VermontS.1242025-2026 SessionSenateWALLET

An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 3 mixed.

Annual fees for large and medium farms

Beginning July 1, 2025, large farm permit holders pay $2,500 each year to the Agriculture Agency. Medium farms with a permit or coverage pay $1,500 each year. The fees go to the Agricultural Water Quality Special Fund.

Permits and certifications for medium and small farms

Beginning July 1, 2025, you cannot operate a medium farm without authorization. The Secretary sets permit rules at least as strict as federal CAFO rules; general permits last up to five years and cover waste and nutrient plans, monitoring, notice, transitions, and appeals. To get general permit coverage, owners must certify compliance and keep it on file; for never‑permitted farms, Natural Resources verifies within 18 months that there is no unpermitted discharge and may require a CAFO permit if there is. The Secretary may inspect farms seeking coverage at least once every three years. Small farms must also certify they meet Required Agricultural Practices; this has applied since July 1, 2017.

Permits and limits for big barn projects

Beginning July 1, 2025, you must get a permit before building or expanding a barn that meets large‑farm thresholds (for example, 700 mature dairy cows, 1,000 cattle, 2,500 swine over 55 lb, or 30,000 laying hens/broilers with liquid systems). Replacing a barn at the same capacity does not need a permit. If Agriculture finds a possible discharge to state waters, Natural Resources can require a VPDES/CAFO permit. The Agriculture Secretary may condition or deny a permit for odor, noise, traffic, insects, or other nuisance impacts.

Stricter manure buffers and winter ban

Beginning July 1, 2025, you may not spread manure within 25 feet of a stream bank or within 10 feet of certain ditches. CAFOs that must follow federal CAFO rules meet those federal setback rules instead. Manure spreading is banned from December 15 to April 1; the Agriculture Secretary can extend dates based on weather or soil. Any exemption must follow strict limits, like staying 50 feet from drinking water, using a nutrient plan, and caps on tons per acre. Medium and large farms must keep nutrient management plans on‑site; discharges from land application are subject to VPDES permits except for agricultural stormwater. For unpermitted large CAFOs, precipitation‑related discharges are exempt only if land application follows site‑specific practices set by the Secretary.

Faster permits, more checks for large farms

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Agriculture Secretary has 45 business days to act on a complete large farm permit; if no action, it is approved. Large permitted farms are inspected at least once a year and may be inspected anytime. If a large permitted farm pumps over 57,600 gallons per day on average over any 30 consecutive days, it must report yearly water use to the Agriculture Secretary.

State CAFO permit program and rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Natural Resources Secretary runs Vermont’s CAFO permit program under the Clean Water Act and can adopt rules, inspect sites, and designate AFOs as CAFOs. The law defines CAFO terms and size thresholds, and requires nutrient management plans to be included in permits and open for public comment. Once covered, a CAFO permit lasts five years; a farm can opt out by proving it is not discharging and will comply with state and federal rules. The Secretary must update the CAFO general permit and notice by December 15, 2025, and issue a CAFO application form and individual permits by July 1, 2026.

Stormwater permit exemptions for farm runoff

Effective July 1, 2025, farms that follow Required Agricultural Practices do not need a VPDES permit for stormwater runoff that is not a point source. The same applies to stormwater from permitted CAFOs and from accepted silvicultural practices. The Natural Resources Secretary decides if the runoff is consistent with the federal Clean Water Act and related CAFO rules. The law also clarifies how these exemptions relate to construction stormwater and municipal permits.

Agencies set roles and invite public input

By September 1, 2025, the Agency of Natural Resources must publish a roles document with Agriculture and EPA for farm Clean Water Act work, replacing the old agreement. It is posted, noticed, sent to lawmakers, open for 30 days of public comment, and reviewed every five years. By December 1, 2025, the agencies hold stakeholder meetings and hearings on the CAFO transition. By February 15, 2026, ANR reports on input, if rules are sufficient, and proposes an inspection plan, schedule, and staffing needs. For legal clarity, state references to federal water rules use the federal text as of January 1, 2025, through April 1, 2029.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 29 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/17/2025

Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy agreed to on roll call, requested by Senator Beck, Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 29, Nays = 0

Yes: 29 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 12, 2025
6/13/2025House
Signed by Governor on June 12, 2025
6/13/2025Senate
Delivered to Governor on June 6, 2025
6/6/2025Senate
Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in
5/30/2025House
Rules suspended & ordered delivered to Governor forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/30/2025Senate
As passed by Senate and House
5/30/2025Senate
House proposal of amendment concurred in
5/30/2025Senate
House proposal of amendment; text
5/30/2025Senate
Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/30/2025Senate
House proposal of amendment
5/30/2025Senate
Entered on Notice Calendar
5/30/2025Senate
House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
5/29/2025Senate
Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/29/2025House
Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/29/2025House
Rules suspended and bill placed in all remaining stages of passage as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/29/2025House
Third Reading ordered
5/29/2025House
Report of Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry, as amended, agreed to
5/29/2025House
Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry amended as recommended by the Committee on Environment
5/29/2025House
Rep. Masland of Thetford recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
5/29/2025House
Rep. Logan of Burlington reported for the Committee on Environment
5/29/2025House
Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury reported for the Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
5/29/2025House
Read second time
5/29/2025House
Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
5/29/2025House
Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
5/28/2025House
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
5/22/2025House

Bill Text

As Enacted (ACT 67)
6/19/2025
PDF
As Passed by Both Chambers
6/3/2025
PDF
As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)
6/3/2025
PDF
House Proposal of Amendment
5/29/2025
PDF
House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)
5/29/2025
PDF
As Passed by the Senate
4/24/2025
PDF
As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial)
4/24/2025
PDF
As Introduced
3/14/2025
PDF

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