Vermont State Register

The emergency rule implements the new Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum program (the Program) established by Act 143 (2026), an act relating to establishing the Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum. The Program replaces Vermont's current homelessness response system with a continuum of supports and services for households who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The Program delivers services through a tiered system based on the household's level of need: (1) Level 1 - prevention and diversion; (2) Level 2 -shelter services; (3) Level 3 - specialized shelter services; (4) Level 4 - hotels and motels. The Program also incorporates permanent supportive housing services and other emergency housing services, such as extreme cold weather shelters and municipal supports, into the continuum of services offered under the Program. The Program requires individualized housing plans and case management for all emergency housing placements.

The Department is updating the requirements for annual motor vehicle inspections to remove failure reasons that are not directly related to motor vehicle safety. Items being removed include: all references to on-road testing; tire cuts, snags, or weather cracks; broken power steering belts; loss of shock absorber function; rust on brakes; headlamp aiming; ABS or airbag failure lights; horn, speedometer, and odometer malfunction; cracks or star breaks on windshield; power window malfunction; damaged windshield wiper blades; and modification to exhaust system causing an unreasonable sound level.

This rule sets forth the standards that apply to the licensing of birth centers in Vermont. This rulemaking establishes the process by which a birth center can apply for a license in Vermont.

This Rule implements 9 V.S.A. § 2449g of the Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act. It establishes standards for how covered businesses determine whether a user is a covered minor while protecting privacy and minimizing unnecessary collection and use of personal data. The Rule provides requirements for selecting and using age assurance methods, protecting age assurance data, ensuring accuracy, providing fallback options and appeals, and documenting compliance. The Rule uses a flexible, technology-neutral approach that requires covered businesses to use the least intrusive age assurance method reasonably available that achieves the level of confidence necessary under the circumstances.

This Rule implements 9 V.S.A. § 2449f of Act 63 of 2025, Vermont's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act. It establishes standards for data processing and design practices that apply to covered businesses serving covered minors. The Rule explains which practices are prohibited, defines key terms, provides examples, and helps covered businesses understand how to comply with the law. It is intended to protect covered minors while giving covered businesses clear, flexible guidance for meeting their obligations under Vermont law.

Over the last 30+ years, primitive camping practices have evolved, creating challenges that the current rule is not equipped to regulate, specifically around rule enforcement, campfires and wildland fire, and jurisdiction of the rule across state lands managed by the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR), Fish & Wildlife (F&W), and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). FPR is proposing the following changes to the rule: • Clarifying enforcement options if the rule is violated, focused on authorizing F&W wardens and other law enforcement to issue notices of trespass; • Limiting jurisdiction of the rule to FPR lands as F&W lands are governed by another rule; • Providing additional requirements for building and extinguishing campfires; • Changing the setback from water bodies from 100’ to 200’; • Removing the list of lands from the rule.

The proposed rule amendments eliminate the consecutive "early" and "late" seasons to create one bear season extending from September 1st through the last day of the regulated deer season. The proposed rule would require the purchase of a bear tag to take a bear during the season, and would allow for the taking of a second bear within specified Wildlife Management Units (WMU) upon Board approval. The rule prohibits the intentional taking of sows with cubs. Additionally, the rule clarifies bear dog permit requirements and makes technical and grammatical corrections.

This proposed rule amends part 1-3, 5 and 7 of the 8-part Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment (HBEE) rule. Parts 1,2,3,5 and 7 were last amended effective January 1, 2026. Substantive revisions include: newly requiring certain adult Medicaid applicants and enrollees demonstrate compliance with work and community engagement rules as a factor of eligibility; reducing the retroactive Medicaid coverage period from three months to one month for Adult coverage group enrollees and two months for all other enrollees; restricting non-citizen eligibility for both Medicaid and Qualified Health Plan premium tax credits and adding a new category of "eligible non-citizen" to clarify which individuals remain eligible; adjusting the renewal period from 12 to 6 months for Medicaid enrollees in the Adult coverage group; shortening the annual open enrollment period from November 1st-January 15th to November 1st - December 15th. All of these substantive revisions are required by federal law.

This proposed rule amends part 1-3, 5 and 7 of the 8-part Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment (HBEE) rule. Parts 1,2,3,5 and 7 were last amended effective January 1, 2026. Substantive revisions include: newly requiring certain adult Medicaid applicants and enrollees demonstrate compliance with work and community engagement rules as a factor of eligibility; reducing the retroactive Medicaid coverage period from three months to one month for Adult coverage group enrollees and two months for all other enrollees; restricting non-citizen eligibility for both Medicaid and Qualified Health Plan premium tax credits and adding a new category of "eligible non-citizen" to clarify which individuals remain eligible; adjusting the renewal period from 12 to 6 months for Medicaid enrollees in the Adult coverage group; shortening the annual open enrollment period from November 1st-January 15th to November 1st - December 15th. All of these substantive revisions are required by federal law.

This proposed rule amends part 1-3, 5 and 7 of the 8-part Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment (HBEE) rule. Parts 1,2,3,5 and 7 were last amended effective January 1, 2026. Substantive revisions include: newly requiring certain adult Medicaid applicants and enrollees demonstrate compliance with work and community engagement rules as a factor of eligibility; reducing the retroactive Medicaid coverage period from three months to one month for Adult coverage group enrollees and two months for all other enrollees; restricting non-citizen eligibility for both Medicaid and Qualified Health Plan premium tax credits and adding a new category of "eligible non-citizen" to clarify which individuals remain eligible; adjusting the renewal period from 12 to 6 months for Medicaid enrollees in the Adult coverage group; shortening the annual open enrollment period from November 1st-January 15th to November 1st - December 15th. All of these substantive revisions are required by federal law.

This proposed rule amends part 1-3, 5 and 7 of the 8-part Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment (HBEE) rule. Parts 1,2,3,5 and 7 were last amended effective January 1, 2026. Substantive revisions include: newly requiring certain adult Medicaid applicants and enrollees demonstrate compliance with work and community engagement rules as a factor of eligibility; reducing the retroactive Medicaid coverage period from three months to one month for Adult coverage group enrollees and two months for all other enrollees; restricting non-citizen eligibility for both Medicaid and Qualified Health Plan premium tax credits and adding a new category of "eligible non-citizen" to clarify which individuals remain eligible; adjusting the renewal period from 12 to 6 months for Medicaid enrollees in the Adult coverage group; shortening the annual open enrollment period from November 1st-January 15th to November 1st - December 15th. All of these substantive revisions are required by federal law.

This proposed rule amends part 1-3, 5 and 7 of the 8-part Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment (HBEE) rule. Parts 1,2,3,5 and 7 were last amended effective January 1, 2026. Substantive revisions include: newly requiring certain adult Medicaid applicants and enrollees demonstrate compliance with work and community engagement rules as a factor of eligibility; reducing the retroactive Medicaid coverage period from three months to one month for Adult coverage group enrollees and two months for all other enrollees; restricting non-citizen eligibility for both Medicaid and Qualified Health Plan premium tax credits and adding a new category of "eligible non-citizen" to clarify which individuals remain eligible; adjusting the renewal period from 12 to 6 months for Medicaid enrollees in the Adult coverage group; shortening the annual open enrollment period from November 1st-January 15th to November 1st - December 15th. All of these substantive revisions are required by federal law.

Medical providers who care for injured workers covered by a workers' compensation policy are required to bill for their services using the Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Schedule. It is vital to the health of the workers'compensation system that such fees be sufficient to ensure the provision of services, without being so generous as to increase the cost of insurance coverage. The rule generally modestly raises reimbursement amounts, adds a far more robust table of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes, and provides for annual indexing going forward using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)"market basket" factors, capped at 3 annually.

This rule shortens the allowed time between veterinary examination and physical importation into Vermont, reducing the risk of introducing the fly and the disease to Vermont. It extends the requirement to include dogs and cats, which are susceptible to screwworms and travel from the Southwest much more frequently than livestock. It also incorporates USDA playbook rules into Vermont state rules, thus allowing enforcement at the state level. It extends the range of movement restrictions to animals originating from or traveling through states containing infested zones, as wildlife and natural fly movement can cause independent and rapid spread. Finally, it requires treatment of animals within the infested zones, and of dogs and cats in affected states, before importation to further decrease the chance of becoming infected after inspection but before movement.

These rules serve as a guide to the Review Board, its Clerk and Hearing Officers and parties regarding the orderly transaction of its proceedings regarding contested VOSHA Cases. There are two levels of review available to the parties through the Rules of Procedure. The first is through a hearing before a Hearing Officer. The second level is through a discretionary review by the Review Board, should a party (or the Review Board on its own motion) want to appeal the Hearing Officer's decision. There are two types of proceedings offered in the Rules: conventional and simplified. Simplified Proceedings offer employers (respondents) a less formal way to contest a citation (no answer needs to be filed and documents are exchanged freely without the use of discovery, generally). Rules regarding settlement and the parties' option of using Hearing Officers to mediate a settlement are covered in the Rules.

The proposed rule amendments make two changes to the existing leashed tracking dog rule: it amends the definition of "big game animal" to be consistent with the definition in 10 V.S.A. § 4001, to include all big game animals including moose. This will allow hunters to employ leashed tracking dogs to legally track dead or wounded moose. And the proposed amendment strikes the language limiting tracking to big game seasons and the 24-hour period immediately following. This will allow for the use of tracking dogs to locate animals injured or killed outside the legal hunting seasons.

The proposed amendments continue to require the same arrowhead width and cutting edges, but apply the standards to broadheads used with crossbows as well.

The proposed amendments are intended to clarify the big game tagging requirements regarding required tag information, requirements for individuals taking game on their own land, and tagging requirements for the transportation of animal parts. The proposed rule language requires that all big game carcasses are tagged with a tag that contains the name of the hunter, and the applicable tag or permit number. This information is necessary for appropriate enforcement of license and permitting requirements.

The proposed changes explicitly prohibit making false statements in the reporting of wild game taken, allows the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife to pay a fee of at least one dollar per report to agents at authorized reporting stations, and makes minor technical updates to the citations in the rule. The Department currently is authorized to reimburse authorized check-station agents one dollar per report; this reimbursement has not increased since 1971 and the proposed language is intended to give the Department the ability to increase the reimbursement amount, incentivizing the continued operation of check-stations.

These rules govern the licensing and registration of out-of-state healthcare professionals practicing with Vermont patients via telehealth only. These rules create the permanent system mandated by Act 4 (2023) to replace a system currently operating on an interim basis. The rules provide for eligibility requirements, standards of practice, and mandatory disclosures by out-of-state telehealth professionals. These rules do not apply to practice via telehealth by professionals who hold regular Vermont credentials.

This rule sets the requirements for the Agency of Human Services (AHS) to designate nonprofit agencies (“Designated Agencies”) to deliver community mental health and intellectual/developmental disability services in specific geographic areas of Vermont. It also outlines the responsibilities of “Specialized Service Agencies,” which AHS assigns to provide either community mental health or intellectual/developmental disability services statewide. This rule updates rule 24-020 by incorporating provisions from the Provider Agreement applicable to Designated and Specialized Service Agencies which specifies administrative and operational responsibilities.

The proposed rule revisions prohibit combining source separated food residuals with packaged food residuals; prohibit source separated food residual processing by depackaging machines; create operational requirements for mechanical depackaging facilities (required by Act 170 of 2022); allow development soil disposal outside of lined landfills (Act 69 of 2025); require paper and cardboard recyclables be covered at facilities; increase the amount of slaughterhouse waste that can be processed at medium compost facilities; increase the percentage of allowable paper contamination from 1 to up to 5 in processed glass aggregate; adopted PFAS screening standards for biosolids (already in DEC 2024 policy); expanded recognition of all EPA Part 503 Class A biosolids processes to significantly reduce pathogens alternatives which applies to EQ biosolids produced or imported to Vermont; and added regulations for short paper fiber testing, PFAS screening and tracking where applied. Minor typos were corrected too.

The purpose of this ANR Lands Management Rule is to codify ANR’s land management planning framework and process, and to set forth the requirements for public input related to land management planning. The proposed rule consolidates existing policy and procedure; proposes an update to the planning framework that formalizes a category of routine management activities (Universal Management Actions); creates a new "Statewide Plan;" and establishes two new land classifications that prioritize resource protection and support evelopment of old forest conditions. This proposed rule will provide clarity to the public regarding the process by which the Departments plan for and manage ANR lands and how the public can provide input in the process.

Following is a list of proposed changes: Simplifies minimum reservation period determination for all site types to be based on individual characteristics, use, and occupancy patterns, set by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Removes system-wide remote site maximum stay of seven nights. Provides Commissioner authority to set prices based on site characteristics, use patterns, market rates, and reasonable cost recovery, and is consistent with recommendations in the 2023 Vermont State Parks Modernization Study. Standardizes advanced reservation period. Modernizes smoking policy, composting information, service animal language and non-discrimination language. Amends pet policy to include nuisance animal criteria. Removes procedure for assigning slips at Burton Island Marina. Updates license and special use permit (SUP) base prices. Clarifies license definition. Removes outdated statute reference. Administratively clarifies language within some existing rules.

This rule updates and reorganizes the administrative rules governing the Use Value Appraisal (Current Use) Program for agricultural, forest, and conservation lands. The revisions align the rules with statutory changes enacted since 1985, improve clarity and consistency, and incorporate current standards and practices.

This amendment modernizes the existing Noxious Weed Quarantine, which will be renamed the Regulated Introduced Plant Species Quarantine, by establishing a clearer, science-based, and more flexible process for identifying and regulating introduced plant species of concern in Vermont. The amended rule removes the previous static list and replaces it with a responsive, flexible, and meaningful framework grounded in Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) criteria and review by an advisory group of subject-matter and industry experts. The amendment clarifies prohibited activities, updates definitions, adds best management practices (BMPs) and permitting pathways, and strengthens consistency with federal regulations by incorporating federally regulated plant species under 7 CFR § 360.200. The revised structure improves transparency, regulatory clarity, and enforceability, while supporting prevention-focused management that aligns with Vermont’s ecological, agricultural, and forestry needs.

This new rule, "Estate Recovery," outlines the Medicaid Estate Recovery Procedure. Estate recovery is a federal requirement for states to recover certain Medicaid benefits paid on behalf of a Medicaid enrollee from the individual's estate. The rule needs to be updated to be added to the Health Care Administrative Rules (HCAR). The rule amends the estate recovery provisions from Medicaid Covered Services Rule 7108 "Third Party Liability". The amendments in this new rule include adding a definitions section for clarity and increasing the undue hardship estate value threshold.

This rule, Medicaid Covered Services Rule 7108 Third Party Liability, is being amended to remove the estate recovery language and adopt that language into a new rule. Estate recovery is a federal requirement for states to recover certain Medicaid benefits paid on behalf of a Medicaid enrollee from the individual's estate. This rule is not being amended other than to remove the estate recovery section.

This proposed rulemaking amends the Refugee Medical Assistance rule which was last amended effective November 1, 2019. This proposed rule establishes criteria and process used to determine eligibility and provide coverage under the Refugee Medical Assistance program. Updates to this rule are strictly formal, adopting the federal APA outline standard, as required for implementation within the Agency's upcoming eligibility and enrollment technology system. There are no substantive changes to this rule.

The proposed rule amends the Vermont CO2 Budget Trading Program Rule which implements the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in Vermont. The amendments reflect revisions to the RGGI Model Rule agreed to by participating states (CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, and VT) during the most recent program review. Most notably, the proposed amendments reduce the regional carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cap in 2027 to 69.8 million tons of CO2 from 75.7 million tons under the previous rule. Then, from 2034 through 2037, the cap will decline by 2.4 million tons of CO2 annually. The proposed amendments also revise the existing Cost Containment Reserve (CCR) to ensure availability of RGGI allowances to meet grid reliability needs and mitigate cost volatility; increase the minimum reserve price, the lowest price at which allowances may be sold at auction; eliminate the use of offset allowances; and include other miscellaneous updates.

Vermont has maintained the Hazardous Waste Management Regulations since 1980. The Regulations are being revised to better align with federal regulations and guidance regarding the management and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) bulk product waste, and to reduce the regulatory burden pertaining to the disposal of such waste in Vermont by introducing a new conditional exemption. The revisions also include a change to the management of state-listed cleanup debris generated as a result of an emergency response and cleanup actions; the revision will allow such wastes to be immediately transported from the outdoor locations where the wastes are generated to secure, indoor transfer facilities where the waste will be permitted to be temporarily stored as it undergoes waste characterization.

The Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) has long relied on policies and program standards to determine eligibility for, and to administer, Brain Injury Program (BIP) services. DAIL now seeks to codify these policies and standards through the adoption of this new rule, which will modernize some definitions, add clarity regarding continued clinical eligibility, incorporate a required Medicaid policy regarding paying legally responsible individuals, insert federally required Electronic Visit Verification, and add an updated Case Management definition, along with a new "Service Broker" service to comply with federally required Conflict-Free Case Management rules. Once adopted, these BIP Rules will be incorporated into the Health Care Administrative Rules, a set of rules for all Vermont Medicaid services, which is maintained by the Agency of Human Services (AHS).

This addition to the Employment Security Board Rules, implements provisions of § 1340a regarding Self-Employment Assistance Program that is paid through the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The rule adds procedure for application of benefits through the Employment Assistance Program, as well as what criteria will be considered by the Commissioner in determining eligibility and whether to approve the program. It contains definitions, outlines the application process, and criteria for approval as well as termination from the program.

The Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) regulate the design of building envelopes for adequate thermal resistance and low air leakage and the design and selection of mechanical, ventilation, electrical, service water- heating and illumination systems and equipment in commercial building construction. This is an update to the CBES to allow the 2020 Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards as an option for the purposes of complying with Vermont’s commercial building energy code. This update allows adherence to the requirements in either the 2020 CBES or 2024 CBES for compliance purposes with no substantive changes to the 2020 CBES or 2024 CBES as originally adopted.

The Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) regulate the design and construction of residential buildings to require adequate thermal insulation, low air leakage, effective and efficient mechanical, ventilation, electrical, service water-heating and illumination systems and equipment to enable effective use of energy in residential buildings. This is an update to the RBES to allow the 2020 Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards as an option for the purposes of complying with Vermont’s residential building energy code. This update allows adherence to the requirements in either the 2020 RBES or 2024 RBES for compliance purposes with no substantive changes to the 2020 RBES or 2024 RBES as originally adopted.

The purpose of the rule is to provide the requirements for the safe and sanitary manufacturing, packing, holding, and distributing of human food offered for sale in Vermont. This rulemaking does the following: 1) Defines cottage food operation, cottage food operator, and cottage food product; 2) Substitutes the more narrow bakery product exemption for a broader exemption categorized as the cottage food exemption and raises the exemption threshold of gross annual sales to $30,000; 3) Amends the existing exemption filing requirement frequency from prior to operation to an annual filing; 4) Creates a required annual training for license-exempt food manufacturers; and 5) Creates a process for cottage food operators to submit requests to the Department for determination whether the product they are making is a cottage food.

These proposed rules implement the statutory amendments adopted by the Legislature effective 7/1/25, including (1) a process for injured workers to request medical case management services; and (2) increased penalties for late payment of weekly benefits. The proposed rules also include page limits for reply briefs filed in formal workers' compensation proceedings with the Vt. Dept or Labor.

The proposed amendments to the Use of Public Waters Rules clarify the petition submission and review process and clarifies the procedures for municipal delegation under 10 V.S.A. § 1424 by authorizing full or partial delegation with State oversight, auditing, and revocation authority. Further, the amendments establish a process for emergency temporary use restrictions and clarifies enforcement of aquatic invasive species transport and decontamination requirements. The wakesports provisions are substantially modified by eliminating the "Home Lake" rule and proof of decontamination requirements, prohibiting wakesports within 500 feet of loon nesting sites and from other users, and requiring wakesports zones to meet new acreage, length, and configuration standards. The Department of Environmental Conservation will maintain an online list of eligible lakes, reducing the number of wakesports-eligible waters from 30 to 18.

This proposed hospital budget review rule amends the existing rule to conform to statutory amendments made with the passage of Act 49 (2025), Act 62 (2025), and Act 68 (2025). These Acts set forth revised standards and processes by which hospital budgets are reviewed, established, and monitored by the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB). The proposed rule also streamlines and simplifies certain parts of the hospital budget review process. The proposed rule clarifies hospital budget submission obligations, the process for requesting that information be exempt from public inspection and copying, and the Board's ability to disclose this information. The proposed rule revises the Board's process for exempting hospitals from public hearings, the process for reviewing mid-year budget performance, the process for reviewing significant deviations from established budgets, and the process for reviewing hospital applications for budget adjustment.

The purpose of these regulations is to protect public health through the control of communicable and dangerous diseases. These regulations require the early and prompt reporting of listed diseases so that the Department of Health may take any necessary protective action. This rulemaking does the following:1) Modifies and reorganizes the lists of required reportable findings in humans and animals; 2) Changes the required reporting period for Brucellosis from "immediately" to "within 24 hours” and Rubella virus from "within 24 hours" to "immediately"; 3) Adds information about how to report positive tuberculin skin test (TST) results; 4) Clarifies the reporting of blood lead results.

This rule establishes revised standards and processes, consistent with Act 62 of 2025, that the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) will use to certify Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and review, modify, and approve the budgets of ACOs. First, as of January 1, 2026, the GMCB will no longer review the budgets of all ACOs operating in Vermont, as required by the current GMCB Rule 5.000. Instead, the GMCB will only review the budgets of ACOs that contract with Vermont Medicaid and/or Vermont commercial payers. The GMCB will not review the budgets of ACOs that contract only with Medicare. Second, as of January 1, 2027, all ACOs operating in Vermont must be certified by the GMCB. This is a revision from the current GMCB Rule 5.000, which requires certification only for ACOs that contract with Vermont Medicaid and/or Vermont commercial payers. Third, this revised rule includes revisions to ACO certification and budget review criteria, consistent with Act 62 of 2025.

The proposed rule amendments would update Green Mountain Conservation Camp (GMCC) tuition rates from $250 to $300 per week, and modify the Day Use and wedding facility rental fees at Buck Lake and Kehoe Education Centers. Day use rentals of Buck Lake and Kehoe would increase to $300 per day for partnering organizations, and $600 per day for private entities.

This rule amendment to the Vermont Wetland Rules (VWR) will provide that housing projects are an allowed use in unmapped Class II wetlands located within appropriate locations; specifically growth areas, Tier 1A or 1B designations under 10 V.S.A. §6033,and locations meeting the eligibility requirements established in 10 V.S.A § 6081(z)for an interim exemption from an Act 250 permit or amendment. It will also provide greater flexibility to allow housing construction to occur within the buffer of a mapped Class II wetland within the areas listed above. The elimination of the reconsideration process removes an interim step between permit issuance and appeal which typically takes a month. This will reduce permit and appeal processing time for housing projects throughout the state. The amendments related to the wetland maps will streamline edits. Wetland maps provide notice and regulatory certainty for developers.

The Vermont Saves Program Rule makes two amendments to the existing Rules implemented in 2024 pursuant to 3 V.S.A. Chapter 18. These amendments change the following definitions in CVR 03-000-003, Sec. 1: 11. “Covered employee” means a “covered employee,” as that term is defined in 3 V.S.A. § 531(2). 12. “Covered employer" means a ‘covered employer,’ as that term is defined in 3 V.S.A. § 531(3), that employs two or more employees at any time during a calendar year. These changes will require the participation of more employers and employees in the program by broadening the membership criteria in statute.

The Vermont Securities Regulations set out requirements for issuing securities in Vermont and regulating those who provide investment advice and offer and sell securities to the public. The primary changes include: for investment companies offering federally covered securities in Vermont, the revised Rule mandates electronic filings through a system to be designated by the Commissioner (allowed but not required under the current Rule); adding a requirement that Vermont domiciled investment advisers controlling client funds carry errors and omissions insurance; clarifying provisions for administering restitution assistance for victims of securities violations, including the application process; adding into regulation a current Department policy governing the privacy of client financial information held by broker-dealers and investment advisers; updating certain provisions to match national model rules from North American Securities Administrators Association; and drafting changes for clarity.

The Risk Retention Group Holding Company System Rule sets out reporting, organizational and operational requirements for Risk Retention Groups (RRG) organized as holding companies. This update to the rule tells RRGs how to comply with changes made in Subchapter 13 of Title 8, Act 101 by Act 110 (H.659) of 2024. The amended statute permits exempting RRGs from certain filing requirements and requires certain terms in RRG management agreements, in each case based on Department rules. This update provides those rules. The update also explains what it means for a non-U.S. jurisdiction to "recognize and accept" a group capital calculation under 8 V.S.A. § 3684(m)(2)(D). Lastly, this update provides administrative changes and technical corrections to the rule.

The Groundwater Protection Rule and Strategy is the framework the state uses to protect groundwater in permit programs and clean up groundwater when there is a release. This amendment proposes to adopt more stringent standards adopted by EPA's 2024 Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for five PFAS compounds (HFPO-DA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS, and PFOA) and a hazard index to address mixtures of two or more identified PFAS (HFPO-DA, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS). This amendment proposes to not require the permitting review to apply to stormwater, indirect discharge (sewage), or wastewater and potable water supply (wastewater) rules and those programs would address the public trust and groundwater protection in their respective rules. It also makes minor changes to how compliance boundaries are established for cleanups.