# Vermont S.123: An act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to motor vehicles Vermont S.123, An act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to motor vehicles, is a 2025-2026 Session Senate bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-06-13 (Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 12, 2025); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VT-S123-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Vermont S.123 - State: Vermont - Session: 2025-2026 Session - Title: An act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to motor vehicles - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-03-18 - Last action: 2025-06-13, Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 12, 2025 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 26 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Early credential renewals cost less: benefit, low. You pay less to renew an operator's license, privilege card, or nondriver ID with at least one year left. The reduction is proportional to the remaining years, rounded down to whole years. You must still meet the renewal application and document requirements. - Former foster youth get free credentials: benefit, low. Applicants under 23 qualify if they were in Vermont Children and Families care and custody after turning 14. Their first nondriver ID and learner's permit fees are waived, including permit duplicates and renewals. Motorcycle permit applications and renewals are also free, avoiding the usual $24 cha… - Nondriver cards show organ donation choices: benefit, low. The Commissioner must provide a form for making an anatomical gift, such as organ donation. If you sign that form, your Vermont nondriver ID card must show an indicator of your choice. - Owners get easier registration refund proof: benefit, low. The Commissioner can cancel registration for a vehicle totally destroyed by fire, or wholly unusable and dismantled. Owners can seek a refund for the unused registration term by returning the certificate or plates. They can instead provide other proof of cancellation that the Commissioner accepts.… - Riders get free online replacement permits: benefit, low. You can generate a replacement motorcycle learner's permit through your electronic account at no charge. This free option applies to replacements generated through that account. - Truck registration weight thresholds rise: benefit, low. Registration fee weight thresholds rise by 100 pounds for covered tractors, truck-tractors, and motor trucks. This includes the minimum-fee threshold, per-1,000-pound rate bands, and extra-fee thresholds. The rates and extra-fee amounts remain unchanged. Any savings depend on the vehicle's registra… - Veterans can mark licenses and IDs: benefit, low. Qualifying veterans can request a “veteran” mark on a Vermont enhanced license or nondriver ID. Applicants must provide a DD-214 or other Commissioner-approved proof. Vermont's Office of Veterans' Affairs must confirm their status. Qualifying status includes an honorable or under-honorable-conditio… - Volunteer disability placards lose special labels: benefit, low. Disability placards issued through nonprofit volunteer-driver programs no longer need a “volunteer driver” label. These programs transport people with an ambulatory disability or who are blind. Nonprofits must still ensure proper use, track drivers receiving placards, and recover them when drivers… - Wider vehicles can qualify as ATVs: benefit, low. The maximum width for an all-terrain vehicle rises from 64 inches to 72 inches. Vehicles within the new width limit can qualify only if they meet the definition's other requirements. - Young drivers can skip repeat exams: benefit, low. The Commissioner can waive the examination for an applicant's first Vermont junior operator's license. Applicants must hold a qualifying out-of-state junior license or have held one within the past three years. That jurisdiction must require an examination similar to Vermont's. The waiver is not au… - Motorcycle instructors need less riding experience: benefit, low. Motorcycle rider training instructors need at least two years of licensed riding experience during the last four years. The previous experience requirement was four years. - Vehicle taxpayers gain clear appeal procedures: benefit, low. The Commissioner must establish appeals for vehicle purchase and use tax liability and related compliance requirements. The process must offer a way to resolve disputes before a final administrative decision. The Commissioner must also provide taxpayer education materials about appeals and dispute… - Commercial learner permits must show photos: benefit, low. Vermont commercial learner's permits must include a photograph of the holder. The photo becomes part of the permit's identifying information. - Residents get clearer credential cost information: benefit, low. Vermont's Department of Motor Vehicles must implement a public education campaign by November 15, 2025. It must explain operator's licenses, privilege cards, nondriver IDs, gender-marker self-attestation, and reduced fees for eligible people. The campaign itself does not change eligibility or fees. - Commercial drivers lose traffic deferral options: cost, medium. Courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement cannot defer sentence or judgment for covered state or local traffic charges. This applies to commercial license or learner's permit holders, even when not driving a commercial vehicle. It also applies to anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle when the… - Drivers pay upfront for road tests: cost, low. Beginning on or before July 1, 2026, applicants pay $29 before scheduling a Vermont road test. If you attend, that payment counts toward your license examination fee. If you miss the test, you lose the payment unless you give at least 48 hours' notice. The Commissioner can also excuse the missed te… - Extreme speeding earns drivers eight points: cost, low. Drivers convicted under Vermont's excessive-speed law receive eight points for going more than 30 mph over the limit. This applies to the relevant state speed-zone or local speed limit. - Impaired drivers face stricter suspension triggers: cost, low. For impaired-driving violations, an evidentiary alcohol test at—not just above—the applicable limit triggers the civil suspension process. This standard also governs related court findings and the rebuttable presumption for tests taken within two hours of driving. For second or later violations, no… - Privilege cards clearly show federal limits: cost, low. Vermont privilege cards must display “non-Real ID.” They must also state that they are not valid for federal identification or official purposes. This includes junior operator's and learner's privilege cards. - Commercial driving instructors face qualification rules: cost, low. Commercial driving instructors must meet state requirements on disqualification, examinations, physical ability, and fees. Both classroom and behind-the-wheel instructors need a commercial license of the same or higher class, with required endorsements. They need at least two years of qualifying co… - Vehicle buyers face firm tax deadlines: cost, low. Vehicle buyers must pay an assessed tax within 15 days after notice is sent or provided. The Commissioner can give verbal notice at a motor vehicle office or send notice immediately by mail. You must request a motor vehicle tax refund within one year after paying the tax. A later request misses the… - Enhanced licenses require proof, limit data: mixed, low. New enhanced-license applicants must provide photo identity, birth date and place, Social Security number, and main residence documents. They must prove U.S. citizenship, meet U.S. passport issuance requirements, and have their documents verified before processing. The Commissioner cannot demand id… - Bicyclists gain options and signal duties: mixed, low. Bicyclists must follow motor-vehicle traffic controls, but can cross or turn toward a walk signal while yielding to vehicles and pedestrians. Beginning July 1, 2025, bicycle-specific signals take priority when present. Their green, yellow, and red signals govern movements, with signs, lane restrict… - Credential staff face checks with safeguards: mixed, low. The Commissioner can check job applicants' criminal, traffic, and financial records; applicants receive notice and can withdraw. Staff producing credentials or able to affect identity information must undergo name- and fingerprint-based criminal checks after notice. Federal law can require further… - Vehicle taxes use updated price guides: mixed, low. Vermont replaces the NADA guide with J.D. Power Values or a comparable publication for valuing certain vehicles. Purchase or use tax values use clean trade-in prices for the same make, type, model, and year. The Commissioner can develop a valuation process for vehicles without a listed clean trade-… - Towns oversee roads without trail duties: mixed, low. Beginning April 1, 2026, qualifying legal trails are public rights-of-way, not highways; new trails must serve nearby property access or recreation. Towns can maintain trails alone or together, but have no maintenance responsibility, including for culverts and bridges. The town legislative body ove… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - (none) ## Actions (72) - 2025-06-13: Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 12, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-06-13: Signed by Governor on June 12, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-06-06: Delivered to Governor on June 6, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Notice Calendar: Report of Committee of Conference (House) - 2025-05-30: Senate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Rules suspended & ordered delivered to Governor forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth (Senate) - 2025-05-30: As passed by Senate and House (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Committee of Conference report adopted (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Committee of Conference report submitted by Senator Brennan for Committee, text (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Baruth (Senate) - 2025-05-30: House message: House adopted Conference Committee report (House) - 2025-05-30: Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney (House) - 2025-05-30: Committee of Conference report adopted (Senate bill) (House) - 2025-05-30: Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney (House) - 2025-05-28: House message: House appointed Conference Committee members (House) - 2025-05-28: Speaker appointed Reps. Walker of Swanton, Pouech of Hinesburg, and White of Waitsfield as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House (House) - 2025-05-28: Senate Message: House proposal of amendment not concurred in and Committee of Conference appointed (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Committee of Conference appointed: Senators Brennan, White, and Harrison (Senate) - 2025-05-28: House proposal of amendment not concurred in; Committee of Conference requested, on motion of Senator Westman (Senate) - 2025-05-28: House proposal of amendment; text (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Baruth (Senate) - 2025-05-28: House proposal of amendment (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Entered on Notice Calendar (Senate) - 2025-05-27: House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment (House) - 2025-05-27: Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney (House) - 2025-05-27: Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment (House) - 2025-05-27: Rules suspended and bill placed in all remaining stages of passage as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney (House) - 2025-05-27: Third Reading ordered (House) - 2025-05-27: Report of Committee on Transportation agreed to (House) - 2025-05-27: Rep. Noyes of Wolcott asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment (House) - 2025-05-27: Rep. Noyes of Wolcott moved to amend the report of the Committee on Transportation (House) - 2025-05-27: Rep. Headrick of Burlington asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment (House) - 2025-05-27: Rep. Headrick of Burlington, Bos-Lun of Westminster, Burrows of West Windsor, Carris-Duncan of Whitingham, Casey of Montpelier, Cina of Burlington, Cole of Hartford, Cordes of Bristol, Critchlow of Colchester, Galfetti of Barre Town, Logan of Burlington, McCann of Montpelier, Minier of South Burlington, Nelson of Derby, Priestley of Bradford, Rachelson of Burlington, Sibilia of Dover, Surprenant of Barnard, Sweeney of Shelburne, and Tomlinson of Winooski moved to amend the report of the Committee on Transportationttee on Transportation (House) - 2025-05-27: Rep. Kascenska of Burke recommended for the Committee on Appropriations (House) - 2025-05-27: Rep. Canfield of Fair Haven recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means (House) - 2025-05-27: Rep. Walker of Swanton reported for the Committee on Transportation (House) - 2025-05-27: Read second time (House) - 2025-05-27: Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment (House) - 2025-05-23: Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment (House) - 2025-05-21: Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a) (House) - 2025-05-21: Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment (House) - 2025-05-20: Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a) (House) - 2025-05-20: Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment (House) - 2025-05-19: Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment (House) - 2025-03-28: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation (House) - 2025-03-26: Read 3rd time & passed (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Pending third reading, bill amended as moved by Senator(s) Westman, Brennan, Harrison, Perchlik, and White (Senate) - 2025-03-26: New Business/Third Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-25: 3rd reading ordered (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Consideration resumed (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Consideration interrupted by recess (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Motion agreed to (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Senator Chittenden, Beck, Brock, Cummings, Gulick, Hardy, and Mattos moved to amend the bill (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Reported favorably by Senator Westman for Committee on Appropriations (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Reported favorably by Senator Chittenden for Committee on Finance (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Favorable report by Committee on Finance (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Committee Bill for Second Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-25: New Business/Second Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-21: Favorable report by Committee on Finance (Senate) - 2025-03-21: Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations (Senate) - 2025-03-21: Committee Bill for Second Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-21: Entered on Notice Calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31 (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Favorable report by Committee on Finance (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Committee Bill for Second Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Entered on Notice Calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31 (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Rules suspended on motion of Senator Baruth (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Committee bill read first time & placed on Notice Calendar per Senate Rule 48 (Senate) ## Bill text - As Enacted (ACT 66)Opens in a new window, 2025-06-19: [PDF](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/ACTS/ACT066/ACT066%20As%20Enacted.pdf) - As Passed by Both Chambers, 2025-06-03: [PDF](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As Passed by Both House and Senate Official.pdf) - As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial), 2025-06-03: [PDF](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As Passed by Both House and Senate Unofficial.pdf) - House Proposal of Amendment, 2025-05-27: [PDF](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 House proposal of amendment Official.pdf) - House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial), 2025-05-27: [PDF](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 House Proposal of Amendment Unofficial.pdf) - As Passed by the Senate, 2025-03-31: [PDF](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As passed by the Senate Official.pdf) - As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial), 2025-03-31: [PDF](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As Passed by the Senate Unofficial.pdf) - As Introduced, 2025-03-14: [PDF](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As Introduced.pdf) ## Related bills - H.955: An act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system (signed) - H.951: An act relating to making appropriations for the support of the government (signed) - H.952: An act relating to capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment (signed) - H.957: An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Williston (signed) - H.944: An act relating to the fiscal year 2027 Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation (signed) - H.942: An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects (signed) ## Sources - [As Enacted (ACT 66)Opens in a new window (PDF)](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/ACTS/ACT066/ACT066%20As%20Enacted.pdf) - [As Passed by Both Chambers (PDF)](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As Passed by Both House and Senate Official.pdf) - [As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial) (PDF)](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As Passed by Both House and Senate Unofficial.pdf) - [House Proposal of Amendment (PDF)](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 House proposal of amendment Official.pdf) - [House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial) (PDF)](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 House Proposal of Amendment Unofficial.pdf) - [As Passed by the Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As passed by the Senate Official.pdf) - [As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial) (PDF)](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As Passed by the Senate Unofficial.pdf) - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/S-0123/S-0123 As Introduced.pdf) ## Related - [H.955: An act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VT-H955-2026) - [H.951: An act relating to making appropriations for the support of the government](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VT-H951-2026) - [H.952: An act relating to capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VT-H952-2026) - [H.957: An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the Town of Willist…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VT-H957-2026) - [H.944: An act relating to the fiscal year 2027 Transportation Program and miscellaneou…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VT-H944-2026) - [H.942: An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VT-H942-2026) - [Vermont bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/vermont/bills) - [Vermont state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/vermont) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VT-S123-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).