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VermontS.592025-2026 SessionSenate

An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law

Sponsored By: Ruth E Hardy (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Clearer meeting notices for Vermont residents

Beginning June 9, 2025, meeting notices and agendas must be posted at least 48 hours before regular meetings and 24 hours before special meetings. Municipal agendas and special-meeting notices must appear in or near the municipal office and at least two designated public places, including neighboring municipalities. Notices must also reach each body member, and electronic platform access details must appear in the notice or agenda. Agendas must explain planned topics; a private-session item must say “proposed executive session” and describe its business. Agenda additions or deletions must be the meeting’s first act of business.

Public votes govern Vermont private sessions

Beginning June 9, 2025, State public bodies need two-thirds of members present to hold or end an executive session. Municipal and other local bodies need a majority of members present. The vote to enter must happen publicly and appear in the minutes; the motion must identify the business discussed. Only that business may be discussed, and binding action is barred except for specified actions to secure real estate options. If private-session minutes are taken, they may be withheld from public inspection or copying where public-records law allows.

Yearly meeting training for Vermont officials

Beginning June 9, 2025, specified Vermont officials must take yearly training on Open Meeting Law procedures and requirements. This includes local public-body chairs, town managers, mayors, and State public-body chairs outside advisory bodies. State advisory-body members must also train when every member is neither a government officer nor a government employee.

Clearer limits on public meeting disruptions

Beginning June 9, 2025, Vermont’s disorderly-conduct law expressly covers disruptions of lawful gatherings, including public-body meetings. The conduct must substantially impair the gathering, such as forcing an early end or making numerous, sustained disruptions after requests to stop. It must lack lawful authority and involve intent to cause public inconvenience or annoyance, or recklessly risk that result. The substantial-interference standard limits the rule’s reach, while qualifying conduct faces existing criminal penalties; the law adds no new specified fines.

Government hardship can limit meeting duties

Beginning June 9, 2025, Vermont defines “undue hardship” when deciding which steps are required to follow the Open Meeting Law. A step must cause significant difficulty or expense to the government unit. The review considers its size, available staff, resources, and compliance costs. This standard can ease government burdens but can also limit required steps that support public access.

More private discussions for Vermont bodies

Beginning June 9, 2025, Vermont public bodies can privately discuss security, cybersecurity, or emergency-response measures when disclosure could threaten public safety. A State public body can also privately discuss confidential business information about interest rates on publicly financed loans. That loan rule applies only when the State body is the lender. These permissions protect sensitive information but reduce public access to those discussions.

More public meeting access, with exceptions

Beginning June 9, 2025, Vermont State bodies, except advisory bodies, must offer regular and special meetings in person and electronically, including by phone. They must make audiovisual recordings and retain and post them for at least 30 days after official minutes are approved and posted. Local bodies, except advisory bodies, must make audio or video recordings and post them for at least 30 days after minutes are posted. Site inspections and field visits are exempt from these access and recording requirements. State bodies must also record hearings on proposed rules and make those recordings available under public-records rules; applicable accessibility rules also govern meeting access.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ruth E Hardy

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 9, 2025

    6/13/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on June 9, 2025

    6/11/2025Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor on June 3, 2025

    6/3/2025Senate

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/28/2025Senate

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

    5/27/2025Senate

  6. As passed by Senate and House

    5/27/2025Senate

  7. House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/27/2025Senate

  8. House proposal of amendment; text

    5/27/2025Senate

  9. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

    5/27/2025Senate

  10. House proposal of amendment

    5/23/2025Senate

  11. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/23/2025Senate

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

    5/22/2025House

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

    5/21/2025House

  14. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    5/21/2025House

  15. Third Reading ordered

    5/20/2025House

  16. Report of Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs agreed to

    5/20/2025House

  17. Rep. Waters Evans of Charlotte reported for the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

    5/20/2025House

  18. Read second time

    5/20/2025House

  19. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

    5/20/2025House

  20. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    5/19/2025House

  21. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    5/16/2025House

  22. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

    3/25/2025House

  23. Read 3rd time & passed

    3/20/2025Senate

  24. Pending third reading, bill amended as moved by Senator(s) Hart, Collamore, Vyhovsky, and White

    3/20/2025Senate

  25. New Business/Third Reading

    3/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 51)Opens in a new window

    6/12/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/30/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/30/2025

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment

    5/23/2025

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/23/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    3/21/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial)

    3/21/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    2/10/2025

    PDF

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