VDC’s comprehensive, detailed updated list of all Senate legislation

By Guy Page and Timothy Page
This is the Vermont Daily Chronicle Vermont Senate Bills page, listing on one page every bill introduced into the current session of the Vermont Senate.
Vermont Senate Bills will be updated three days a week most weeks of the legislative session (January – May). The page will be posted prominently for easy access. Information will include:
- Bill number (with link the www.legislature.vermont.gov)
- Date of introduction
- Topic, as distinct from the title of the bill listed on the Legislatureâs website. Many readers find the bill titles vague, confusing or both. We try to present a clear, succinct, descriptive topic.
- Lead sponsor
- Sponsorâs party
- Committee of jurisdiction
All bills introduced into the 2023-24 session to date. Current through 2:00 PM, May 12, 2023. For more information see http://www.legislature.vermont.gov
Bill # | Introduced | Title | Lead Sponsor | Sponsor party | Committee |
S.157 | 5/12/2023 | Provides transparency and recourse for harassment, hazing, bullying in schools | Hashim | Democrat | Education |
S.156 | 5/12/2023 | Places a moratorium on new prisons, ends suspension on school construction aid | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Dem. | Institutions |
S.155 | 5/11/2023 | Eliminates life without parole, and consecutive sentencing for those under 25 | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Dem. | Judiciary |
S.154 | 5/9/2023 | Makes the Vermont State Plane Coordinate System VT’s sole coordinate system | Hardy/ Watson | Dem./ Prog. | Transportation |
S.153 | 5/9/2023 | Creates municipal and regional civilian oversight of law enforcement | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Dem. | Government Operations |
S.152 | 5/2/2023 | Requires that trials be public unless the court justifies closure. | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.151 | 4/27/2023 | Numerous changes to health care policies, consent, insurance, etc. | Lyons | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.150 | 4/25/2023 | Multiple amendments to automobile insurance laws | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.149 | 4/25/2023 | Requires dram shop liability insurance for alcohol-dealing establishments | Sears | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.148 | 4/21/2023 | Raises funding for child care, creates noncitizen child benefit | Health and Welfare | ||
S.147 | 4/18/2023 | Bans smoking outdoors near entrances | Wrenner | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.146 | 4/13/2023 | Clarifies how indirect discharges of wastewater in the State are permitted | Natural Resources and Energy | ||
S.145 | 4/5/2023 | Create $3 mil. disaster fund | White | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.144 | 4/4/2023 | Works to prevent, report harassment, hazing, and bullying in schools | Chittenden | Democrat | Education |
S.143 | 4/4/2023 | Further restricts private actions of law enforcement, and enhances prisoners’ rights | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.142 | 3/31/2023 | Establishes minimum age and education requirements for law enforcement officers | Hashim/ Vyhovsky | Prog./ Dem. | Government Operations |
S.141 | 3/24/2023 | Approves the formation of Fairfax Fire District No. 1 | Wrenner | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.140 | 3/23/2023 | Creates study committee to evaluate costs, benefits of energy storage | Watson | Prog./ Dem. | Natural Resources and Energy |
S.139 | 3/21/2023 | Expands the jurisdiction of the Enhanced 911 Board | Government Operations | ||
S.138 | 3/21/2023 | Adopts school safety and collects behavioral threat profiling data | Education | ||
S.137 | 3/21/2023 | Extends pilot program established in 2020 Acts and Resolves No. 151 | Natural Resources and Energy | ||
S.136 | 3/17/2023 | Accelerates mandated greenhouse-gas emission reduction | Wrenner | Democrat | Natural Resources and Energy |
S.135 | 3/17/2023 | Creates VT Saves retirement program | Economic Development | ||
S.134 | 3/17/2023 | Protects libraries in Vermont State Colleges | Collamore | Republican | Education |
S.133 | 3/16/2023 | Miscellaneous changes to education laws and policy | Education | ||
S.132 | 3/16/2023 | Amends policy for candidate nomination of unified school district board members | Gulick | Democrat | Education |
S.131 | 3/16/2023 | Amends high school student residency requirement | Chittenden | Democrat | Education |
S.130 | 3/15/2023 | Protects employee rights and eliminates at-will termination | Wrenner | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.129 | 3/15/2023 | Prohibits employers from requiring background checks, random drug tests | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Dem. | Economic Development |
S.128 | 3/15/2023 | Regulates kratom products and set age restriction for sale | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Dem. | Health and Welfare |
S.127 | 3/15/2023 | Further deregulates cannabis and supports cannabis-associated communities | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Dem. | Economic Development |
S.126 | 3/15/2023 | Provides greater community support for mental health and substance abuse | Lyons | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.125 | 3/14/2023 | Legalizes prostitution | White | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.124 | 3/14/2023 | Creates a School Construction Aid Task Force | Education | ||
S.123 | 3/14/2023 | Requires that lodging establishments advertise their total fees | Brock | Republican | Economic Development |
S.122 | 3/14/2023 | Creates model health care facility safety policies | Perchlik | Prog./ Dem. | Health and Welfare |
S.121 | 3/3/2023 | Prohibits business entities from making contributions in State elections | Hashim | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.120 | 3/2/2023 | Requires colleges to establish new sexual misconduct measures | Hashim | Democrat | Education |
S.119 | 3/2/2023 | Reduces possession of a personal use drug supply to a civil offense | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Dem. | Judiciary |
S.118 | 3/2/2023 | Exempts military retirement and military survivor benefit income from income taxation | Collamore | Republican | Finance |
S.117 | 3/2/2023 | Amends funding methods for teen parent education programs | Perchlik | Prog./ Dem. | Education |
S.116 | 3/2/2023 | Adds two voting faculty members to the UVM Board of Trustees | Perchlik | Prog./ Dem. | Education |
S.115 | 3/1/2023 | Makes amendments to a variety of agricultural subjects | Agriculture | Finance | |
S.114 | 3/1/2023 | Decriminalizes psilocybin, creates Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group | Gulick | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.113 | 3/1/2023 | Requires gas stations to provide notice of holds on payment | Chittenden | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.112 | 3/1/2023 | Makes misc. changes to Public Utility Commission policy | Bray | Democrat | Finance |
S.111 | 2/28/2023 | Prohibits trapping, excepting licensed nuisance-wildlife trapping | Campion | Democrat | Natural Resources |
S.110 | 2/28/2023 | Allows direct-to-consumer shipping of spirits and fortified wines | Westman | Republican | Economic Development |
S.109 | 2/28/2023 | Medicaid coverage for doula services | Gulick/ Campion/ et al. | Dem./ Rep./ Prog. | Health and Welfare |
S.108 | 2/28/2023 | Increases the minimum wage to $15.00/hr. by January 1, 2025, eliminates exceptions | Clarkson/ Cummings/ Hardy/ et al. | Dem./ Prog. | Economic Development |
S.107 | 2/24/2023 | Allows off-site tasting rooms for alcoholic beverage makers | Westman | Republican | Economic Development |
S.106 | 2/24/2023 | Protects employees’ religious sensibilities | Baruth | Dem./ Prog. | Economic Development |
S.105 | 2/24/2023 | Legalizes and regulates sports betting | Sears/ Westman | Dem./ Rep. | Economic Development |
S.104 | 2/24/2023 | Designates August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.103 | 2/24/2023 | Makes even more minor or one-time discrimination unlawful | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.102 | 2/24/2023 | Strengthens employee protections, abolishes at-will termination | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.101 | 2/24/2023 | Amends multiple workersâ compensation regulations | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.100 | 2/23/2023 | Attempts to address severe housing shortages | Economic Development | ||
S.99 | 2/23/2023 | Makes miscellaneous changes to vehicle laws | Transportation | Finance | |
S.98 | 2/23/2023 | Gives Green Mountain Care Board authority over prescription drug costs | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.97 | 2/23/2023 | Gives Probate Division jurisdiction over guardianship proceedings for developmentally disabled | Williams | Republican | Judiciary |
S.96 | 2/22/2023 | Amends rules for Executive Branch-issued privatization contracts | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Democrat | Government Operations |
S.95 | 2/22/2023 | Various amendments to banking and insurance laws | Cummings | Democrat | Finance |
S.94 | 2/22/2023 | Amends timetables for City of Barre tax increment financing district | Cummings | Democrat | Finance |
S.93 | 2/21/2023 | Repeals tax exemptions for advanced wood boilers | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Finance |
S.92 | 2/17/2023 | Provides direct cash transfers to youth exiting foster care | White | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.91 | 2/17/2023 | Changes rules of legal competency, insanity defense | Lyons/ Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.90 | 2/17/2023 | Prohibits the use of no-knock warrants without threat of serious harm | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.89 | 2/16/2023 | Establishes a forensic facility, allows involuntary psych treatment | Barurth/ Lyons/ Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.88 | 2/16/2023 | Allows South Hero to adopt a local option tax | Mazza | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.87 | 2/16/2023 | Requires State-developed Holocaust education in public schools | Lyons | Democrat | Education |
S.86 | 2/16/2023 | Changes the term “cider” to “hard cider” in Title 7 | Westman | Republican | Economic Development |
S.85 | 2/16/2023 | Allows Probation and Parole officers to carry firearms while on duty | Collamore | Republican | Institutions |
S.84 | 2/15/2023 | Raising insurers’ allocation for primary care | Hardy | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.83 | 2/14/2023 | Allows State education property tax to be used for infrastructure | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Finance |
S.82 | 2/14/2023 | Studies the impacts of PFAS leaching from landfills | Lyons | Democrat | Natural Resources |
S.81 | 2/14/2023 | Creates program to reduce Chloride water contamination | McCormack | Democrat | Natural Resources |
S.80 | 2/14/2023 | Various environmental, conservation law changes | Bray | Democrat | Natural Resources |
S.79 | 2/10/2023 | Limits hospital liens on patients | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Democrat | Judiciary |
S.78 | 2/10/2023 | Establishes establishes rights for temporary State employees | Vyhovsky | Prog./ Democrat | Government Operations |
S.77 | 2/10/2023 | Charges GPS navigation providers for drivers violating Smugglers’ Notch winter closure | Chittenden | Democrat | Transportation |
S.76 | 2/9/2023 | Audiology, Speech Pathology Interstate Compact | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.75 | 2/9/2023 | Enpowers towns to create civilian oversight of law enforcement | Sears | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.74 | 2/9/2023 | Implements Green Mountain Care over time | Bray | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.73 | 2/8/2023 | Makes cancers eligible for firemens’ workers comp. coverage | Baruth | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.72 | 2/8/2023 | Lifts the potency limits on cannabis products | Sears/ Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.71 | 2/8/2023 | Spends $850,000 on further deregulation of cannibis | Sears/ Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.70 | 2/8/2023 | Allows “safer drug consumption programs” to operate legally | Hardy | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.69 | 2/8/2023 | Creates property tax surcharge on second homes | Hardy | Democrat | Finance |
S.68 | 2/8/2023 | Expands tax deduction for student loan payments | Lyons | Democrat | Finance |
S.67 | 2/8/2023 | Applies sales tax to candy, amends definition | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Finance |
S.66 | 2/7/2023 | New requirements for tuition to independent schools | Hardy | Democrat | Education |
S.65 | 2/7/2023 | Requires commercial insurance to cover epinephrine auto-injectors | Vyhovsky/ Lyons | Dem./ Prog. | Finance |
S.64 | 2/7/2023 | Regulates loud exhaust, idling, child restraints. Bike lanes required | White | Democrat | Transportation |
S.63 | 2/7/2023 | Medicaid cover three rounds of in-vitro fertilization | Hardy | Democrat | Finance |
S.62 | 2/7/2023 | Provides personal leave due domestic and sexual violence | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.61 | 2/7/2023 | Expands the income eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs | Cummings | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.60 | 2/7/2023 | Authorizes municipal adoption of local option taxes | Chittenden/ Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Finance |
S.59 | 2/3/2023 | Replaces State-owned heating systems | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Institutions |
S.58 | 2/2/2023 | Increasing the penalties for repeat drug trafficking | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.57 | 2/2/2023 | Allows towns and cities to regulate (but not prohibit) firearm use | Clarkson | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.56 | 2/1/2023 | Public preschool and other childcare, education changes | Lyons/ Hardy | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.55 | 2/1/2023 | Allows public bodies to meet online | Clarkson | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.54 | 2/1/2023 | Maintains separation of insurance markets in VT Health Connect | Cummings | Democrat | Finance |
S.53 | 2/1/2023 | Creates a Vermont Climate Corps work program | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.52 | 1/31/2023 | Ensures State health insurance eligibility regardless immigration status | Hardy | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.51 | 1/31/2023 | Amends authority to investigate claims of abuse of vulnerable adults | Lyons | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.50 | 1/31/2023 | Protects patient access to, payment for health care | Cummings | Democrat | Finance |
S.49 | 1/31/2023 | Enhances genetic and consumer health information privacy | Lyons | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.48 | 1/31/2023 | Regulating sale of catalytic converters | Chittenden | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.47 | 1/27/2023 | Transport of individuals to psychiatric care | Lyons/ Sears | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.46 | 1/27/2023 | Ensure rights to independent auto repair | Gulick | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.45 | 1/27/2023 | Establishes elective income tax on pass-through businesses | Chittenden | Dem./ Rep. | Finance |
S.44 | 1/27/2023 | Manufacturers pay for household hazardous products collection | Bray | Democrat | Natural Resources |
S.43 | 1/26/2023 | Legal representation in the child protection system | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.42 | 1/26/2023 | Prohibits State retirement systems from investing in fossil fuels | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.41 | 1/26/2023 | Eliminates life without parole | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.40 | 1/26/2023 | Regulates firearm usage, storage, and purchase | Clarkson/ Hardy | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.39 | 1/26/2023 | Legislators’ pay and benefits | Clarkson/ Hardy | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.38 | 1/26/2023 | Municipal planning permits | McCormack | Democrat | Natural Resources |
S.37 | 1/25/2023 | Access to abortion and gender-reassignment | Lyons/ Hardy/ Clarkson/ Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.36 | 1/25/2023 | Permits arrest without a warrant | Sears/ Lyons | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.35 | 1/25/2023 | Hartfordâs infrastructure financing | White | Democrat | Finance |
S.34 | 1/25/2023 | Kindergarten enrollment age | Chittenden | Democrat | Education |
S.33 | 1/25/2023 | Miscellaneous judiciary procedures | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.32 | 1/25/2023 | Ranked-choice voting for presidential primary elections | Ram Hinsdale/ Hardy | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.31 | 1/24/2023 | Open carry and self-defense with firearms | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.30 | 1/24/2023 | Sister State Program | Hardy | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.29 | 1/24/2023 | Military protection orders | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.28 | 1/24/2023 | Restrict litigation against abuse survivors | White | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.27 | 1/24/2023 | Reducing usage of cash bails | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.26 | 1/20/2023 | Removing residency requirement from assisted suicide | Lyons | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.25 | 1/20/2023 | Banning certain harmful chemicals from cosmetic, health products | Lyons | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.24 | 1/19/2023 | Implementing the Clean Fuels Program | White | Democrat | Natural Resources |
S.23 | 1/19/2023 | Prohibiting certain forms of discrimination | Hardy | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.22 | 1/18/2023 | Posting of land, hunting/ fishing | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Natural Resources |
S.21 | 1/18/2023 | Safety zones | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Natural Resources |
S.20 | 1/18/2023 | Basic Needs Budget and minimum wage calculation | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.19 | 1/18/2023 | Tobacco prohibitions | Ram Hinsdale/ Lyons | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.18 | 1/18/2023 | Flavored-tobacco ban | Lyons | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.17 | 1/17/2023 | Sheriff reforms | Sears/ Hardy | Democrat | Judicial |
S.16 | 1/12/2023 | Exceptions for clergy | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
S.15 | 1/12/2023 | Presumptive probation | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
S.14 | 1/12/2023 | Justice expenditure reporting | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
S.13 | 1/11/2023 | Referral of cases to community justice centers | Hashim | Democrat | Judicial |
S.12 | 1/11/2023 | Union elections | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
S.11 | 1/10/2023 | Persons prohibited from firearms | Baruth | Democrat | Judicial |
S.10 | 1/10/2023 | Water filling stations in schools | Chittenden | Democrat | Education |
S.9 | 1/10/2023 | State Auditor examining State contractor records | Bray | Democrat | Government Operations |
S.8 | 1/6/2023 | Counsel for the legally insane | Hashim | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.7 | 1/6/2023 | Public defender expanded access | Hashim | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.6 | 1/6/2023 | Police interrogation of juveniles | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.5 | 1/6/2023 | Affordable Heat Act mandate | Bray | Democrat | Natural Resources |
S.4 | 1/6/2023 | Violent crime reduction for juveniles through gun control | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.3 | 1/6/2023 | Prohibits paramilitary training camps | Baruth | Democrat | Judiciary |
S.2 | 1/6/2023 | Payment, case management for developmental disability services | Lyons | Democrat | Health and Welfare |
S.1 | 1/6/2023 | Act 250 and aircraft hangars | Sears | Democrat | Natural Resources |
In the Toolbox to Follow and Influence the Vermont Legislature, VDC also publishes:
Vermont House Bills, compiled with a similar format.
2023 VDC Vermont Legislative Directory, listing on one page the pertinent party, committee, town, district and email contact information for all 180 legislators.
How to Watch the Legislature at Home, a guide to accessing House, Senate and committee meetings via livestream and recorded Zoom links.
This Week in Committee, published late Monday or early Tuesday every week the Legislature is in session, providing livestream links to committees and a brief overview of the hot topics and bills of the week.
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Categories: Legislation, Vermont Senate Bills
Guy, I really appreciate this information. I was wondering if S3 would apply to hunter safety courses. As written, it does not apply to hunter safety courses. All of my children took hunter safety courses and I often recommend them to friends. I don’t think there are any paramilitary training camps in Vermont so I don”t think this is a bill that the Senate should waste time on. The people of Vermont have so many problems now like unfunded pensions, the high cost of health care. I don’t want tax dollars being spent on a problem that does not exists now. I am not fooled by S5. Instead of creating a convoluted plan, to reach the goals of the GWSA the Vermont Legislature should abolish the GWSA. The goals were never attainable and we all knew it. Despite what the backers say I know S5 will hurt most Vermonters and will not solve any problems.
This bill (S3) appears to prohibit anyone, on any private property in Vermont, from practicing archery, or using rifles, shotguns, or pistols, or skeet and trap shooting, using black powder in any way, or any other similar sport shooting. See 10 V.S.A. § 5227.
You can own them. But you canât use them.
OTOH: â⌠the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.â makes a distinction between âkeepingâ (owning or having) a weapon, and bearing (using) a weapon.
Keeping clearly means possessing.
Bearing clearly means using.
And neither right shall be infringed.
Guess weâll see Mr. Baruth in court.
As prefaced in the explanation of this list of senate bills, the title does not tell the whole story. S-11 about referrals of cases to Criminal Justice Centers sounds all fine and dandy until you read that they want an option to refer cases of sexual assault and domestic violence to the justice centers. In addition they want the justice center staff and volunteers to receive initial and annual training on dealing with these types of referred cases. Having some history with CJ Centers, we don’t normally deal with felony cases. These types of cases are more complex and require much more follow-up for an offender to satisfy repair to the victim and the community. When an offender does complete their agreement for repair of harm, the case is not brought up for prosecution. That means that the original offense is not on the offender’s record. Do we really want such offenses not appearing on a person’s record? Just food for thought here.
Also with volunteers on a CJ panel, aren’t we requiring a lot of them to attend mandatory annual training after the initial training session? These are volunteers involved here, not paid staff members. Another food for thought.
Come a long way from well armed militias. Ask Ukraine if well armed and trained militias are necessary.