All Roll Calls
Yes: 84 • No: 46
VermontH.9442025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET
An act relating to the fiscal year 2027 Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
21 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 1 costs, 10 mixed.
Mileage reporting failures risk registration loss
Inspection mechanics must report covered vehicles’ odometer readings; owners and lessees must also report when a terminating event occurs. The Commissioner sets how and when owners must report. A missed report or inspection that prevents mileage calculation triggers a $178 default fee at the next registration renewal. An inspection within 60 days after renewal can earn credit toward the next fee if enough odometer data show a lower charge. Missed reports, intentional material falsehoods or omissions, and unpaid amounts can lead to registration suspension or refused renewal. Before that action, owners receive at least 15 days’ notice and a hearing opportunity, with the right to a lawyer.
Homeowners gain charging rights with costs
Beginning July 1, 2026, common-interest communities generally cannot block or unreasonably restrict owners’ noncommercial chargers in units, limited shared areas, or assigned parking. Reasonable restrictions cannot significantly raise costs or reduce charger efficiency or performance; associations can require safety compliance and licensed electricians. Applications cannot be intentionally delayed and need written decisions; they are approved after 90 days without written denial unless more information is reasonably requested. Owners pay installation, maintenance, electricity, damage, and removal or restoration costs. For chargers in shared or limited shared areas, associations can require payment of actual added insurance premiums within 14 days of invoicing. Required electrical upgrades can be charged to units whose owners have installed or will install chargers. Before selling, owners must remove chargers and restore affected areas unless successors accept responsibility in writing. The rules also cover Vermont communities created on or before January 1, 2011, with at least 12 residential-use units. That extension covers events after June 30, 2026, without invalidating existing community documents.
Highway access applicants gain appeal review
Applicants and permit holders seeking private or commercial access to State highway rights-of-way can request Transportation Board review. This covers transportation agency decisions and rulings under the access permit process. Requests must be made in writing.
Electric car owners get fee guidance
Vermont transportation and motor vehicle agencies must explain the mileage fee program through public outreach and education. They must mail registered battery-electric vehicle owners and lessees information before implementation. Materials must be accessible and translated, with user feedback before January 2027 and surveys and focus groups before and after implementation. A strategy summary is due to the Joint Transportation Oversight Committee by September 15, 2026.
Road designers gain lower-speed design flexibility
Vermont’s transportation agency must maintain State road-design standards and guidance for projects outside the National Highway System. It can use a design speed below the legal speed without a formal design exception. This flexibility requires appropriate warning signs, signals, and road markings; it does not change the legal speed limit.
Transportation partnership authority lasts three longer years
The Transportation Public-Private Partnership Authority’s legal framework remains in place until July 1, 2029. Its repeal date moves from July 1, 2026, giving the framework three additional years. This extension does not specify funding or require a particular project.
Vermont adds money for highway paving
Vermont adds $1.7 million in State funding to fiscal year 2027 paving construction authorization. Construction authorization rises from about $144.81 million to $146.51 million, while the overall paving program totals about $149.85 million. Statewide District Leveling funding rises from $7 million to $8.7 million. The transportation agency must direct unused paving funds from project delays or cost changes to State highway paving.
Vermont funds biking and walking projects
For fiscal year 2027, Vermont provides about $24.58 million, including local matching funds, for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. It supports 34 construction projects, 18 design or land-rights projects, and eight early planning studies. Related support includes State-aid construction grants, Safe Routes to School, and community grants along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Projects depend on federal, State, and local funds being available.
Vermont funds passenger and freight rail
For fiscal year 2027, Vermont provides about $60.29 million for passenger rail and rail infrastructure, including local funds. About $34.69 million comes from federal funds. Funding supports the Ethan Allen Express, the Vermonter, and infrastructure that also serves freight trains. The program depends on federal, State, and local funds being available.
Vermont funds transit and commuter options
For fiscal year 2027, the law provides about $57.86 million for public transit and $1.98 million for three park-and-ride projects. Transit funding includes $380,000 for Go! Vermont commuter services and $315,000 in federal Mobility and Transportation Innovations grants. These projects depend on federal, State, and local funds being available. The transit Authority can also accept voluntary local contributions for grant matches, programs, capital projects, and operations. It can budget expected contributions, but they do not reduce municipal assessments unless the allocation formula changes.
Drivers get current public charger information
The law requires free data sharing for networked, publicly funded, publicly available Vermont chargers installed or reconditioned on or after September 30, 2026. Charging networks must give software developers station, access, port, pricing, and payment information through a software interface. Port status must update within one minute of a change while the public can use the chargers. State and electricity incentive providers must require funding recipients to notify charging networks of these duties. Reasonable protections for confidential business information cannot block access to required real-time data.
Transit grants support nonemergency medical trips
For fiscal year 2027, Vermont’s transportation agency can award competitive grants to public transit agencies for nonemergency medical transportation. Grants can help recruit and retain volunteer drivers and manage trips to reduce transportation costs. Awards depend on money appropriated for supplemental nonemergency medical transportation; this provision sets no amount and guarantees no award.
Electric car owners pay mileage fees
Beginning January 1, 2027, battery-electric vehicle owners and lessees pay $0.014 per mile, capped at $178 per reporting period. This replaces the prior electric vehicle infrastructure fee but remains additional to other vehicle taxes and fees. Owners can pay after the period or prepay a flat $178 without mileage reporting. Pay-as-you-go is available only if the Commissioner offers it; payments are reconciled, with excess credited toward future fees. Newly registered vehicles must use pay-as-you-go or the flat rate in their first year. Federal and Vermont government vehicles and short-term rental vehicles are exempt.
Electric car transition charges include credits
During 2027 and 2028, covered vehicles owe a one-time charge when registered or renewed before their first mileage reporting period ends. The charge is $89 for one-year registration or $178 for two-year registration. For vehicles registered December 31, 2026, the first period starts at their first annual inspection on or after January 1, 2027. For newly registered vehicles, it starts at registration on or after January 1, 2027. The charge reduces the first mileage fee, with unused credit carried forward, only when all required annual safety inspections are complete. A qualifying infrastructure fee from the last registration or renewal before January 1, 2027, also earns credit when no transition charge was paid.
Vermont removes old log-drive procedures
Beginning July 1, 2026, Vermont repeals several laws governing log drives. The repeal removes related Public Utility Commission petitions, notice and hearings, judgments, and foreign-corporation bond requirements. The provision states no direct change in household costs or services.
Bridge safety rules assign costs and penalties
Vermont’s transportation agency must inspect State and town highway bridges under national bridge inspection standards. Municipalities must post restrictions or close bridges they maintain when directed, and pay the costs; the agency can intervene against imminent hazards. The agency decides and pays for restrictions or closures on its own bridges, though municipalities can close them during emergencies. Municipalities must promptly report known problems that could affect the agency’s decisions. Ignoring a bridge restriction or closure is a traffic violation carrying a civil penalty up to $1,000, plus other legal penalties.
Airport sale authority grows, safeguard ends
Vermont extends Caledonia County State Airport sale or lease authority from May 1, 2026, to November 1, 2027. The extension applies retroactively from April 30, 2026. The law also removes the conveyance condition requiring a public-use listing through at least 2050, subject to federal determination. These changes do not require a sale or lease or establish a change in the airport’s actual public-use status.
Four bridge projects change funding sources
For fiscal year 2027, Vermont shifts $1.75 million for four bridge projects from State funds to Transportation Infrastructure Bond funds. The total bridge-program authorization stays unchanged. The shifts are $521,000 for Shaftsbury STP 014-1(6) and $415,057 for Sunderland BM20102. They also include $266,950 for Sunderland NH CULV 122 and $546,993 for Topsham BF 031-1(13).
Hybrid fees shift to transportation funding
Annual and two-year infrastructure fees for plug-in hybrid pleasure cars now go to Vermont’s Transportation Fund. Those fees no longer fund workplace and multiunit-housing charging-port programs through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. This revenue-routing change does not change the fee amount.
Local transportation grants broaden eligible projects
For fiscal year 2027, Transportation Alternatives projects receive about $4.51 million, including local funds, subject to available funding. This supports 22 construction projects, 28 design or land-rights projects, and one early planning study. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, grants can fund any federally eligible activity, including environmental projects and safe routes for nondrivers. The program removes its 50% funding reservation for municipal stormwater and highway environmental projects. Sand and salt sheds and projects mainly featuring bicycle or pedestrian facilities receive scoring preferences; the agency controls their weight and exceptions.
Transportation contractors gain wider bond waivers
The Transportation Secretary can waive performance and payment bonds for improvement contracts worth $250,000 or less, up from $100,000. Waivers are optional, not automatic. During emergencies, waivers can cover immediate stabilization work for public safety or State infrastructure; performance-bond waivers cover temporary work only. Permanent work remains subject to bond requirements. Payment bonds protect payment obligations, including unemployment insurance contributions to Vermont’s Commissioner of Labor.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/26/2026
Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 65 of 130 to Pass -- Yeas = 84, Nays = 46
Yes: 84 • No: 46 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
House message: Governor approved bill on June 18, 2026
5/29/2026HouseSigned by Governor on June 18, 2026
5/29/2026HouseDelivered to Governor on June 12, 2026
5/29/2026HouseHouse message: House adopted Conference Committee report
5/29/2026HouseCommittee of Conference report adopted (House bill)
5/28/2026HouseRules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/28/2026HouseSenate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted
5/28/2026SenateRules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/28/2026SenateCommittee of Conference report adopted
5/28/2026SenateCommittee of Conference report submitted by Senator Westman for Committee, text
5/28/2026SenateCommittee of Conference report
5/28/2026SenateCommittee of Conference report
5/27/2026SenateEntered on Notice Calendar
5/27/2026SenateSenate Message: Committee of Conference members appointed
5/19/2026SenateCommittee of Conference appointed: Senators Westman, Perchlik, and Harrison
5/19/2026SenateHouse message: House refused to concur in Senate proposal of amendment & requested Conference Committee; House Conference Committee members appointed
5/19/2026HouseRules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/19/2026HouseSpeaker appointed Reps. Walker of Swanton, Corcoran of Bennington, and Pouech of Hinesburg as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House
5/19/2026HouseSenate proposal of amendment not concurred in and Committee of Conference requested upon motion of Rep. Walker of Swanton
5/19/2026HouseAction Calendar: Unfinished Business
5/19/2026HouseAction Calendar: Action postponed until May 18, 2026
5/18/2026HouseRep. Walker of Swanton moved to postpone action until May 18, 2026, which was agreed to
5/15/2026HouseAction Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/15/2026HouseNotice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/14/2026HouseSenate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/13/2026Senate
Bill Text
As Enacted (ACT 168)Opens in a new window
6/19/2026
As Passed by Both Chambers
6/9/2026
As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)
6/9/2026
Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/14/2026
Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)
5/14/2026
As Passed by the House
3/31/2026
As Passed by the House (Unofficial)
3/31/2026
As Introduced
3/18/2026
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