VermontH.3972025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET

An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response

Sponsored By: Edward "Teddy" Waszazak (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 6 mixed.

Better emergency planning and local alerts

Vermont’s Division of Emergency Management must update the state emergency plan as needed, at least every five years. It must consult stakeholders and include templates and guidance for local and regional plans. When a town or city requests help, the Division must help it access river monitoring, flood outlooks, and weather alerts. These systems provide real-time warnings through multiple communication channels.

Grants can fund voluntary flood buyouts

Vermont’s Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Grant Program can fund voluntary buyouts of flood-impacted or flood-prone properties. Projects must directly reduce risks to people, communities, property, or public collections of historic value. The law does not guarantee a grant or set a payment amount for property owners.

Barre and Milton receive tax corrections

In fiscal year 2026, Vermont transfers $621,479 from the General Fund to the Education Fund. It appropriates that amount to the Department of Taxes to repay Barre and Milton for education property tax overpayments. Barre receives $437,028 for fiscal years 2016–2020, and Milton receives $184,451 for fiscal years 2017–2023. The payments correct amounts their tax increment financing district funds failed to keep; they are not household refunds.

Emergency dam drawdowns require safety plans

During a declared emergency, the Governor can authorize dam-rule waivers after consulting the Secretary of Natural Resources or a designee. The emergency management Director, consulting the Secretary or designee, must have significant reason to expect drawdowns to reduce substantial harm. Owners need a Secretary-approved drawdown plan unless an existing approved plan covers emergency drawdowns. Plans must cover water-flow modeling, downstream communications, safe drawdown rates and ramping, target water levels, refill contingencies, monitoring, reporting, and updates. Operators must make every effort to limit environmental harm.

Towns can set bond payment schedules

Municipal governing bodies can set interest-payment timing and choose substantially level or declining annual principal or debt-service payments. Municipal plant bonds can defer the first payment one to five years, followed by annual payments, with repayment within 40 years. Forest purchase or development bonds can defer the first payment up to 30 years, with annual payments afterward and repayment within 60 years. Other municipal bonds must be repaid within 20 years.

Towns gain savings and emergency borrowing

Towns and cities can carry forward unspent money from voter-approved budgets and invest it. Their governing bodies can spend this money for any public purpose they establish. They can also borrow through notes or orders for expenses or public improvements tied to any hazard event or declared emergency. Borrowing terms cannot exceed five years or the funded assets’ expected useful life, as applicable. Borrowed money must be repaid.

Vermont keeps existing federal-based state rules

Beginning June 11, 2025, federal regulations included in Vermont rules as of January 1, 2025, remain state rules. They stay in force until January 31, 2029, or until the state rule is amended, whichever comes first. This applies even when federal officials change or repeal the federal regulation. Agencies must post notices and can still adopt or amend rules, including emergency rules.

Barre gets longer district financing authority

Beginning July 1, 2025, Barre’s authority to borrow for its tax increment financing district extends through March 31, 2028. The city can keep the district’s municipal and education tax increments through June 30, 2039. These are added tax revenues tied to growth in property values. Keeping them longer supports district financing but delays their availability for other municipal and education uses. The law does not require new borrowing or set household payments.

Towns keep more local tax revenue

Towns and cities receive 75% of local option tax revenue after collection costs, up from 70%, paid quarterly. They can use this money for municipal services, but not education. They also pay 75% of the $5.96 fee per tax return, up from 70%; the State pays 25%. This fee split excludes aviation jet fuel taxes. These changes do not change household tax rates or impose a direct household fee.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Edward "Teddy" Waszazak
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Beth M Quimby
Republican • House
Brian J Cina
Democrat/Progressive • House
Bridget M Burkhardt
Democratic • House
Candice White
Democratic • House
Carol Ode
Democratic • House
Charles A Kimbell
Democratic • House
Christopher Morrow
Democratic • House
Christopher "Chris" A Pritchard
Republican • House
Conor Casey
Democratic • House
Daniel A Noyes
Democratic • House
Dara Torre
Democratic • House
David W Yacovone
Democratic • House
Ela Chapin
Democratic • House
Elizabeth L Burrows
Democratic • House
Emilie Krasnow
Democratic • House
Emily Carris Duncan
Democratic • House
Esme Cole
Democratic • House
Rep. Francis McFaun
Affiliation unavailable
Gayle S Pezzo
Democratic • House
Gina M Galfetti
Republican • House
Gregory "Greg" Burtt
Republican • House
Herb Olson
Democratic • House
Ian Goodnow
Democratic • House
James A Gregoire
Republican • House
James W Masland
Democratic • House
Jana Brown
Democratic • House
Jed Lipsky
Independent • House
John K O'Brien
Democratic • House
Jonathan Cooper
Democratic • House
Joshua Dobrovich
Republican • House
Jubilee McGill
Democratic • House
Kate Lalley
Democratic • House
Kate Logan
Democrat/Progressive • House
Kate McCann
Democratic • House
Kate Nugent
Democratic • House
Kenneth "Ken" L Wells
Republican • House
Kevin "Coach" B Christie
Democratic • House
Kevin C Winter
Republican • House
Kirk White
Democratic • House
Kristi C Morris
Democratic • House
Larry Labor
Republican • House
Leanne Harple
Democratic • House
Leonora Dodge
Democratic • House
Lisa A Hango
Republican • House
Lucy Boyden
Democratic • House
Marc B Mihaly
Democratic • House
Rep. Mari Cordes
Affiliation unavailable
Martha A Feltus
Republican • House
Michael Boutin
Republican • House
Michael Mrowicki
Democratic • House
Michael "Mike" Tagliavia
Republican • House
Michelle Bos-Lun
Democratic • House
Mollie S. S Burke
Democratic • House
Monique Priestley
Democratic • House
Phil Pouech
Democratic • House
Philip Jay J Hooper
Democratic • House
R. Scott Campbell
Democratic • House
Rebecca Holcombe
Democratic • House
Richard M Nelson
Republican • House
Robert Hunter
Democratic • House
Saudia LaMont
Democratic • House
Shawn Sweeney
Democratic • House
Theresa A Wood
Democratic • House
Thomas S Stevens
Democratic • House
Todd Nielsen
Republican • House
Troy Headrick
Independent • House
VL L Coffin IV
Republican • House
William P Canfield
Republican • House
William "Will" Greer
Democratic • House
Zon Eastes
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

House message: Governor approved bill on June 11, 2025
6/13/2025House
Signed by Governor on June 11, 2025
6/11/2025House
Delivered to Governor on June 5, 2025
6/5/2025House
House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment
5/31/2025House
Senate proposal of amendment concurred in
5/29/2025House
Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/29/2025House
Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/29/2025House
Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/28/2025Senate
Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/28/2025Senate
Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/28/2025Senate
New Business/Third Reading
5/28/2025Senate
3rd reading ordered
5/27/2025Senate
Proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations, as amended, agreed to
5/27/2025Senate
Proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations
5/27/2025Senate
Proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations amended as recommended by Committee on Finance
5/27/2025Senate
Reported favorably by Senator Perchlik for Committee on Appropriations with proposal of amendment
5/27/2025Senate
Reported favorably by Senator Cummings for Committee on Finance with proposal of amendment
5/27/2025Senate
Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Collamore for Committee on Government Operations
5/27/2025Senate
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Appropriations
5/27/2025Senate
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Finance
5/27/2025Senate
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
5/27/2025Senate
New Business/Second Reading
5/27/2025Senate
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Appropriations
5/23/2025Senate
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Finance
5/23/2025Senate
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
5/23/2025Senate

Bill Text

As Enacted (ACT 57)Opens in a new window
6/18/2025
PDF
As Passed by Both Chambers
6/2/2025
PDF
As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)
6/2/2025
PDF
Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/29/2025
PDF
Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)
5/29/2025
PDF
As Passed by the House
4/1/2025
PDF
As Passed by the House (Unofficial)
4/1/2025
PDF
As Introduced
2/25/2025
PDF

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