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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This bill (H 239) would extend key rights to temporary Vermont state employees who work over 1,280 hours annually for two years. It requires temporary workers to receive comparable pay, whistleblower protections, sick/annual leave, and health insurance meeting ACA standards after six months of employment. The bill also prohibits termination without good cause and clarifies that such employees qualify as "State employees" for labor rights purposes. These changes apply to temporary workers in state agencies, colleges, and courts who meet the hour threshold, effective July 1, 2025.
This bill (S.6) repeals a specific provision in Vermont law that allowed the Commissioner of Labor to recommend lower wages for workers with disabilities. It directly affects individuals with disabilities who may have been subject to subminimum wage recommendations under current law. The key mechanism is amending 21 V.S.A. § 385 to remove the Commissioner’s authority to "recommend a suitable scale of rates... for persons with disabilities, which may be less than the regular minimum wage." The change would eliminate the legal basis for such lower wage recommendations, requiring all workers to be paid at least the standard minimum wage. The bill does not create new wage requirements but removes an existing exception.
H.348, the Extreme Temperature Worker Protection Act, requires employers to create workplace plans addressing hazards from extreme heat or cold. It directly affects workers in outdoor or uncontrolled environments, such as construction, agriculture, and landscaping, who face risks of heatstroke or hypothermia. The key provision mandates employers to evaluate temperature risks and implement controls like hydration breaks, rest periods, or shelter access. The bill aims to prevent occupational illnesses, injuries, and fatalities caused by temperature extremes.
This bill prohibits discrimination based on criminal history in employment and housing across Vermont. It adds "criminal history" to Vermont's existing anti-discrimination laws, meaning employers cannot refuse to hire or landlords cannot deny housing solely due to an individual's criminal record. The law includes exceptions for jobs where federal or state law mandates disqualification (e.g., for certain crimes in childcare roles) or for positions substantially related to the offense. It also defines "criminal history" broadly to cover all contact with the criminal justice system, including arrests and court dispositions.
H 335 requires employers and subcontractors working on Vermont state construction projects to maintain detailed payroll records for three years. These records must include each worker's name, address, hours worked, wages paid, pay rate, and job classification, and must be submitted weekly to the overseeing state agency. The records must be preserved for inspection by the Commissioner of Labor or Attorney General and become publicly accessible under Vermont's Public Records Act. This bill directly affects contractors on state projects (excluding Transportation and Parks projects) and takes effect July 1, 2025.
