An act relating to capital construction and State bonding
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
16 provisions identified: 15 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Farm water grants reduce matching costs
Recipients of the specified FY2026 agricultural water-quality grants can use that money to meet their required share of project costs. These grants also do not count toward the maximum State water-quality assistance award. This treatment applies to agricultural project grants issued under subsection 10(d)(1)(A), not all farm grants.
Correctional facilities receive safety and repairs
Correctional facility projects receive $8.225 million in FY2026 and $4.8 million in FY2027. Funding covers heating and cooling, accessibility, safety, security, door controls, roofs, and sprinklers. Work includes facilities in St. Johnsbury, St. Albans, Rutland, and Newport. The law also allows transfers among specified correctional project accounts and releases previously restricted Northwest State Correctional Facility balances.
County courthouses receive security and repairs
Courthouse projects receive $5.07591 million in FY2026. Funding covers backup power at the Woodstock and Lamoille County courthouses. It also supports connector and security upgrades at Essex County Courthouse and Windsor County Courthouse renovations in White River Junction.
Historic sites receive preservation funding
Historic-site projects receive $1.046 million in FY2026 and $621,000 in FY2027. Funding covers site maintenance, underwater historic preserves, roadside markers, and Bennington Battle Monument safety and restoration work. The Vermont Historical Society also receives $700,000 in FY2026 for its Spaulding Building in Barre. That money addresses water entering through the roof, foundation, and basement.
Military facilities receive repairs and planning
The Military Department receives $2.616171 million in FY2026 and $1.310167 million in FY2027. Funding supports state armory maintenance, renovations, and disability-access improvements. FY2026 also funds planning and design for the Northwest Regional Readiness Center.
Public safety stations and firefighting gain funding
Public Safety receives $2 million in FY2026 for the Rutland Field Station. FY2027 provides $1.795 million for Rutland work and Shaftsbury Field Station land acquisition, planning, and design. The Rural Fire Protection Task Force’s dry hydrant program receives $125,000 each year in FY2026 and FY2027. Dry hydrants support access to water for rural firefighting.
Vermont funds cleaner water and parks
Clean-water work receives $10 million each year in FY2026 and FY2027. FY2026 includes $4 million for municipal pollution control, $3 million for agricultural grants and contracts, and $2.8 million for conservation-board projects. It also funds forest access-road water improvements; FY2027 funds clean-water implementation. Funded agencies must consult the Treasurer to confirm projects qualify as capital work. Natural Resources also receives about $11.124 million for dam safety, parks, stormwater compliance, public-land access, and fish and wildlife maintenance.
Waterbury can receive Randall Meadow land
Beginning May 22, 2025, Buildings and General Services can survey, subdivide, and transfer Randall Meadow to Waterbury once. The parcel is part of the Waterbury State Office Complex. Subdivision must address stormwater needs to the commissioner’s satisfaction, and required permits must be obtained. The commissioner and town must also make a transfer plan that fits the current lease. The law does not specify the land’s future use.
Veterans’ Home receives facility improvement funds
The Vermont Veterans’ Home receives $1.05 million in FY2026 to replace air handlers and expand laundry facilities. Buildings and General Services can move unspent balances between the $1.5 million FY2026 American unit project and earlier generator and boiler projects. This flexibility supports facility work. The law does not change who qualifies for veterans’ services or provide residents with direct payments.
Agriculture facilities receive renovations and heating
The law provides $5 million in FY2026 for Vermont Building renovations and heating upgrades serving the Randolph campus and state agriculture laboratory. Another $1.5 million in FY2027 funds Vermont Building renovations at the Eastern States Exposition. The Buildings and General Services commissioner must negotiate maintenance of the propane summer boilers. The commissioner must also update the heating-project agreement with Vermont State University.
Communities receive grants for local facilities
Seven Building Communities grant programs receive $2.1 million each year in FY2026 and FY2027. Each program receives $300,000 annually. Grants support cultural facilities, historic sites and barns, recreation, human services and education facilities, regional economic development, and agricultural fairs. Cultural grants can match National Endowment for the Arts money only when all capital funds are available to the Cultural Facilities Grant Program.
State buildings receive repairs and upgrades
Buildings and General Services receives about $13.727 million in FY2026 and $15.925 million in FY2027 for state facilities. Work includes major maintenance, stormwater compliance, building art, and roof, garage, heating, and security upgrades. Projects serve Rutland, Middlesex, Waterbury, Burlington, Pittsford, and Montpelier, including State House steamline and climate-control work. The Sergeant at Arms can also use an existing $100,000 FY2025 appropriation for cafeteria furnishings and baggage-screening equipment.
State projects keep funds longer
Beginning May 22, 2025, specified buildings, agriculture, environmental conservation, and transportation agencies can keep eligible unspent prior capital funds. Funds not reassigned by this law must still serve their original purposes. Entities now have three years, rather than two, to commit approved Capital Infrastructure subaccount spending. That clock starts at the end of the session approving the spending; uncommitted money remains in the Fund. When federal money replaces specified generator, boiler, or elevator funding, the freed amounts must fund future capital construction.
Infrastructure funds support housing and water
The law authorizes $13.436099 million in FY2026 spending from the Capital Infrastructure subaccount. It supports maintenance, planning, security, State House masonry, Middlesex power systems, courthouse and Veterans’ Home work, housing infrastructure, walleye infrastructure, and dry hydrants. Housing infrastructure must support new or rehabilitated homes and be municipally owned or leased for at least 30 years. Vermont and the municipality must sign a grant agreement before housing infrastructure funds are released. Another $14.5 million from the Other Infrastructure, Essential Investments, and Reserves subaccount provides the State match for federal drinking-water and clean-water revolving funds.
Vermont colleges receive campus improvement funds
The University of Vermont receives $1.5 million each year in FY2026 and FY2027 for construction, renovations, and major maintenance. Vermont State Colleges receives $3 million in FY2026 and $5 million in FY2027 for campus projects. Those projects include $5 million over both years to replace Johnson’s central heating plant. The colleges must work with Efficiency Vermont on that replacement. This funding does not create student grants or guarantee lower tuition.
Vermont funds projects with state borrowing
The law authorizes about $111.97 million for FY2026–FY2027, with FY2026 appropriations capped at about $61.97 million. Appropriations remain subject to capital budget adjustments. Beginning May 22, 2025, Vermont can issue $100 million in new general obligation bonds and $6.89035 million in previously approved bonds. The Treasurer sets new bonds’ form and term with the Governor’s approval; borrowing funds projects but adds state repayment obligations. The law also redirects about $6.775 million from earlier projects: $5.075 million in bond funds and $1.7 million in cash.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
House message: Governor approved bill on May 22, 2025
5/22/2025HouseSigned by Governor on May 22, 2025
5/22/2025HouseDelivered to Governor on May 16, 2025
5/16/2025HouseHouse message: House adopted Conference Committee report
5/16/2025HouseBill ordered delivered to the Governor forthwith per Joint Rule 15 as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/16/2025HouseCommittee of Conference report adopted (House bill)
5/16/2025HouseAction Calendar: Report of Committee of Conference
5/16/2025HouseNotice Calendar: Report of Committee of Conference
5/15/2025HouseSenate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted
5/14/2025SenateRules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/14/2025SenateCommittee of Conference report adopted
5/14/2025SenateCommittee of Conference report submitted by Senator Harrison for Committee, text
5/14/2025SenateUnfinished Business: Committee of Conference Report
5/14/2025SenateCommittee of Conference report
5/13/2025SenateCommittee of Conference report
5/9/2025SenateEntered on Notice Calendar
5/9/2025SenateSenate Message: Committee of Conference members appointed
5/7/2025SenateCommittee of Conference appointed: Senators Harrison, Plunkett, and Ingalls
5/7/2025SenateHouse message: House refused to concur in Senate proposal of amendment & requested Conference Committee; House Conference Committee members appointed
5/6/2025HouseRules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/6/2025HouseSpeaker appointed Reps. Emmons of Springfield, Gregoire of Fairfield, and Headrick of Burlington as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House
5/6/2025HouseSenate proposal of amendment not concurred in and Committee of Conference requested upon motion of Rep. Emmons of Springfield
5/6/2025HouseRules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/6/2025HouseSenate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/6/2025SenateRules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/6/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Introduced
1/7/2026
As Enacted (ACT 33)Opens in a new window
5/29/2025
Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/20/2025
As Passed by Both Chambers
5/16/2025
As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)
5/16/2025
Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)
5/7/2025
As Passed by the House
4/7/2025
As Passed by the House (Unofficial)
4/7/2025
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