2026 Legislative Session Report
Below are summaries of the bills that were passed by the Legislature in 2026 and have become law. The bill numbers are linked to the legislative web-page that provides all the details around the bill. There are a lot of details behind each bill, which I am happy to provide if you are interested. Just send me an email and I can help.
H.955 (Act 170) An act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system. This act continues the work started in 2025 in Act 73, with a major change: the “School District Redistricting Task Force” recommended in December of 2025 forming Cooperative Education Service Areas instead of forced school district mergers to leverage shared services across school districts. The legislature picked up their work and formed 7 CESAs across the state and grouping the 119 existing school districts into 20 facilitated merger study groups, with votes of school districts scheduled for March 2028. This act also created state aid for school construction and existing bond debt, using state bonding capacity and the Education Fund to subsidize the costs. On the education funding side, the act details the next steps in taxing “dwelling units” based on their use, enabling the state to more precisely tax primary homes differently than second homes or rental units or other types of properties. This work, combined with the creation of Regional Assessment Districts, requires significant collaboration with town listers and assessors. There are several reports due back to the legislature that are critical to implementation of the Foundation Formula, funding and organization of pre-K, funding of special education, transportation costs, etc… There remains a lot of work to do in the 2027 legislative session to see all of these things through.
H. 949 (Act 169) An act relating to homestead property tax yields, the nonhomestead property tax rate, and technical changes to education finance, aka “The Yield Bill.” The yield bill is where the legislature sets property tax rates for the next fiscal year based on the funds needed for preK-12 education expenses after accounting for other revenue sources (sales tax revenue, rooms and meals tax, etc…). This year the yield bill reflects the use of $100.5 million in other savings/surpluses to reduce the amount to be raised by property taxes, and creates cost containment measures by reducing the per pupil excess spending threshold over 5 years to reach the anticipated foundation formula amount. The bill also reflects the $4 million used to increase the renter’s credit for one year, and an increase in the “circuit breaker” to give income-qualified property owners more assistance in paying for municipal taxes.
H. 951 (Act 144) An act relating to making appropriations for the support of the government aka “The Big Bill,” approved the General Fund appropriation at $2.57 billion, a 2.88% increase compared to FY26 adjusted appropriations. The budget is built off of the January 2026 official consensus revenue forecast, adjusted for anticipated changes in tax policy of $2,540.26 million, in addition to other General Fund revenue sources of $131.11 million. This budget also relies on carryforward funds from fiscal year 2026 in the amount of $78.04 million, bringing total General Fund sources to $2,749.41 million.$215.11 million is transferred to other funds and reserves, including a one-time $100.90 million transfer to the Education Fund for property tax relief. Total appropriations from all funds (unduplicated) are $9.38 billion, a 2.10% increase over the previous year.
This budget fills all statutorily required reserves, meets all pension obligations, and makes essential investments in health care, human services, housing and economic development, education, public safety, and the environment.
H. 933 (Act 164) An act relating to miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws makes several technical, administrative, and policy changes to Vermont tax laws and fees, including:
creates a process for Vermont taxpayers to donate to scholarship granting organizations and receive a tax credit on their federal income tax returns.
decouples certain Vermont income tax calculations from sections of the federal tax code, made necessary by the changes in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Without the changes, tax revenues to Vermont would have decreased by over $20 million. Most of the changes are at the business/corporate level regarding the treatment of depreciation, certain research and experimental expense, and foreign derived income.
increases the amount of tax credit available for research and development conducted in this State, equal to 75% of the federal amount, the highest such credit in the country.
increases the amount of annual Downtown and Village Center Tax Credits to $3.5 million.
changes the allocations of tax revenue from meals and rooms and purchase and use taxes to different funds (General, Transportation, Education).
H.739 An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat bans the use of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease through wind-borne dispersion. Although paraquat is outlawed in over 70 countries, Vermont would be the first state in the nation to prohibit its use.
H.536 An act relating to toxic heavy metals in baby food products requires manufacturers of baby food and infant formula to test their products for lead, mercury, and other toxic heavy metals, and to make the results of those tests readily accessible to consumers online and through package labeling.
H.941 (Act 166) An act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture protects farms from municipal overreach, and clarifies that regulation of agriculture is generally the responsibility of the state. Cities and towns may elect to regulate farming businesses on lots less than one acre, but can't prevent individuals from growing their own food.
S. 60 (Act 78) An act relating to establishing the Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund to provide payments for farm and forestry operation losses due to weather conditions creates a new emergency fund and streamlines the application process for farmers who have been victims of severe storms, drought, or other climate-related disasters.
S. 327 (Act 78) An act relating to economic development seeks to align the resources needed by businesses of different stages of growth to succeed in Vermont, and to revitalize the workforce development system for the hospitality and culinary fields. The bill removes the sunset on the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program, an important tool for growing businesses. The bill extends the eligibility of the existing Rural Industry Development Grant Program (RIDP) to include federally-affected properties, reduces the required upfront costs from 80% to 50%, to help stalled projects in Newport and Montpelier. The bill creates guidelines for rounding during cash transactions, in response to the shortage and possible discontinuation of the penny. Finally, the bill introduces the C-PACE program, allowing a municipality to enter into an agreement with landowners to impose a special assessment to secure private financing for property owners of commercial/industrial buildings for renewable energy projects.
H. 243, an act relating to the regulation of business organizations, makes technical changes and adds new sections giving the Secretary of State authority to reject a business filing it believes is fraudulent.
S. 117 (Act 40) an act relating to wage and hour, unemployment compensation, and workers' compensation makes technical corrections to the unemployment insurance program and worker’s compensation in Vermont.
H. 398 (Act 26) an act relating to the Vermont Economic Development Authority, makes numerous technical and substantive amendments to the statutes governing the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA or Authority), including creating the Disaster Recovery Loan Fund. T
H. 385 (ACT 106), an act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt, prohibits coerced debt and provides protections and remedies for victims of coerced debt.
H. 512 an act relating to the regulation of the event ticketing market regulates the resale of tickets through improved transparency and the prevention of predatory and deceptive practices. It requires entities that resell or facilitate the resale of tickets to clearly identify that they are a reselling site and prohibits these entities from using deceptive advertising practices. It also caps the price of a ticket being resold to 10% above the original ticket price including taxes and fees. Finally the bill limits the sale of speculative tickets.
S. 313, an act relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system, restates the intent to align the governance and programs of the CTE centers to address the workforce and education needs of the State, with work to be done by the Agency of Education, State Board of Education and the Vermont Association of Career and Technical Directors and the Vermont Superintendents Association in 2026.
H.550 (Act 117) An act relating to gender equity within Vermont’s correctional facilities, creates standards related to gender identification, searches, and housing placement for transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex individuals in correctional facilities. It requires that the Department of Corrections comply with current federal standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act and submit the data required under the Prison Rape Elimination Act to the General Assembly. This act further requires the Department of Corrections to submit reports regarding its updated search policy and changes to Prison Rape Elimination Act standards. This act requires that the Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee review current practices related to gender affirming care in correctional settings and submit a report with recommended statutory language. supports gender equity in our correctional facilities.
H.559(Act 111) An Act relating to the Parole Board, makes several changes to how the State’s Parole Board operates, including the membership, training and knowledge of the Board itself, and establishes a legal counsel pilot project for the Board
H.635 (Act 113) An act relating to eliminating Department of Corrections supervisory fees, eliminates a supervisory fee charged formerly incarcerated individuals that was determined to be largely uncollectible for the department and burdensome from the individuals.
S.64 (Act 171) An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists creates an advanced therapeutic procedures specialty issued by the Board of Optometry that allows a licensed optometrist who meets specific educational, examination, and demonstrated competency requirements to perform certain surgeries, laser procedures, and injections.
H930 (Act 122) An act relating to addressing and preventing chronic absenteeism, requires the Agency of Education, in consultation with several stakeholders, to develop and review at least every three years a model policy on the prevention of chronic absenteeism and truancy with the first policy due July 1, 2027.
S.227 (Act No. 125) An act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools, requires Vermont schools to provide immigration resources to students, protect the privacy of its students, and follow other protocols that restrict immigration enforcement at schools. The act requires the Office of the Attorney General to develop an immigration resource guide that will be sent to the Agency of Education for distribution to schools. This act prohibits schools from collecting the immigration or citizenship status of students unless required by law. This act requires superintendents and heads of schools to not allow a law enforcement officer appearing on an immigration-related matter into a nonpublic area of a school without the officer showing official identification and presenting a judicial warrant. The is to secure the rights of every Vermont child to access their education and schools in a way that is safe from intimidation and fear, regardless of their immigration status.
S.202 (Act 149) An act relating to plug-in photovoltaic devices, regulates the usage of plug-in photovoltaic devices (PIPV), “balcony solar,” which are widely used in Europe where they allow apartment residents to offset their electricity usage, especially when paired with batteries. The act clarifies that neither utility nor Public Utilities Commission approval is needed and ensures safe usage of PIPV by requiring that stringent national safety standards (UL-approved) are met.
H.527 (Act 129) An act relating to extending the sunset of 30 V.S.A. § 248a (expedited permitting for the siting or cell towers) extends 248a for another three years but adds stricter requirements for public input.
H.723 (Act No. 90) An act relating to posting of land clarifies that posting land against hunting, fishing, trapping, or taking of game or wild animals is valid and enforceable for 365 days after the date the posting is recorded with the town clerk. This act also provides that if a posting has accidental or unintentional deviations from the posting requirements, the posting shall still be deemed enforceable if a reasonable person would believe these activities are prohibited on the land and the posting is recorded with the town clerk.
H.928 (Act 159) An act relating to technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes made a number of updates including establishing that an annual hunting license is for 365 days, the Commissioner has authority to temporarily create a new type of hunting license at fees similar to what is already in statute, and putting into statute the fees charged by Fish and Wildlife for the use of state owned lands.
H.778 (Act 114) An act relating to dam safety, requires the Division of Emergency Management, in coordination with the Department of Environmental Conservation, to conduct a pilot project for the development of a set of emergency operations plans (EOPs) for two State-owned highhazard dams and report back to the legislature on the pilot project and the estimated costs of developing EOPs for all municipalities with high hazard dams and populations over 100 persons.
S.325 (Act 152) An act relating to regional planning and Act 250 Tier jurisdiction repeals the Road Rule and Tier 3 included in Act 181 of 2024, initiates planning for a robust public-engagement process to explore how best to protect working lands and critical natural resources; creates a legislative oversight committee to increase communication and coordination between the legislature and the Land Use Review Board and the Agency of Natural Resources; and align the expiration dates of Act 250 permit exemptions for housing, starting with municipalities in Tier 1A and 1B areas where Act 250 permits will no longer be necessary.
S.212 (Act 174), An act relating to potable water supply and wastewater system connections creates a general permit at the Agency of Natural Resources to streamline permitting for connections to community water and wastewater systems. Permitting authority could also be delegated to municipalities in certain circumstances.
S.223, An act relating to water quality of the waters of Vermont, establishes a Study Group to (1) develop an inventory of the waters of the State with the existing classification designations, (2) assess the State’s obligations under the federal Clean Water Act as enacted as of January 1, 2026, (3) identify and evaluate the statutory and regulatory frameworks, rules, policies, and procedures governing Class A waters, including whether modifications are needed to facilitate the reclassification of eligible waters, adequately protect and support designated and existing uses, and provide regulatory certainty for activities in Class A waters, (4) evaluate whether the existing water classification system in the State and related statutory and regulatory frameworks protect the ecological integrity of the State’s lakes and ponds, adequately address current and potential threats to the water quality of the State’s lakes and ponds, and provide regulatory certainty, and (5) recommend legislative amendments and identify any rules, policies, or procedures that may require revision to implement the Study Group’s recommendations.
H.915 (Act 158), An act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers, improves the bottle redemption system in Vermont by making it more convenient and efficient, modernizes the equipment utilized for redemption collection and sorting; and reduces manual sorting at redemption centers. This bill does not expand the kinds of bottles that would be redeemable, nor increase the five-cent deposit. The bill also includes important improvements to the collection system for household hazardous products.
H.935(Act 162), An act relating to emergency management, strengthens Vermont’s emergency management and disaster preparedness system by adding the requirement that food and water needs be included in emergency planning. It also enhances the security of public safety officials, incorporates disability needs in statewide plans; and finally, addresses recommendations from the Public Safety Communications Task Force to improve and align communications technology across the state.
S. 298 (Act 126), An act relating to voter protections. The Vermont Voter Protections Act of 2026 creates a new criminal offense prohibiting interference with voters and election officials. It prohibits the imposition or application by the State or a municipality of any voting qualification or prerequisite to voting or a standard, practice, or procedure in a manner that results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen to vote based on race or color, membership in a language minority group, or having a disability, and empowers the Attorney General’s Office to bring civil actions if there is a violation thereof. It amends law regarding voter checklists to require that any person wishing to obtain a copy of a municipality’s portion of the statewide voter checklist, or any other municipal voter checklist, to swear or affirm that the person will not use the information in a manner contrary to law.
S.23 (Act 75) An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections requires that a person include a specific disclosure when publishing or distributing deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media within 90 days before an election in Vermont.
H.686 (Act 154) An act relating to expanding identification of certain lobbying advertisements, That requires full disclosure of advertising efforts to influence legislation.
S. 278, An act relating to cannabis, provides additional agricultural protections to cannabis growing operations, allows cannabis co-ops to be created; and allows interstate commerce compacts between contiguous states that have legalized cannabis. It also allows the Cannabis Control Board to create a pilot program for up to 10 promotional retail events. The bill reduces fees for some types of licensees, if the cost of operating the regulatory board can be made up by the General Fund. For individual consumers, the bill allows people in non-federally-subsidized rental housing to use non-combustible, non-vaporized cannabis products. Further, it increases possession and purchase limits from one to two ounces.
S.89 (Act 102) An act relating to expanding survivor benefits, adds four additional categories of employees to the definition of emergency personnel whose survivors are eligible to receive a lump-sum payment (maximum of $80,000) if the employee dies in the line of duty or from an occupation-related illness.
S.328, An act relating to housing and common interest communities authorizes municipalities to issue revenue bonds backed by special assessments, expand the State Treasurer’s credit facility (Local Investment Advisory Committee, expanding amount of State’s average daily cash balance from 10% to 12.5%), to support mobile-home infrastructure and off-site modular home construction, broadens VEDA financing authority for certain multi-unit housing developments, and adds new municipal housing-planning requirements.
H.757 (Act 155) An act relating to manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives, streamlines the process for transferring ownership of manufactured homes, either as a deed or through a bill of sale, and ensures they are treated the same as other types of housing under local zoning laws, requires the Department of Taxes to prepare a report that inventories limited equity cooperatives and how they are valued and treated for tax purposes, prohibits subleasing cooperative units unless a hardship can be demonstrated. The bill exempts mobile homes from the sales tax, instead imposing the property transfer tax on the sale.
H. 772, the “landlord tenant” bill, died in the Senate. It was an effort to better balance the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants, including shortening eviction timelines from the current six months by requiring that a hearing be set within 90 days of an eviction complaint filing. Notice periods for tenants would have been shortened in cases of non-payment or dangerous behavior, but lengthened when the landlord is simply deciding to withdraw the unit from the market or renovate it. The bill would have prohibited landlords from charging blanket application fees. Finally, the bill would have added enhanced trespass and shared-occupancy provisions to help landlords address situations in which unwanted non-tenants use properties for dangerous or illegal activities.
S. 189 (Act 146), An act relating to establishing a process for the elimination of certain hospital service, creates detailed steps that a hospital must take before terminating services, including early notice, information and discussion with the Health Care Advocate, the GMCB, the AHS, and then adequate notice, public involvement, and GMCB review.
H.583 (Act 133), An act relating to clinical decision making, requires that decisions made at healthcare facilities are made by healthcare professionals and not by non-healthcare investors, and requires disclosure of private ownership interest in healthcare facilities to the Green Mountain Care Board starting in 2027.
S.197 (Act 173), An act relating to reform for primary care, amends the “Blueprint for Health” by determining the cost of providing payments to primary care providers through insurers and other sources that will improve population health, reduce costs, and obtain the information necessary to develop a framework for implementation of universal primary care.
H.577 (Act 132), An act relating to establishing the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, establishes a drug-prescription savings card introduced by the State Treasurer, that offers low-cost prescription drugs through participating Array RX pharmacies to any person with a Vermont address.
H-588 (Act 119) An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation, addresses the policies around licensure, and these specific professions: accounting, academic dentists, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), pharmacists, psychologists, midwifery, funeral services, speech pathologists, massage therapy establishments.
S-163 (Act 92), An act relating to the role of advanced practice providers in hospital care, approves and expands the scope of Physician’s Assistants (PAs) and Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners (APRNs) to be the Medical Attending Officers in hospitals without involving an M.D.
H-237 (Act 84) An act relating to prescribing by doctoral-level psychologists, enables a psychologist to apply to the Board of Psychological Examiners for a prescribing psychologist specialty when the individual holds a current license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in the State.
S.142 (Act 172) An act relating to a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians, creates a pathway for internationally-trained doctors to become licensed in Vermont.
H.84 (Act 80) An act relating to allowing telehealth appointments to be recorded with patient and provider consents
H.814 (Act 101) An act relating to neurological rights and the use of artificial intelligence technology in health and human services.
H.816 (Act 156) An act relating to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services, ensures that when mental health services are being offered, the clinician (not AI) must make a therapeutic decision, diagnosis, and decide treatment options. A.I. may be used as a helpful tool only. There are enforcement and penalty mechanisms for violations.
H.545 (Act 76) An act relating to immunization recommendations, authorizes the Vermont Department of Health to recommend immunization schedules that may differ from CDC guidelines, informed by the Vermont Immunization Advisory Council. The bill does not mandate or prohibit vaccination, and Vermonters retain access to immunizations on the schedule at no cost, and make their own decisions to be vaccinated or not.
H.938 (Act 143) An act relating to establishing the Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum, overhauls the state's approach for approx. 4,000 unhoused Vermonters by creating a tiered system to move households from prevention and diversion through various shelter options to permanent supportive housing, with motels as a last resort. Motel use is capped at 700 rooms nightly in warmer months and 1,000 in winter, with individual households limited to 70 motel days per year in the warmer season. The bill also includes a focus on supportive services, including case management and housing navigation. Lastly, the bill establishes a state-funded rental assistance program as a bridge to the currently-closed Section 8 federal rental subsidies. Total spending, approximately $83 million, matches the total proposed in the Governor’s budget.
H.660 (Act 141), An act relating to fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund and Substance Misuse Prevention Special Fund appropriations, allocates ~$7.6 million received as part of a national settlement and will be used for opioid-related services including outreach, recovery residences, syringe services, peer coaching in corrections, harm reduction, treatment beds, EMS buprenorphine training, and employment services. Additional provisions include a suspension of new FY2028 proposals pending an outcomes review, required quarterly spending reports, and ~$640,000 is appropriated for youth prevention programs out of the Substance Misuse Prevention Fund.
S.198 (Act 148) An act relating to the regulation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes, expands the definition of "tobacco substitute," bans deceptive tobacco products, broadens licensing requirements, increases fees and penalties, decouples tobacco and liquor licensure, transfers regulation and enforcement of wholesale tobacco companies from the Department of Taxes to the Department of Liquor and Lottery, and replaces criminal penalties for minors with stronger civil penalties on sellers.
H.657 (Act 136) An act relating to various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families, the “DCF Omnibus Bill”, allows certified unaccompanied homeless youth (ages 16–17) to consent to medical care, housing, employment, banking, and school enrollment without parental consent; strengthens standards for transportation, restraint, and seclusion of youth in state custody; and prohibits DCF from using foster youth's Social Security benefits to offset state costs except in limited circumstances, aligning Vermont with most other states.
H.849 (Act 87), An act relating to a civil action for damages for deprivation of federal constitutional rights by any government official, creates a legal claim for damages against a state, local, or federal official who violates the U.S. Constitution.
S.209 (Act 150) An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations expands protections against civil arrests without a judicial warrant in sensitive locations across Vermont, to include individuals accessing educational institutions, healthcare facilities, polling places, and government buildings. The bill addresses concerns related to civil immigration enforcement actions conducted pursuant to administrative warrants (versus judicial warrants) and seeks to ensure that individuals can safely access essential public institutions and services without fear of warrantless civil arrest.
S.193 (Act 147), An act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons, directs the Vermont Agency of Human Services to establish a plan to develop a secure forensic treatment facility for certain justice-involved individuals with significant mental health or cognitive disabilities to address gaps in Vermont’s behavioral health infrastructure, and create a plan to develop a therapeutic, secure setting designed to provide competency restoration, stabilization, treatment, and care while also maintaining appropriate public safety measures. The facility is intended to better serve individuals whose needs are not appropriately met in correctional settings alone, while improving outcomes for both affected individuals, victims of crime, and the broader community. S.193 also provides an interim competency restoration and forensic program to work with individuals currently in our system who are in need of this specific treatment while the facility plan is developed.
H.626 (Act 89), An act relating to sexual extortion, voyeurism, and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent, addresses image-based abuse and digital exploitation, in part by expanding the statute of limitations for some cases, and by recognizing that not all harm from such crimes is physical. These updates follow a Vermont Supreme Court decision that highlighted limitations in existing law related to nonconsensual recording in private spaces. The bill creates a new criminal offense prohibiting sexual extortion, or “sextortion,” a form of online exploitation that disproportionately impacts young people. Together, these reforms strengthen accountability for digital forms of abuse and provide clearer legal protections and recourse for victims.
H.578 (Act 118) An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses provides for comprehensive reforms to Vermont’s animal cruelty statutes and procedures. The law expands and modernizes the definition of animal cruelty, updates criminal penalties to better reflect the seriousness of abuse, and reworks the civil animal forfeiture procedures to improve protections for animals at risk of harm. The bill also streamlines the process for removing abused animals from dangerous conditions while helping reduce the financial and logistical burdens placed on shelters, humane organizations, and volunteers assisting with animal protection efforts.
H.944 (Act 168) An act relating to the fiscal year 2027 Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation (The T-Bill), adds $3 million in funding for municipalities from the PILOT Special Fund, and creates a new Local Option Municipal Transportation Special Fund, to be funded by a percentage of excess PILOT revenues. AOT increases the miles of state highway maintenance projects in FY 2027 by maximizing available federal funds. The bill funds the planning and implementation of the mileage-based-user-fee (MBUF) program that will charge EV users for road use to be launched January 1, 2027, with payment tied to the annual auto inspection. MBUF revenue will go to the Transportation Fund. The bill doubles the funds available in FY2027 for the Transportation Alternatives Grant Program or environmental mitigation, bike/pedestrian, traffic calming, and historic preservation to $1.2 million. The bill reinstates the Federal Highway Administration grant to establish 8-12 pollinator habitats along roadways.
S.326 (Act 153) An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to laws relating to motor vehicles (“Miscellaneous DMV Bill”) requires the DMV to update the annual inspection manual to prioritize safety issues and provide relief from minor maintenance requirements. The bill tightens accountability on trucks illegally passing through Smuggler’s Notch, on snowmobiles using VAST trails without a permit, and clarifies the illegality of individuals intentionally altering a Vermont license-plate. Additionally, the bill requires the use of a personal flotation device while boating in winter and improves regulations on motorcycle exhaust systems that affect ambient noise, in an effort to improve the safety and wellness of Vermonters.