 388.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 567: An act relating to unclaimed property, State retirement systems, and capital debt

H 567 updates Vermont's unclaimed property rules, requiring holders to report property valued at $50+ with owner details and increasing the threshold for property sent to the Retirement Security Fund from $100 to $150 after 10 years. It adds a 1% monthly penalty for employers missing retirement contribution deadlines (30 days past due) and creates a Pension and Benefits Funding Task Force. The bill transitions oversight of post-employment benefits for state employees and teachers to the Vermont Pension Investment Commission and raises the claim threshold for unclaimed property from $250 to $1,000 for certain cases. These changes primarily affect employers contributing to retirement systems, individuals claiming unclaimed funds, and the state retirement systems themselves.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Pensions

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 6, 2026

H 554: An act relating to removing the Reach Up asset limit

H 554 would remove the $9,000 asset limit for Vermont's Reach Up program, which provides temporary aid to low-income families. The bill repeals the current rule that counted certain assets (like retirement and education savings) against this limit, allowing families to retain more savings while qualifying for benefits. It directly affects families applying for or receiving Reach Up assistance, with the change taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 666: An act relating to survivors benefits for law enforcement officers

This bill expands Vermont's existing survivors benefits program to include law enforcement officers. It amends Chapter 181 of state law to explicitly define "emergency personnel" to cover law enforcement officers, granting their survivors the same monetary benefits currently available to firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Survivors (spouses, children, or parents) of law enforcement officers who die "in the line of duty" or from an occupation-related illness may request benefits through the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board within 24 months of death. The bill does not change benefit amounts or eligibility criteria but extends existing protections to law enforcement officers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 20, 2026

S 277: An act relating to prohibiting mandatory overtime for nurses

This bill prohibits hospitals and long-term care facilities in Vermont from requiring nurses to work mandatory overtime beyond their scheduled shifts, except during declared emergencies, ongoing medical procedures, or unforeseen disasters. It defines "mandatory overtime" as work exceeding agreed-upon shifts (max 12 hours in 24 hours or 48 hours in a workweek) and requires employers to first seek voluntary staff or agency nurses before mandating overtime. Employers must report all mandatory overtime instances to the Vermont Department of Health within 30 days, including justification and good-faith efforts to avoid it, and must provide nurses with at least 10 consecutive hours off duty after working extended shifts. The law applies to registered and licensed practical nurses directly providing patient care in covered facilities.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Labor Standards

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 22, 2026

H 743: An act relating to increasing the State minimum wage based on the livable wage

This bill increases Vermont's minimum wage to $18.60 per hour starting July 1, 2026, based on the state's defined "livable wage" (the hourly rate needed for a full-time worker in shared housing with employer health coverage to cover basic needs). Future annual increases will be set at the smaller of 5% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) change from the previous year, rounded to the nearest cent. It directly affects all employers in Vermont who pay the minimum wage, including businesses with low-wage workers across sectors like retail, hospitality, and agriculture. The change replaces the current $12.55 minimum wage and aligns future adjustments with inflation data.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 16, 2026

H 709: An act relating to limiting overtime for medical interns, resident physicians, and physicians

This bill sets a 60-hour weekly maximum for medical interns, resident physicians, and physicians, with no single shift exceeding 16 hours. It requires at least 16 consecutive hours off duty after any 16-hour shift. The law directly affects healthcare trainees and physicians working in Vermont hospitals and medical programs. These provisions aim to limit extended work periods without specifying enforcement or penalties.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 261: An act relating to establishing a 32-hour workweek

This bill establishes a 32-hour workweek in Vermont by requiring employers to pay overtime (1.5x regular wage) for hours worked beyond 32 per week, replacing the current 40-hour standard. It also reduces the maximum weekly work limit for minors under 16 from 40 to 32 hours and adjusts earned sick time accrual rates to align with the new standard. Exemptions apply to certain healthcare workers (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.), who would follow separate overtime rules for 8-hour workdays or 64-hour biweekly periods. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 18, 2025

H 485: An act relating to granting State employees in the Executive Branch and Judiciary the right to strike

H 485 would grant unionized state employees in the Executive Branch and Judiciary the right to strike. Currently, these employees in Vermont are prohibited from striking under state law. The bill amends the State Employees Labor Relations Act to explicitly allow strikes as a labor action. This change directly affects unionized workers in the executive and judicial branches of state government.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 24, 2025

H 90: An act relating to the Vermont earned income tax credit and the Vermont child tax credit

This bill (H 90) increases Vermont’s earned income tax credit and child tax credit amounts and prevents these credits from being used to pay other state debts. It raises the credit percentage to 55% for households with qualifying children and 100% for households without children, based on the federal credit amount. The bill specifically prohibits tax debt setoff - meaning the state cannot seize these credits to cover unpaid taxes or other obligations. The changes apply retroactively to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, directly benefiting low-to-moderate-income Vermont residents who qualify for these credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

All labor & employment bills