By Guy Page
The Vermont Senate opened the 2026 legislative session with a significant influx of new legislation on January 6. Lawmakers introduced a wide array of proposals ranging from sweeping public safety reforms and climate initiatives to critical updates in health care governance and technology regulation.
S.167, sponsored Sen. Allison Clarkson (D-Windsor) and co-sponsored by Democrat Sens. Thomas Chittenden, Ann Cummings, Martine Gulick, Ruth Hardy, Wendy Harrison, Virginia Lyons, Joseph Major, Andrew Perchlik, Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Anne Watson, and Rebecca White, would “ban the possession of semiautomatic assault weapons” statewide, making it a criminal offense to own such firearms if the measure becomes law. The proposal would add a new section to state law, 13 V.S.A. § 4028, explicitly prohibiting any person from possessing a semiautomatic assault weapon. The bill’s stated intent is to restrict access to weapons that lawmakers sponsoring the measure argue pose a heightened risk to public safety.
The bill defines ‘semiautomatic assault weapon’ as a semi-auto pistol or rifle that can be adapted in many, specifically defined ways.
Under the bill, a violation of the prohibition would be punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both. The text does not specify exemptions or a timeline for compliance, which are issues likely to be debated as the legislation moves through the Senate. The proposal is expected to draw strong reactions from gun-control advocates who support tighter restrictions and from firearms owners and civil liberties groups who oppose new limits on gun possession.
If history is any guide, most of these bills will not become law. However, they represent the initiatives of individual legislators, legislative caucuses, committees, and, in most cases, unnamed advocacy groups spurring them on.
The following is a breakdown of the newly introduced bills, organized by primary topic. VDC will provide analysis of high-profile Senate and House bills in coming days and weeks. For now, the links to these bills can be found on the All Senate Bills page on the Vermont General Assembly website.
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Public safety remains a top priority, with several bills focusing on firearms regulation, criminal procedures, and law enforcement standards:
• S.160: firearms procedures
• S.167: prohibiting possession of semiautomatic assault weapons
• S.168: the aggregate value of stolen property in certain crimes
• S.172: requiring the use of personal flotation devices during cold weather
• S.178: speedy trial procedures in criminal cases
• S.180: the recommendations of the Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group
• S.181: eliminating the requirement for a presentence investigation for imposition of a deferred sentence
• S.182: animal cruelty violation forfeitures and the Animal Welfare Fund
• S.183: home improvement and land improvement fraud
• S.184: community justice centers
• S.186: jurisdiction of the Criminal Division over plea agreements in proceedings related to juvenile offenders
• S.187: permitting members of the General Assembly to carry concealed handguns in the State House
• S.193: establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons
• S.203: penalties for second or subsequent violations of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• S.208: standards for law enforcement identification
Health Care and Human Services
Legislators are seeking to address hospital oversight, prescription drug costs, and medical professional roles:
• S.162: miscellaneous provisions affecting the Department of Vermont Health Access
• S.163: the role of advanced practice registered nurses in hospital care
• S.164: health benefits for members of the General Assembly
• S.166: issuing immunization recommendations
• S.188: hospital governance
• S.189: an approval process for reducing or eliminating hospital services
• S.190: the Green Mountain Care Board, reference-based pricing, and hospital outsourcing of clinical care
• S.194: designated and specialized service agency payment methodology
• S.195: judicial proceedings for involuntary treatment
• S.197: establishing a primary care payment reform program
• S.199: establishing the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program
• S.200: the Medicaid school-based services program
Climate, Energy, and Environment
The 2026 session sees a strong push for green infrastructure and environmental protections, including a focus on agricultural impacts:
• S.159: removing the sunset on 30 V.S.A. § 248a
• S.170: net metering rates
• S.171: the Clean Fuels Program
• S.174: the study of Green Bank models to support and accelerate investments in climate mitigation infrastructure, farming, and agriculture in Vermont
• S.175: climate change education
• S.176: prohibiting the use of the herbicide paraquat
• S.177: the collection and recycling of waste motor vehicle tires
• S.191: appliance efficiency
• S.202: portable solar energy generation devices
• S.204: electric ratepayer assistance and utility disconnections
Land Use, Taxation, and Property
Updates to Act 250 and property tax regulations are also on the table:
• S.165: grand list values of parcels with wetlands
• S.169: Act 250 permit appeals
• S.179: the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act
• S.185: regional plan maps and Act 250 Tier 1
• S.192: municipal authority to compel the cleaning or repair of premises
• S.196: property tax sales
Education and Technology
New bills address the evolving landscape of academic freedom, childhood education, and the rise of artificial intelligence:
• S.161: the Governor’s list of scholarship granting organizations
• S.201: academic freedom in Vermont’s postsecondary schools
• S.205: a temporary moratorium on AI data centers and a report on the construction and operation of AI data centers in Vermont
• S.206: licensure of early childhood educators by the Office of Professional Regulation
Commerce and Labor
General regulations regarding worker protections and consumer pricing were also introduced.
• S.173: workers’ compensation and the Vermont Labor Relations Board
• S.198: the regulation and taxation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes
• S.207: prohibiting surveillance pricing