What Bills Passed - 7/2/26

Happy Fourth!

It is quite hard to get a sense of what the Legislature does and its impact on Vermonters. You hear about the education reform bills, some health care bills and the high profile vetoes, but there is a lot more that happens in the State House, much of it routine, non-partisan and important in different ways. So, to give you a sense of our output you can scan the list of bills that were recently passed into law. If you want more information about a particular law, let me know and I will try to provide context. It is important to say that the legislature should not be assessed based on how many bills get passed. Many believe that we should pass fewer bills of better quality.

It is also valuable to note that we have a system designed in the 18th century and we are trying to solve 21st century problems, which are more complex and intricately tied into regional, national and global systems over which we have no control. Your citizen (non-professional) legislature meets four days a week crafting legislation over about 9-10 weeks before we have to send the bills over to the other body (Senate). There is no professional staff except for the lawyers drafting the bills and the Joint Fiscal Office, which does financial analysis for us. In other words, there is a lot of potential to redesign our government to better suit our times.

You will find quite a variety of topics covered here (the links go to the bill page, which can be hard to decipher but you can get the bill as enacted):

• H.933, An act relating to miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws

• H.937, An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures

• H.941, An act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture

• H.942, An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

• H.944, An act relating to the fiscal year 2027 Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation

• H.949, An act relating to homestead property tax yields, the nonhomestead property tax rate, and technical changes to education finance

• H.955, An act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system

• S.64, An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists

• S.142, An act relating to a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians

• S.197, An act relating to payment reform for primary care

• S.212, An act relating to potable water supply and wastewater system connections

• S.223, An act relating to water quality of the waters of Vermont

• S.278, An act relating to cannabis

• S.313, An act relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system

• S.323, An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

• S.328, An act relating to housing and common interest communities

• H.686, An act relating to expanding identification of certain lobbying advertisements

• H.757, An act relating to manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives

• H.816, An act relating to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services

• H.907, An act relating to legislative review of reporting requirements

• H.915, An act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers

• H.928, An act relating to technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes

• H.931, An act relating to miscellaneous changes in education law

• H.932, An act relating to the regulation of forestry under Act 250

• H.935, An act relating to emergency management

• H.952, An act relating to capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment

• H.211, An act relating to data brokers and personal information

• H.294, An act relating to telecommunications services and wages in correctional facilities

• H.642, An act relating to youthful offender proceedings

• H.648, An act relating to banking, insurance, and securities

• H.660, An act relating to fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund and Substance Misuse Prevention Special Fund appropriations

• H.938, An act relating to establishing the Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum

• H.951, An act relating to making appropriations for the support of the government

• S.71, An act relating to consumer data privacy and online surveillance

• S.189, An act relating to establishing a process for the elimination of certain hospital services

• S.193, An act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons

• S.198, An act relating to the regulation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes

• S.202, An act relating to plug-in photovoltaic devices

• S.209, An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations

• S.243, An act relating to distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project

• S.325, An act relating to regional planning and Act 250 Tier jurisdiction

• S.326, An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to laws relating to motor vehicles

• H.211, An act relating to data brokers and personal information

• H.294, An act relating to telecommunications services and wages in correctional facilities

• H.642, An act relating to youthful offender proceedings

• H.648, An act relating to banking, insurance, and securities

• H.660, An act relating to fiscal year 2027 Opioid Abatement Special Fund and Substance Misuse Prevention Special Fund appropriations

• H.938, An act relating to establishing the Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum

• H.951, An act relating to making appropriations for the support of the government

• S.71, An act relating to consumer data privacy and online surveillance

• S.189, An act relating to establishing a process for the elimination of certain hospital services

• S.193, An act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons

• S.198, An act relating to the regulation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes

• S.202, An act relating to plug-in photovoltaic devices

• S.209, An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations

• S.243, An act relating to distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project

• S.325, An act relating to regional planning and Act 250 Tier jurisdiction

• S.326, An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to laws relating to motor vehicles

• H.527, An act relating to extending the sunset of 30 V.S.A. § 248a

• H.542, An act relating to testing of schools in Vermont for polychlorinated biphenyls

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

• H.577, An act relating to establishing the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program

• H.583, An act relating to clinical decision making

• H.606, An act relating to firearms relinquishment and storage procedures

• H.639, An act relating to genetic data privacy

• H.657, An act relating to various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families

• H.921, An act relating to alcoholic beverages

• H.957, An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Williston

May our 250th birthday celebration be joyous and peaceful.

May be beat Belgium in the World Cup.

May you stay healthy and well.

PLEASE VOTE IN THE PRIMARY! You can do so now at your town office or request a mail-in ballot here.

Be well,

Chris Morrow

Morrowforvt@gmail.com

www.morrow4vt.com