| Bill | Position | Title | Sponsors | Note | Status | Committees | Upcoming Hearings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.205 | An Act Relating To Agreements Not To Compete | Rep. Michael Marcotte; Rep. Abbey Duke; Rep. Anthony Micklus; et al. | 2/19/26. The House Commerce Committee voted out H.205 (Draft 5.1), regulating noncompetes and ?stay-or-pay? provisions. Amendments raised the enforceable wage threshold to 300% of minimum wage (?$90,000) and allowed limited repayment of sign-on or relocation costs within a six-month probationary period. The bill broadly bans noncompetes, preserves narrow use for higher earners under strict standards, and fully prohibits them for health care providers. Testimony reflected tension between regulatory burden concerns and worker mobility protections; the bill advanced with bipartisan, not unanimous, support. | Rep. Marcotte of Coventry moved to recommit the bill to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, which was agreed to (03/13/26) | House Commerce and Economic Development | ||
| H.308 | An Act Relating To Exempting Sales Of Building Materials And Supplies From Sales And Use Tax | Rep. Ashley Bartley; Rep. Casey Toof; Rep. Emilie Krasnow; et al. | H 308 proposes to exempt all sales of building materials and supplies from sales and use tax in Vermont. The exemption aims to reduce construction costs and revitalize downtown districts. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2025, and sunset after three years, reverting back to a limited exemption for manufacturing facilities on July 1, 2028. The exemption includes all materials and supplies used in construction, renovation, or repair of buildings, but excludes blueprints. This bill aims to provide incentives for construction and economic growth in Vermont. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means (02/21/25) | House Ways and Means | ||
| H.438 | An Act Relating To Exempting Sales Of Building Materials And Supplies From Sales And Use Tax For Priority Housing Projects | Rep. Gina Galfetti | Proposes to exempt sales of building materials and supplies from sales and use tax for priority housing projects. The bill aims to support affordable housing by reducing construction costs.
Did not advance. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means (02/28/25) | House Ways and Means | ||
| H.479 | An Act Relating To Housing | House Committee on General and Housing | The Senate amended H.479 to include a streamlined version of the Community Housing Incentive Program (CHIP), omitting the CHIP Board and instead assigning full oversight to VEPC. The Senate version removes caps on increment, geographic and affordability restrictions, and project-specific requirements like “but-for” tests or affordability covenants. All projects may retain 80% of the education property tax increment and 100% of municipal increment, with no program sunset. In addition, H.479 includes expansions to the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program (flexible grants/loans up to $70,000 per unit), a new Manufactured Housing Support program, a $7.5 million Infrastructure Sustainability Fund for housing-linked municipal projects, and stricter affordability terms for VHFA rental loans. The bill also creates a planning committee for 600 developmental disability housing units, enhances rental data reporting, repeals certain landlord certificate provisions, studies a statewide land bank, expands anti-discrimination protections, updates smoke detector rules, and launches a two-year positive rent reporting pilot to improve renters’ credit. Held on House Calendar then referred to HGEN after Conference Committee agreeement on S.127. | Rep. Mihaly of Calais moved to commit the bill to the Committee on General and Housing, which was agreed to (05/30/25) | House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations; Senate Finance; House Ways and Means; Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs; Senate Natural Resources and Energy; House General and Housing | ||
| H.589 High | An Act Relating To A Six-year Statute Of Repose For Actions Arising Out Of Improvements To Real Property | Rep. Rebecca Holcombe | H 589 proposes to establish a six-year statute of repose for actions arising out of improvements to real property in Vermont. The bill would require civil actions for personal injury or property damages to be brought within six years after substantial completion of the improvement. The statute of repose would not apply to actions involving fraudulent misrepresentations or concealment of material facts. The bill defines substantial completion as the point at which an improvement can be utilized for its intended purpose. 1/10/26 | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary (01/07/26) | House Judiciary | ||
| H.602 | An Act Relating To Housing And Land Use | Rep. Ashley Bartley; Rep. Patricia McCoy | H 602 proposes multiple changes to Vermont's land use and development laws to address the state's housing needs. The bill extends exemptions for priority housing projects, allows for by-right housing development in certain areas, and requires municipalities to plan for meeting regional housing targets. It also authorizes funding for offsite construction, tax credits for down payment assistance, and additional positions at the Department of Housing and Community Development. 1/10/26 | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment (01/07/26) | House Environment | ||
| H.717 High | An Act Relating To The Residential And Commercial Building Energy Standards And The Adoption Of A Residential Building Code | Rep. R. Scott Campbell | H.717 would rename the Division of Fire Safety as the Division of Fire and Building Safety and transfer jurisdiction over the Residential and Commercial Building Energy Standards (RBES and CBES) from the Department of Public Service to the new division by December 31, 2029. It establishes a full statutory framework for adopting, updating, certifying, and enforcing building energy standards, including municipal enforcement authority, penalties, and a private right of action for false certifications. Energy code compliance would become a condition of occupancy for public buildings. The bill also creates a Building and Energy Codes Integration Task Force to plan the transition, staffing, IT, and funding needs, and to streamline enforcement with other building codes. Finally, it directs adoption of a residential building code for public buildings with residential units by 2027 and funds a new code administrator position. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure (01/20/26) | House Energy and Digital Infrastructure | ||
| H.718 High | An Act Relating To Building Energy Efficiency | Rep. R. Scott Campbell | H.718 would overhaul Vermont?s building energy and construction framework. It directs the Division of Fire Safety to adopt a statewide residential building code (based on the International Residential Code) by January 1, 2028; creates a Residential Contractor Regulation Task Force to improve the contractor registry and develop voluntary certifications; requires contractors to disclose criminal and civil records to clients; expands mandatory energy-education modules for licensed and certified professionals; authorizes municipalities to enforce RBES and CBES; and funds municipal enforcement support and a public-facing contractor registry website. | Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment (03/20/26) | House Appropriations; House Energy and Digital Infrastructure | ||
| H.726 Low | An Act Relating To Flexible Working Arrangements | Rep. Robert Hooper | proposes to require Vermont employers to grant requests for flexible working arrangements that do not conflict with business operations. Employees may request changes to their regular working arrangements, such as changes in hours or days worked, working from home, or job-sharing. Employers must consider requests in good faith and discuss alternative arrangements with employees. The bill outlines factors to consider when determining if a request is inconsistent with business operations, including additional costs, impact on morale, and ability to meet consumer demand. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (01/20/26) | House General and Housing | ||
| H.730 | An Act Relating To Act 250 Location-based Jurisdiction | Rep. Laura Sibilia; Rep. Lisa Hango; Rep. Lucy Boyden; et al. | "Rural Caucus Bill" H.730 proposes changes to Vermont's Act 250, specifically the Tier 3 rules, to provide notice to property owners and consider impacts on fair market value. The bill requires the Land Use Review Board to adopt rules identifying critical natural resources, ensuring no municipality is disproportionately impacted, and defining boundaries. It also amends exemptions for housing projects in designated downtown development districts and growth centers, and requires assessing officials to account for Act 250 requirements when determining appraisal values. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment (01/21/26) | House Environment | ||
| H.748 | An Act Relating To Regional Plan Future Land Use Maps | Rep. Abbey Duke; Rep. Rebecca Holcombe | H.748 would make regional planning maps much more powerful in deciding where development belongs. Projects in newly defined ?designated neighborhoods,? ?village areas,? and ?transition/infill areas? would be easier to permit under Act 250, while areas outside those zones would face more scrutiny. More land could qualify as appropriate growth areas, especially near job centers and workforce housing zones. The changes reduce ambiguity over what counts as smart growth versus sprawl and give Regional Planning Commissions greater influence over permitting outcomes. Overall, it would steer housing and development toward mapped growth areas and away from rural or conservation lands. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment (01/22/26) | House Environment | ||
| H.757 | An Act Relating To Manufactured Homes And Limited Equity Cooperatives | Rep. Gayle Pezzo; Rep. Marc Mihaly | H.757 would change how mobile homes and limited equity housing cooperatives are treated. It updates deed and conversion rules for mobile homes and aims to make manufactured homes more like other housing, including equal zoning treatment. It would restrict subleasing in new limited equity cooperatives (unless there?s hardship) and treat these coops as nonprofits that serve low- and moderate-income people. It also adjusts tax rules: mobile homes would be exempt from sales tax and subject to property transfer tax, and cooperative housing would be exempt from some stormwater permitting requirements | Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs (03/20/26) | House Ways and Means; Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs; House General and Housing | ||
| H.775 | An Act Relating To Creating Tools For Housing Production | Rep. Marc Mihaly; Rep. Thomas Charlton; Rep. Ashley Bartley; et al. | H.775 proposes new tools for housing production in Vermont, including a Rural Housing Finance Pilot that stabilizes property taxes for small developments (with at least 15% affordable units), authority for special assessment revenue bonds to help finance infrastructure, expansion of the State Treasurer?s housing credit facility, and an Off-Site Construction Accelerator pilot to support bulk modular/manufactured housing procurement and lower costs. | Read third time and passed (03/19/26) | House Appropriations; House Ways and Means; House General and Housing | ||
| H.794 Low | An Act Relating To Increasing Taxes On Higher Income Earners And Creating The School Construction Aid Special Fund | Rep. Kate Logan; Rep. Brian Cina; Rep. Chloe Tomlinson | H 794 proposes to increase taxes on higher-income earners and create the School Construction Aid Special Fund. It introduces a personal income tax surcharge on taxpayers with over $2.5 million in adjusted gross income, a wealth proceeds tax on individuals, estates, and trusts with taxable income over certain thresholds, and a new property tax classification for non-homestead residential properties with a tax rate double that of homestead taxpayers. The revenue generated will fund Green Mountain Care and school construction projects. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means (01/28/26) | House Ways and Means | ||
| H.825 | An Act Relating To Zoning For Construction Of Wheelchair Ramps | Rep. Elizabeth Burrows; Rep. Anne Donahue; Rep. Bram Kleppner; et al. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment (01/29/26) | House Environment | |||
| H.883 | An Act Relating To A Permit Reform Task Force | Rep. Christopher Morrow; Rep. Abbey Duke; Rep. Anthony Micklus; et al. | H.883 proposes creating a permit reform task force to review Vermont?s state permitting systems. The task force would evaluate how to make permitting more transparent, efficient, and less burdensome?including looking at a single point of entry for all state permits. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment (02/04/26) | House Environment | ||
| H.922 | An Act Relating To The Extension Of Isolation Distances Of Potable Water Supplies And Wastewater Systems Onto Neighboring Property | Rep. William Greer | H.922 would allow required isolation distances (setback requirements) for wells and wastewater systems to extend onto neighboring properties when necessary to meet state health and environmental standards. It could make it easier to site septic systems or wells on small or oddly shaped parcels, especially in rural areas, by allowing compliance distances to overlap neighboring land rather than requiring them entirely within the property being developed. | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment (03/10/26) | House Environment | ||
| S.39 High | An Act Relating To The State Aid For School Construction Program | Sen. David Weeks; Sen. Martine Gulick; Sen. Robert Norris | This bill proposes to establish a new State Aid for School Construction Program within the Agency of Education to provide State debt service subsidy to school districts undertaking eligible school construction projects, with varying amounts of State aid available based on bonus incentive criteria adopted by rule of the Agency. Updated 6.3.25 | Committee on Education relieved; bill committed to Committee on Finance on motion of Senator Bongartz (03/11/25) | Senate Education | ||
| S.183 | An Act Relating To Home Improvement And Land Improvement Fraud | Sen. Robert Norris | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary (03/17/26) | House Judiciary; Senate Judiciary | 03/24/26 1:00 PM in Room 30 03/24/26 2:30 PM in Room 30 | ||
| S.230 | An Act Relating To Fair Employment Practices | Sen. Andrew Perchlik | S.230 New name: An act relating to fair employment practices. Draft 1.2 has been substantially revised from its original introduced version - The bill initially proposed a flexible working arrangement mandate but that framework has been removed. Draft 1.2 now serves as a technical labor-law alignment measure, amending Vermont's Parental and Family Leave Act and Fair Employment Practices Act to clarify teacher eligibility and align definitions with Safe Leave and federal FMLA standards. It does not create paid leave or expand benefit duration. 2/13/26 | Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (03/17/26) | Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs; House General and Housing | 03/24/26 3:00 PM in Room 31 03/25/26 9:00 AM in Room 31 03/25/26 3:00 PM in Room 31 03/26/26 9:00 AM in Room 31 | |
| S.267 | An Act Relating To Housing And Land Use | Sen. Scott Beck; Sen. Brian Collamore; Sen. Christopher Mattos; et al. | S.267 proposes broad reforms to Vermont?s land use and housing laws to stimulate residential development. It repeals certain road-related Act 250 jurisdiction, extends interim development exemptions for priority housing, and expands ?by-right? housing allowance in municipal zoning. The bill adds requirements for municipal housing planning, modifies land use tier designations, increases Downtown/Village Center Tax Credits, continues the Downpayment Assistance Program, and funds an off-site construction pilot. It also creates housing-related positions in state government and includes appropriations to support implementation. | Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (01/16/26) | Senate Natural Resources and Energy | ||
| S.282 | An Act Relating To Increasing Taxes On Higher Income Earners And Creating The School Construction Aid Special Fund | Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky; Sen. Alison Clarkson; Sen. Anne Watson; et al. | S.282 proposes a new tax on high-income investment income, modeled on the federal Net Investment Income Tax. Senate Finance is now debating competing versions with different income thresholds and treatment of capital gains. The bill?s original school construction funding provision has been removed, leaving the committee focused primarily on the tax policy itself. | Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Finance (01/21/26) | Senate Finance | ||
| S.283 | An Act Relating To School Districts Pursuing School Construction Projects During The Moratorium On State Aid | Sen. Alison Clarkson; Sen. Joseph Major; Sen. Martine Gulick; et al. | Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Education (01/21/26) | Senate Education | |||
| S.286 | An Act Relating To A Meals And Rooms Tax Surcharge For School Construction Aid | Sen. Martine Gulick; Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky | S.286 proposes a 2% meals and rooms tax surcharge to fund school construction. The surcharge would be collected by operators on taxable meals, rooms, and alcoholic beverages, and deposited into the School Construction Aid Special Fund. The bill aims to generate revenue for school construction aid, with the surcharge itemized on invoices and bills. No traction yet - 2/19/26 | Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Finance (01/21/26) | Senate Finance | ||
| S.305 | An Act Relating To Housing And Land Use | Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale; Sen. David Weeks; Sen. Patrick Brennan; et al. | S 305 is a comprehensive bill that proposes multiple changes to Vermont's land use and housing laws. The bill aims to address the state's housing shortage by promoting affordable housing, reducing regulatory barriers, and increasing access to credit for renters. Key provisions of the bill include: Requiring municipalities to allow accessory dwelling units in certain zoning districts Prohibiting municipalities from excluding mobile homes, modular housing, or prefabricated housing from residential districts Creating a positive rental payment reporting pilot program to help renters build credit Allowing for denser development in areas with municipal sewer and water infrastructure Reducing the appeal period for certain land use decisions Amending the state's Act 250 law to streamline the permitting process for development projects Prohibiting common interest communities from restricting unit owners from leasing their units for residential purposes Appropriating $1 million to implement the rental payment pilot program | Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs (01/23/26) | Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs | ||
| S.317 | An Act Relating To Weatherization Funding And Weatherization Workforce Recruitment | Sen. Steven Heffernan; Sen. Terry Williams | Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (01/27/26) | Senate Natural Resources and Energy | |||
| S.325 | An Act Relating To Studying The Creation Of Model Bylaws | Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy | S.325 was introduced as a by-right housing and zoning bill, including provisions related to ROOT zones and expanded housing development by right. It has since been replaced with a strike-all amendment and is now the primary vehicle for Act 181 implementation and Act 250 adjustments. The current draft focuses on extending several Act 181 transition deadlines, including delaying the 800-foot ?road rule? trigger, extending timelines for Tier 3 rulemaking and mapping, and adjusting implementation dates tied to Tier 1A housing exemptions. The bill remains under consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. 2/19/26 | Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations (03/24/26) | Senate Appropriations; Senate Finance; Senate Natural Resources and Energy | 03/24/26 1:15 PM in Room 31 | |
| S.328 | An Act Relating To Housing And Common Interest Communities | Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs | S.328 is a broad housing and community-policy bill. It would require municipal plans to analyze and set targets for future housing development; extend and reform affordable housing tax credits including down payment assistance; and create a pilot for reducing housing costs through off-site/modular construction. The bill restricts homeowners associations and common-interest communities from banning unit leasing, family child care homes, or electric vehicle charging installation. It also caps mobile home lot rent increases, expands the Vermont Economic Development Authority?s housing financing authority, and establishes a Service-Supported Housing Advisory Council, among other housing-related reforms. | Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator Watson (03/24/26) | Senate Appropriations; Senate Finance; Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs | 03/24/26 10:30 AM in Room 27 03/24/26 1:00 PM in Room 31 03/25/26 9:25 AM in Room 31 03/25/26 1:00 PM in Room 31 |