Labor & Employment in Vermont

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 99: An act relating to regulating earned wage access services

This bill establishes a regulatory framework for "earned wage access services" in Vermont, requiring providers to obtain a state license before offering these services. It defines key terms like "earned but unpaid income" (wages owed but not yet paid) and "provider" (businesses delivering pre-pay advances), and distinguishes between direct-to-consumer providers and employer-integrated providers. The core mechanism mandates licensing for all providers (excluding certain federally insured financial institutions), with applications requiring details about service types, fees, and business history. This directly affects workers accessing early pay and businesses offering these services, aiming to create oversight for a growing financial product.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 22: An act relating to access to information concerning benefit extension agreements for employees of public agencies

H 22 amends Vermont's Public Records Act to require public disclosure of severance pay and benefit extension agreements for employees of state and local public agencies. It removes an exemption that previously kept this information private, making such agreements available for public inspection and copying. Public agencies must annually publish detailed reports by July 1 each year, including employee names, payment amounts, benefit types, agreement duration, and termination reasons. This applies to all benefit extension agreements executed since 2018, with a historical report due by January 15, 2026. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Government Transparency

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 228: An act relating to hospital employee compensation and administrative staffing ratios

H 228 requires Vermont hospitals to report detailed compensation data for executives, clinical leaders, and frontline healthcare workers (including base salaries, bonuses, and benefits) to the Green Mountain Care Board annually. It mandates that hospitals maintain staffing ratios where administrative staff do not exceed national averages for similar hospitals, and caps executive/clinical leadership compensation at no more than 10 times the pay of the lowest-paid frontline healthcare workers. These requirements will be integrated into the Board’s annual hospital budget review process starting in 2027. The bill applies to all Vermont hospitals and takes effect January 1, 2026, for fiscal year 2027 budgets.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Hospitals

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 11, 2025

H 173: An act relating to granting public higher education employees the right to strike

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.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Higher Education Collective Bargaining Public Employees

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 384: An act relating to minimum reimbursement rates for labor related to automobile insurance claims

This bill establishes minimum hourly reimbursement rates for auto repair labor in Vermont insurance claims. It requires the Commissioner of Financial Regulation to survey local repair rates, compare them to New England averages, and set a fair minimum rate that adjusts annually using the Consumer Price Index. The minimum rate applies to all auto insurance claims filed on or after January 1, 2026. Insurance companies may still negotiate higher rates based on specific factors like vehicle type, repair complexity, or location, but cannot refuse negotiation solely based on finding a cheaper repair shop nearby.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 12, 2025

H 212: An act relating to creating incentives for AmeriCorps members

This bill creates multiple financial and employment incentives for AmeriCorps members serving in Vermont. It requires state colleges to offer in-state tuition to AmeriCorps members, exempts them from state taxes on both the federal Segal AmeriCorps Education Award and their living allowance, and gives them hiring preference for state jobs. Additionally, it provides a Vermont state education award matching the federal Segal award for Vermont students who completed AmeriCorps service in-state and are enrolled at Vermont colleges. The bill also dedicates state funds to support AmeriCorps program development.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Higher Education

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 26, 2025

S 92: An act relating to the retirement allowance for interim educators

This bill (S 92) allows retired Vermont teachers (Group A or C members) to work as interim school educators for up to one school year while continuing to receive their retirement allowance. To qualify, retirees must have received benefits for at least six months, and their school employer must pay required contributions to the retirement fund. The law requires school districts to certify they exhausted all options for hiring active teachers before hiring a retired educator. The provision expires on June 30, 2031, and does not allow multiple renewals for the same position. It directly affects retired teachers seeking temporary interim roles and their school employers.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 16, 2025

H 38: An act relating to adding new positions to the Human Rights Commission

H 38 adds six full-time and two part-time staff positions to Vermont's Human Rights Commission, including Communications Coordinators, Intake Specialists, Staff Attorney Investigators, a Paralegal, and part-time Mediators/Social Workers. The bill allocates $794,616 in fiscal year 2026 for salaries and benefits, plus $25,000 for outreach, $18,000 for operations, and $50,000 for office space. These new roles aim to expand the Commission's capacity to handle discrimination complaints and provide support services. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, directly impacting the Commission's operations and the residents it serves.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

passed both · Vermont · Senate May 6, 2025

JRS 15: Joint resolution supporting Vermont’s transgender and non-binary community and declaring Vermont’s commitment to fighting discrimination and treating all citizens with respect and dignity

This joint resolution (JRS 15) is a symbolic statement of support for Vermont's transgender and non-binary community, not a new law. It reaffirms Vermont's existing commitments to anti-discrimination protections in areas like employment, housing, and healthcare, as well as its policies allowing gender marker changes on vital records and protecting gender-affirming care. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to the Pride Center of Vermont and Outright Vermont. It does not create new legal obligations or alter current policies.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 9: An act relating to the Vermont State and Judiciary Employees’ Cost-Savings Incentive Program

This bill reinstates a program allowing Vermont Executive and Judicial branch employees to earn financial rewards for suggestions that save state government money. Eligible nonmanagement state employees can submit cost-saving ideas, which must meet specific criteria (like being feasible, not already under review, and not harming service quality) before adoption. If implemented, employees receive 25% of the first-year savings (capped at $25,000) paid by the agency realizing the savings. The bill also establishes a review process for disputed denials or disputed savings calculations, with final decisions by the State Auditor or Court Administrator.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

All labor & employment bills