By Guy Page

The Vermont House Thursday, January 15 advanced a Senate bill establishing a permanent emergency fund for farms and forestry operations suffering losses due to weather conditions, including floods and extreme, unseasonable weather. 

Vermont farmers have suffered severe losses due to late-season frosts and three consecutive years of July flooding. S.60, introduced last year, would establish the permanent Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund to provide payments of up to $150,000 to eligible farm and forestry operation losses due to ‘weather conditions.’

The original intent of the bill was to cite climate-related losses, but framers were concerned the federal government would flag climate legislation, a representative told the House on the floor yesterday. So the wording ‘weather conditions’ was chosen instead. The House version also added in forestry operations to the Senate bill, which only mentioned ‘working lands.’ The bill is likely to receive final House approval today, and be returned to the Senate to consider the House amendments. 

S.60 does not include a specific target amount for the proposed new fund. The money would be sourced from funds transferred by the General Assembly, public and private sources that the Secretary of Agriculture and Food Markets accepts for the Fund; and funds from federal government aid for State support of farmers or forestry operations suffering income loss due to weather conditions.

[See related story in VDC today: John Klar, August Murray, others named to federal oversight board of Vermont agricultural programs.]

The House also gave preliminary approval to H.649 (Commerce & Economic Development Committee bill), setting investment limits and reporting requirements on captive insurers and risk retention groups. 

Vermont, due to a custom-developed set of laws and regulations, is home to a flourishing captive insurance industry. Captive insurance is a type of self-insurance where a business creates its own licensed insurance company to cover its specific risks, rather than purchasing insurance from external providers. This allows the business to have more control over its insurance policies, costs, and claims management.

New House bills introduced

H. 688 — Rep. Dolgin (St. Johnsbury): Residential eviction timelines and process → General and Housing

H. 689 — Reps. Burrows et al.: Financial aid exceptions for individuals with disabilities → Human Services

H. 690 — Rep. Tagliavia (Corinth): Motor vehicle inspections → Transportation

H. 691 — Rep. Bartley (Fairfax): Breastfeeding education and support → Health Care

H. 692 — Reps. Yacovone, Lipsky: Civics education in high schools → Education

H. 693 — Rep. Greer (Bennington): Bennington charter—police department → Government Operations & Military Affairs

H. 694 — Reps. Greer et al.: Bennington charter—town manager → Government Operations & Military Affairs

H. 695 — Rep. Greer (Bennington): Bennington charter—short-term rental tax → Government Operations & Military Affairs

H. 696 — Rep. Greer (Bennington): Bennington charter—municipal liens → Government Operations & Military Affairs

H. 697 — Rep. Oliver (Sheldon): First responder buffer zones during emergencies → Government Operations & Military Affairs

H. 698 — Reps. Feltus et al.: Changes to 2025 Acts and Resolves No. 73 → Education

H. 699 — Rep. Priestley (Bradford): Consumer protection from abusive practices → Commerce & Economic Development

H. 700 — Rep. Casey (Montpelier): Eliminating THC limits for licensed cannabis retailers → Government Operations & Military Affairs

H. 701 — Reps. Tomlinson et al.: State role in supporting underperforming schools → Education

H. 702 — Rep. Dolgin (St. Johnsbury): Criminal trespass and unauthorized residence → Judiciary

H. 703 — Reps. Galfetti, Casey: Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights expansion → Judiciary

H. 704 — Reps. Stevens et al.: Tenant Representation Pilot Program → General and Housing

Other House action

J.R.S. 33 adopted, setting a Joint Assembly on January 20 for the Governor’s budget address.

H. 393 moved from Education → Health Care.

H. 334 moved from General and Housing → Commerce & Economic Development.

H.R. 11 adopted, authorizing limited remote committee voting through the end of 2026.

The Senate yesterday focused on introducing new legislation and receiving House-passed bills.

New Senate bills introduced

S. 255 — Sens. Harrison, Hashim: Pilot Law Enforcement Governance Council in Windham County → Government Operations

S. 256 — Sens. Hashim et al.: Voyeurism and disclosure of sexually explicit images → Judiciary

S. 257 — Sen. Harrison: Nonprofit public transit systems → Transportation

S. 258 — Sens. Chittenden, Perchlik, White: Intelligent speed assistance devices → Judiciary

S. 259 — Sen. Harrison: Online driver education → Education

S. 260 — Sen. Harrison: Legislative approval of leases for State railroad rights-of-way → Transportation

S. 261 — Sens. Harrison, Gulick, Clarkson: Liability limits for certain railroad and utility property open for recreation → Judiciary

S. 262 — Sen. Perchlik: Motor vehicle inspections → Transportation

House bills received

H. 28 — Affirmation option in oath requirements → Judiciary

H. 409 — Appeals of orders denying bail revocation → Judiciary.