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VermontH.9422025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET

An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Clearer store prices for Vermont shoppers

Beginning July 1, 2026, Vermont stores must show accurate total prices and unit prices for most consumer goods. Unit prices help shoppers compare prices by weight, volume, or count. Labels must sit beside goods, identify the item and size, and use lettering at least 7/32 inch high. Stores must also show total prices at checkout. Displayed prices exclude bottle or container deposits, but stores must identify applicable deposits. Unit-price exemptions cover convenience stores and stores with less than 7,000 square feet of consumer-goods sales space. The small-store exemption does not cover companies with two or more locations. Other unit-price exemptions cover mixed bins with one sale price, individually tagged clearance or limited-time sale items, and items whose unit and total prices match. Seasonal decorations and certain federally regulated alcoholic beverage packages are also exempt. Stores charging one price for every item need not display total prices. Prescription-only drugs and restaurant or made-to-order food are outside these rules. Violations can bring legal penalties, and the former $500 fine cap is removed.

Limits on price increases while shopping

Beginning July 1, 2026, Vermont stores cannot use electronic shelf labels or other real-time pricing to raise prices while open. Electronic shelf-label increases during business hours are allowed only to fix genuine, documented pricing errors. Stores must tell shoppers present about those corrections. The law does not ban price increases outside these circumstances.

More development help for rural businesses

Beginning July 1, 2026, Vermont's Rural Economic Development Initiative supports community projects statewide, especially small towns and rural businesses. The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board runs the program, helping find funding and providing grant-writing and coordination help. Priority areas include agriculture, dairy, farm operations, food and forest products, outdoor recreation, historic buildings, shared workspaces, and commercial composting. Support is available when state resources or staffing help are unavailable. Projects with needed state or local approvals that are ready to start get first priority. The law sets no award amount or specific funding sum.

Farm award deadline covers decisions, not payments

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Review Board evaluates complete applications to Vermont's Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund. It must recommend by majority vote within 15 days whether to issue a payment. The Secretary must make a final award decision within 15 days after that recommendation. The Secretary is no longer required by this provision to issue a recommended award within that period. The law changes the decision process, not award amounts or other eligibility rules in the supplied text.

Some stores can receive pricing exemptions

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Secretary of Agriculture may exempt classes of Vermont stores from some or all consumer-information rules. The Secretary must find that selling consumer goods is only a side part of that class's business. Alternatively, the Secretary must find compliance unreasonable and unnecessary to adequately protect people. This authority does not itself exempt any store or class.

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

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on June 18, 2026

    5/29/2026House

  2. Signed by Governor on June 18, 2026

    5/29/2026House

  3. Delivered to Governor on June 12, 2026

    5/29/2026House

  4. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment

    5/29/2026House

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/28/2026House

  6. Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

    5/28/2026House

  7. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/28/2026House

  8. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/27/2026Senate

  9. Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth

    5/27/2026Senate

  10. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/27/2026Senate

  11. Rules suspended & bill placed on all remaining stages of passage, on motion of Senator Baruth

    5/27/2026Senate

  12. 3rd reading ordered

    5/27/2026Senate

  13. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture, as amended, agreed to

    5/27/2026Senate

  14. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture amended as recommended by Committee on Finance

    5/27/2026Senate

  15. Reported favorably by Senator Brock for Committee on Finance with proposal of amendment

    5/27/2026Senate

  16. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Heffernan for Committee on Agriculture

    5/27/2026Senate

  17. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Finance

    5/27/2026Senate

  18. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

    5/27/2026Senate

  19. New Business/Second Reading

    5/27/2026Senate

  20. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Finance

    5/26/2026Senate

  21. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

    5/26/2026Senate

  22. Second Reading

    5/26/2026Senate

  23. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/26/2026Senate

  24. Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31

    5/5/2026Senate

  25. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

    5/5/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 167)Opens in a new window

    6/19/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    6/9/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    6/9/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/28/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/28/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    3/25/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    3/25/2026

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    3/16/2026

    PDF

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