Vermont Builders & Remodelers Association

PO Box 490, St. Albans Bay, VT 05481

Phone: 802.876.6200

Email: info@homebuildersvt.com

Home
Committees
Legislative Committee

LEGISLATIVE & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

GOVERNMENT LINKS

Vermont Legislature main page

Who is my Legislator?

Complete weekly committee schedule.

COMMITTEES

UPCOMING EVENTS

No upcoming events

For the most current legislative updates visit our Legislative Blog!

VBRA Legislative and Government Affairs Program covers local, county, state, and federal issues, and works to protect the industry from onerous regulations that could raise the cost of housing. In coordination with the VBRA staff, the committee works hard to:

Monitor and review codes, ordinances and legislation which directly impact the homebuilding industry
Communicate with elected officials and policy makers regarding our industry issues
Formulate and advocate for needed changes, and
Educate members of the Association about current issues, new laws, regulatory and administrative matters.

The committee works closely with business groups and trade associations on state issues and has direct contact with state legislators as well as town and city officials. Although the program's primary focus is at the state and local levels, the committee monitors and provides input on federal legislation through the National Association of Home Builders as well as directly contacting our Federal officials. It is important for Vermont's future that VBRA succeed in ensuring Vermont's housing market is open to all income levels.

How can you support our efforts?

Join the Legislative Committee
Contact representatives when the VBRA puts out a legislative alert bulletin
Attend the Legislative Breakfast
Contribute to the Legislative Agenda Fund

The Annual Golf Tournament supports the Legislative and Government Affairs programs -

Sign up YOUR Team as a Fun Way to Support the Cause!

Legislative Updates:

VBRA 2024 Legislative Activity Update

Top issues important to our members:

Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES)
Workforce – Career technical education related to construction
Housing – Permitting, land use
Labor – Workplace regulations, wages, unemployment
Taxation – Property, rooms and meals, and cloud taxes

Some key legislation VBRA is following:

Building Energy Standards/Residential Building Code
Housing/Act 250
Workforce Development and CTE
Education Property Tax
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Labor Bills
32-Hour Work Week
Contractor / subcontractor liability

VBRA Live Legislative Tracker

Residential Building Energy Standards

S.253

H.792

H.793

Act 250

S.311

H.687

Bill	Title & Info	Note	Status	Position
* H 687	An Act Relating To Community Resilience And Biodiversity Protection Through Land Use Rep. Amy Sheldon; Rep. Seth Bongartz House Environment and Energy	The major Act 250 bill House Environment and Energy. Moves appeals from courts to a new ERB.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/9)	High Priority
* H 719	An Act Relating To Housing Development And Unit Rehabilitation Rep. Ashley Bartley; Rep. Katherine Sims; Rep. Lisa Hango; et al. House Environment and Energy	Governor's language on Act 250 modernization. Language from this bill will largely be moved to Senate Econ Dev committee bill.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/10)	High Priority
* H 792	An Act Relating To The Residential And Commercial Building Energy Standards Rep. R. Scott Campbell; Rep. Avram Patt; Rep. Barbara Rachelson; et al. House Environment and Energy	Rep. Campbell's RBES / residential building code bill.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/16)	High Priority
* H 793	An Act Relating To Studying The Adoption Of A Residential Building Code Rep. R. Scott Campbell; Rep. Avram Patt; Rep. Barbara Rachelson; et al. House General and Housing	Creates a study committee for IRC.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (1/16)	High Priority
* S 213	An Act Relating To The Regulation Of Wetlands, River Corridor Development, And Dam Safety Sen. Christopher Bray; Sen. Alison Clarkson; Sen. Andrew Perchlik; et al. Senate Natural Resources and Energy	Wetlands shall be regulated and managed to produce a net gain of wetlands acreage. 2:1 ratio. Changes dam ownership to strict liability.	Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (1/4)	High Priority
* S 253	An Act Relating To Building Energy Codes Sen. Christopher Bray; Sen. Rebecca White; Sen. Ruth Hardy Senate Natural Resources and Energy	This is Sen Bray's RBES bill.	Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (1/11)	High Priority
* S 308	An Act Relating To Updates To Land Use Planning Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy Senate Natural Resources and Energy	Senate Natural Resources Act 250 bill. Likely a placeholder. Gives the committee some framework for discussion.. until the get the bill from Senate Economic Development Committee.	Committed to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy on motion of Senator Bray (1/31)	High Priority
* S 311	An Act Relating To Bringing Everyone Home Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs	This is the omnibus / Act 250 bill from the Senate Economic Develoment Committee.	Committee Bill for Second Reading (2/20)	High Priority
H 850	An Act Relating To Transitioning Education Financing To The New System For Pupil Weighting House Committee on Ways and Means House Appropriations; Senate Finance; House Ways and Means	This is the bill intended to deal owth the education property tax crisis. This bill proposes to replace the transition mechanism from Act 127 of 2022 with a new mechanism to help school districts adapt to the new system for pupil weighting. This bill proposes to allow school districts to cancel a district vote on the fiscal year 2025 budget, amend the proposed budget, and hold a vote at a later date	Favorable report by Committee on Finance (2/20)	Monitor
* H 66	An Act Relating To Paid Family And Medical Leave Insurance	This issue is a priority for the House in FY24. The Senate has not shown any interest in taking up the bill. Governor Scott launched Governor Scott Launches Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance Plan.	Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs (3/29)	Monitor
H 337	An Act Relating To The Classification Of Independent Contractors	No action.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development (2/22)	Monitor
H 648	An Act Relating To Contractor Licensing Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak House Government Operations and Military Affairs	This bill proposes to require contractors in the State to be licensed, based on the state of Washington’s contractor licensing requirements, including registration, bonding, insurance, and consumer protections regarding transparent cost estimates. Action unlikely.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs (1/4)	Monitor
H 217	An Act Relating To Child Care, Early Education, Workers' Compensation, And Unemployment Insurance	Law. Act 76. Childcare bill. Starting on Jan. 1, 2024, the state will reimburse child care providers at a rate 35% higher than in fiscal year 2023 — enabling them to significantly raise wages. Paid for by .44% payroll tax beginning July 1, 2024.	Delivered to Secretary of State on June 23, 2023 (6/20)
H 530	An Act Relating To Increasing The Property Tax Credit Housesite Value Exclusion Rep. James Harrison House Ways and Means	Income Sensitivity. This bill proposes to increase by 25 percent the housesite value exclusion used to calculate the homestead property tax credit.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means (1/3)
H 540	An Act Relating To The Siting Of Tiny Houses Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun; Rep. Brian Cina; Rep. Ela Chapin; et al. House Environment and Energy	This bill proposes to require municipal zoning to allow the construction or placement of a tiny house on a lot of one or more acres as a permitted use. Two tiny houses shall be a permitted use on lots of two or more acres. The tiny house is not required to have wastewater capacity if a single-family home is already constructed on the lot and the occupant of the tiny house is related to the occupant of the single family house. Action unlikely.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/3)
H 610	An Act Relating To Making Home Modifications For Safety And Livability Rep. Mary-Katherine Stone; Rep. Elizabeth Burrows; Rep. Emilie Krasnow House Ways and Means	This bill proposes to create a personal income tax credit for home modifications that enhance safety and livability. Action unlikely	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means (1/3)
H 652	An Act Relating To Updates To The Home Act Rep. Seth Bongartz House Environment and Energy	Technical updates to Act 47	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/5)
H 675	An Act Relating To Issuing Grants For Permanent Supportive Housing Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun; Rep. Brian Cina; Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak; et al. House General and Housing	This bill proposes to require the Agency of Human Services to establish a grant program for acquisition of or acquisition and renovation of permanent supportive housing sites by municipalities or other entities.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (1/5)
H 683	An Act Relating To Modernizing The State Designated Areas Program Rep. Seth Bongartz House Environment and Energy	This bill proposes to update the State Designated Areas Program by streamlining the designations and changing the application process.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/9)
H 686	An Act Relating To Measuring Progress Toward Statewide And Regional Housing Targets Rep. Ashley Bartley; Rep. Brian Cina; Rep. Caleb Elder; et al. House General and Housing	This bill proposes to require the Housing Division within the Department of Housing and Community Development to measure progress toward the statewide and regional housing targets published in the Statewide Housing Needs Assessment and to report annually through 2030 on the Division’s findings and any recommendations for accelerating progress toward the statewide and regional housing targets.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (1/9)
H 713	An Act Relating To Establishing A 32-hour Workweek Rep. Monique Priestley; Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak; Rep. Jonathan Williams; et al. House General and Housing	This bill proposes to establish a 32- hour workweek by requiring employers to pay overtime for hours worked in excess of 32 and making corresponding amendments to other employment statutes.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (1/9)
H 715	An Act Relating To Climate Change Resilience Under Act 250 Rep. James Harrison; Rep. Katherine Sims; Rep. Laura Sibilia; et al. House Environment and Energy	Action unlikely	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/10)
H 723	An Act Relating To Flood Recovery Rep. Conor Casey; Rep. Jonathan Williams; Rep. Kate McCann; et al. House Environment and Energy	Omnibus flood recovery and resilience bill. $85 million.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/10)
H 746	An Act Relating To Unemployment Insurance Eligibility And Benefits Rep. Dennis LaBounty House Commerce and Economic Development	Action Unlikely	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development (1/11)
H 751	An Act Relating To Expanding Equal Pay Protections Rep. Robin Chesnut-Tangerman; Rep. Caleb Elder; Rep. Dennis LaBounty; et al. Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs; House General and Housing	This bill proposes to extend equal pay protections to individuals in all protected classes. In addition to sex, race, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, adds: color, religion, ancestry, place of birth, crime victim status, or age.	Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs (2/13)
H 757	An Act Relating To A Property Transfer Tax Surcharge To Fund Housing Rep. Tesha Buss House Ways and Means	This bill proposes to create an optional property transfer tax surcharge on properties transferred with a value of $1,000,000.00 or greater.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means (1/11)
H 758	An Act Relating To The Local Property Tax Exemption For Homes And Dwellings Rep. Tesha Buss House Ways and Means	This bill proposes to amend the local property tax exemption for homes and dwellings. A town may vote to exempt from taxes the first $75,000.00 $125,000.00 or a smaller amount of the appraised value of buildings used and occupied exclusively as homes, dwelling houses, or farm buildings. Not for short-term rentals.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means (1/11)
H 760	An Act Relating To Act 250 Transparency Rep. Tesha Buss; Rep. Ashley Bartley; Rep. Caleb Elder; et al. House Environment and Energy	Would require NRB to post on its website all previous decisions of the Environmental Court including all pleadings and attachments and all previous decisions by the District Commissions. All documentation that is part of an application.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/11)
H 768	An Act Relating To Municipal Delegation Of Act 250 Authority Rep. Gabrielle Stebbins House Environment and Energy	This bill proposes to create a process for municipalities to be delegated authority to review development in lieu of Act 250 permits. Language may be considered inother Act 250 bills.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy (1/11)
H 856	An Act Relating To Medical Leave For A Serious Injury Rep. Thomas Stevens; Rep. Avram Patt; Rep. Carol Ode; et al. House General and Housing		Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (2/14)
S 45	An Act Relating To An Elective Pass-through Entity Income Tax And Credit Sen. Thomas Chittenden; Sen. Alison Clarkson; Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale; et al. Senate Finance; House Ways and Means	SALT tax workaround	Rep. Harrison of Chittenden moved to relieve the Committee on Ways and Means, which was disagreed to (5/12)
* S 100	An Act Relating To Housing Opportunities Made For Everyone Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations; Senate Finance; House Ways and Means; Senate Natural Resources and Energy; House General and Housing; House Environment and Energy	Law. Act 47.	Senate Message, signed by Governor June 5, 2023 (5/12)
S 102	An Act Relating To Expanding Employment Protections And Collective Bargaining Rights Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale; Sen. Alison Clarkson; Sen. Andrew Perchlik; et al. Senate Appropriations; Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs; House General and Housing	An employer shall not discharge, discipline, penalize, or otherwise discriminate against, or threaten thereof an employee because the employee declines to attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting that has the primary purpose of communicating the employer’s opinion about religious or political matters.	Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (4/5)
S 103	An Act Relating To Amending The Prohibitions Against Discrimination Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale; Sen. Alison Clarkson; Sen. Andrew Perchlik; et al. House Education; Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs; House General and Housing	Law. Act 80. Harassment and discrimination need not be severe or pervasive to be unlawful. Prohibit agreements to settle a claim of employment discrimination from including a provision that prevents the employee from working for the employer or an affiliate of the employer in the future.	Senate Message, signed by Governor June 28, 2023 (6/20)
S 228	An Act Relating To Requiring A Jurisdictional Opinion To Be Exempt From Act 250 Sen. Wendy Harrison; Sen. Anne Watson; Sen. Irene Wrenner Senate Natural Resources and Energy	This bill proposes to only require a jurisdictional opinion for projects temporarily exempt from Act 250 if the project will not be complete by June 30, 2026. Refers to the 3-year trial period of increasing jurisdiction to 25 units in Act 47(S.100)	Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (1/9)
S 275	An Act Relating To Municipal Ordinances Governing Unoccupied Commercial Buildings Sen. Wendy Harrison; Sen. Alison Clarkson; Sen. Andrew Perchlik Senate Government Operations	This bill proposes to authorize municipalities to assess a civil penalty to the owner of a commercial property that remains unoccupied and vacant for any 180-day period.	Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations (1/17)
S 294	An Act Relating To Minimum Timeframes To Act On Applications Related To The Development Of Housing Sen. Randolph Brock Senate Natural Resources and Energy	This bill proposes to require municipalities to act upon applications for the development of housing within 60 days following the submission of an application for development.	Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (1/17)