PRIA Logo™
VermontS.502025-2026 SessionSenate

An act relating to increasing the size of solar net metering projects that qualify for expedited registration

Sponsored By: Anne E Watson (Democrat/Progressive)

Signed by Governor

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Choose who owns your solar credits

The law lets you choose to keep or transfer the environmental attributes (renewable energy credits) from your net‑metered solar. If you keep them, your net metering bill credit is reduced. If you transfer them, your utility keeps them for required compliance; small utilities with fewer than 75,000 customers are exempt. Utilities that claim 100% renewable must retire or match transferred credits. You can change your choice once within 120 days after commissioning. If your system was commissioned from January 1, 2023 to July 1, 2025, you get one extra chance to change; to transfer, request by September 2, 2025. These rules take effect July 1, 2025.

Faster, simpler approvals for small solar

Beginning July 1, 2025, net metering systems 25 kW or less use a faster registration process. The Public Utility Commission must adopt this expedited registration. Ground‑mounted systems 25 kW or less are included. The law also states the Legislature’s intent to let these small systems use the faster process before the formal rule update is finished. Systems 25 kW or less also avoid the stricter preapplication and agency‑notice steps.

Land-record filing for larger energy systems

If your in‑state generation or storage facility is over 25 kW, the certificate holder must record a notice in each town’s land records within 45 days. Use the form the Commission provides and send proof to the Commission. This takes effect July 1, 2025.

New setback distances for ground solar

The law sets minimum distances for ground‑mounted solar by size. From state or town highways: over 150 kW needs 100 feet; over 25 kW up to 150 kW needs 40 feet; 25 kW or less needs 10 feet. From other property lines: over 150 kW needs 50 feet; over 25 kW up to 150 kW needs 25 feet; 25 kW or less needs 10 feet. The old no‑setback rule for 15 kW or less is removed. Canopies over parking areas that already exist or were permitted are not covered. Effective July 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Anne E Watson

    Democrat/Progressive • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Ruth E Hardy

    Democratic • Senate

  • Scott L Beck

    Republican • Senate

  • Seth Bongartz

    Democratic • Senate

  • Terry K Williams

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor 5/28/2025

    5/29/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor on May 28, 2025

    5/29/2025Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 22, 2025

    5/22/2025Senate

  4. As passed by Senate and House

    5/14/2025Senate

  5. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment

    5/14/2025Senate

  6. Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/13/2025House

  7. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

    5/13/2025House

  8. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of Amendment

    5/12/2025House

  9. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of Amendment

    5/9/2025House

  10. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment thereto

    5/8/2025House

  11. House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment as moved by Senator(s) Watson

    5/7/2025Senate

  12. House proposal of amendment; text

    5/7/2025Senate

  13. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Watson

    5/7/2025Senate

  14. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

    5/7/2025Senate

  15. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

    5/6/2025Senate

  16. House proposal of amendment

    5/2/2025Senate

  17. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/2/2025Senate

  18. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

    5/1/2025Senate

  19. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    4/30/2025House

  20. Rep. Harrison of Chittenden asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment

    4/30/2025House

  21. Rep. Harrison of Chittenden and McCoy of Poultney moved to amend the House proposal of amendment

    4/30/2025House

  22. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    4/30/2025House

  23. Third Reading ordered

    4/29/2025House

  24. Report of Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure agreed to

    4/29/2025House

  25. Point of order ruled well taken

    4/29/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 38)

    6/3/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/27/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/27/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    5/8/2025

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment

    5/1/2025

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/1/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial)

    3/18/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    2/4/2025

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation