Legislative Scorecard

H.40 – Renewable Energy Standard Bill (3rd reading)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This bill established a cutting-edge renewable portfolio standard that sets requirements for generating more of our energy from renewable sources, including community-scale renewables. It also created an innovative program, known as the “transformation tier,” that requires utilities to help customers save energy through efficiency measures, fuel switching, transportation efficiency programs, and more.

Status: Enacted; House vote 121-24.

H.40 – Amendment to Strip Renewable Energy Standard’s “Transformation Tier”

Pro-environment vote: NO

This amendment would have removed the section of the renewable energy standard bill that created the innovative and money-saving “transformation tier,” the tier that would require utilities 
to achieve reductions in energy use through efficiency measures and other programs to help Vermonters reduce fossil fuel use. This amendment was defeated in the House.

Status: Amendment failed; House vote 42-99.

H.4 – Ban on Microbeads (3rd reading)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This legislation banned plastic microbeads from personal care products. These synthetic plastic beads are added to face washes, shampoos, soaps, and more. They also pollute our waterways and accumulate toxic chemicals that are then ingested by fish and introduced into the food chain. These microbeads can be replaced with safe, natural alternatives. H.4 passed the House unanimously but was never taken up in the Senate because related federal legislation was enacted in the interim.

Status: Passed House 140-0; no action in the Senate.

H.35 – Water Quality Bill (3rd reading)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This bill established new requirements for major sources of water pollution, including farms, roads, and parking lots. It also authorized new enforcement tools, created a Clean Water Fund, and dedicated nearly $8 million per year in new revenue to cleanup efforts. Though success of this legislation will be determined by how strongly the new regulations are implemented and enforced, the bill creates an important opportunity to make meaningful progress toward cleaning up Lake Champlain and other waters across the state.

Status: Enacted; House vote 133-11.

H.35 – Amendment to Strip Funding from Water Quality Bill

Pro-environment vote: NO

This amendment to the Water Quality Bill removed language related to establishing new funding for water cleanup efforts – an increase to the property transfer tax – and instead attempted to dedicate money already allocated to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to water quality efforts. This amendment, had it passed, simply moved around existing revenue and would have created a budget shortfall.

Status: Amendment failed; House vote 40-100.

H.R.13 – Resolution on Divesting from Fossil Fuels

Pro-environment vote: YES

The House passed a resolution urging the State of Vermont to divest its pension investment portfolio from stocks that contain holdings in coal and stock in Exxon Mobil, in part because Exxon Mobil deliberately misled the public and its investors on the risks of global warming.  Further, the resolution was intended to acknowledge the urgency of climate change and that – since the planet must move off fossil fuels – investments in these energy sources pose a “stranded asset” risk.

Status: Passed; House vote 76-57.

H.552 – Critical Habitat for Vermont Endangered Species Bill (2nd reading)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This legislation updated the state’s endangered and threatened species act to allow for better recovery planning and to authorize the designation of critical habitat. Overall, the bill added much-needed tools to better protect the state’s most vulnerable plant and animal species.

Status: Enacted (language added to H.570 in the Senate); House vote 111-26.

H.789 – Forest Integrity Bill (2nd reading)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This bill encouraged better local and regional planning for intact, healthy forests and wildlife habitat. It added the goals of maintaining forest blocks and habitat connectivity to town and regional planning; took steps to maintain rural working lands; called for a study group to examine ways to help landowners plan for the long-term ownership of their forests; and created a committee to recommend potential revisions to Act 250 and municipal bylaws to protect contiguous areas of forestland from fragmentation and promote habitat connectivity.

Status: Enacted (language added to H.857 in the Senate); House vote 105-29.

S.230 – Renewable Energy Siting Bill (2nd reading)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This bill took important steps forward in expanding the local and regional energy planning process to ensure the state is on track to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals, while improving the ability of communities to plan for and influence energy siting decisions. S.230 also created incentives for solar projects located on rooftops, parking lots, landfills, and other places Vermonters have identified as areas where they would like to see renewable energy development occur.

Status: Enacted (then vetoed by the Governor; “clarified” bill, S.260, enacted in its place); House vote 142-0.

S.260 – “Clarified” Renewable Energy Siting Bill (rules suspension to take up the bill)

Pro-environment vote: YES

The Governor vetoed S.230 due to concerns identified after its enactment that, as drafted, the temporary sound standard for wind projects in the bill was more stringent than the Legislature intended to adopt, and because $300,000 in funding for community energy planning was inadvertently left out of the bill. The House voted on whether to take up a revised version of the bill to fix these problematic provisions.

Status: Motion to suspend rules failed; House vote 79-52; but bill eventually taken up and enacted on a voice vote.

S.103  – Protecting Vermont Children from Toxic Chemicals (Veto Override)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This legislation would have updated the Chemicals of High Concern in Children’s Products program to make it easier for the state’s Commissioner of Health to propose rules to identify harmful chemicals that pose a risk to children’s health, and restrict the use of dangerous chemicals in children’s products sold in Vermont.

Status: Enacted by Legislature, but VETOED by Gov. Scott; House vote 94-53 (a veto override requires two-thirds of members present to vote in support).

S.197 – Holding Toxic Polluters Accountable for Medical Monitoring Expenses (House Committee on Judiciary amendment)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This bill would have ensured that a corporation who releases a toxic contaminant that results in elevated levels of that harmful chemical in a Vermonter’s body would be responsible for paying the cost of medical visits and testing to screen for the potential harm these chemicals can cause. Currently, these costs are borne by Vermonters who are victims of toxic pollution, who cannot sue for damages until a disease linked to the chemical manifests, and in some cases, taxpayers are footing the bill.  

Status: Enacted by Legislature, but VETOED by Gov. Scott; House vote 92-45.

H.410 – Improving Energy Efficiency Standards for Appliances (3rd reading)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This bill established new energy efficiency standards for 16 appliances including computers and monitors, commercial dishwashers, portable air conditioners, and others. These improved energy efficiency standards will save energy and save Vermonters money.

Status: Enacted; House vote 137-4.

H.R.15 – Resolution Affirming Vermont’s Commitment to Meeting Our Climate and Clean Energy Goals

Pro-environment vote: YES

This resolution expressed concern for the U.S.’s withdrawal from the global Paris Climate Accord, and affirmed Vermont’s commitment to meeting our climate and clean energy goals, as well as our enrollment in the U.S. Climate Alliance – a group of states committed to remaining on track to achieve the emissions reductions targets in the Paris Climate Accord.

Status: Resolution passed; House vote 105-31.

H.576 – Improving Stormwater Regulations (3rd reading)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This legislation increased jurisdiction over projects that require stormwater permits in Vermont – jurisdiction was expanded from projects that create 1-acre of impervious surface (paved area) to projects that create 0.5-acre of impervious surface. This requirement will allow the State of Vermont to address stormwater pollution from a wider array of sources and better protect water quality in Vermont’s streams, rivers, lakes and ponds.  

Status: Enacted; House vote 125-12.

S.260 – Clean Water Funding Bill (House Committee on Ways & Means amendment)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This amendment would have established a long-term funding source for clean water projects across the state by increasing the “rooms and meals tax” – the tax paid when renting a room or on restaurant and bar bills – by 0.25%. This provision would have raised millions of additional dollars to help meet our state’s obligation to invest in cleaning up and protecting state waters.

Status: Amendment passed the House but was stripped from the Senate version of the bill; House vote 84-55.

H.233 – Maintaining Intact, Healthy Forests (House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife amendment)

Pro-environment vote: YES

This bill would have added new criteria requiring that projects going through Act 250 be designed to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts related to fragmentation of the state’s highest priority forest blocks and habitat connectivity areas. This bill would have helped Vermont to maintain intact, healthy forests.

Status: Passed the House, but stalled out in the Senate; House vote 85-61.

H.926 – Protecting Forests & Outdoor Recreation

(Vote scored: concur with Senate proposal of amendment)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

This bill is a pared-down version of Act 250 modernization that passed the House earlier in the year, but contains important provisions to better protect forest blocks and wildlife habitat for projects going through Act 250, help maintain working lands, and create a new program that aims to improve environmental review, planning, and maintenance of trail networks.

Status: Passed the House 93-56

S.348 – Safe Elections

(Vote scored: Shall the Bill Pass)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

This bill grants full authority to the Secretary of State to mail all registered voters a ballot for this year’s General Election in November, while maintaining in-person voting options. This legislation will help ensure all Vermonters can safely, securely and easily vote this year, despite the ongoing pandemic.

Status: Passed the House 115-29

H. 926 – Act 250 Modernization

(Vote scored: Third reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

This bill strengthens environmental protections in Act 250 by better protecting forest blocks, ecologically-sensitive areas, river corridors, and by better addressing climate change. The bill promotes smart growth by reducing sprawling development while supporting development in our compact downtowns, villages, and neighborhoods.

Status: Passed the House 88-52

H.688 – Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA)

(Vote scored: veto override)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

The Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) will turn Vermont’s climate goals into requirements. The Solutions Act establishes a Climate Council and requires the state to develop and implement a plan that will reduce climate-damaging pollution, grow jobs, help rural and low-income people, and build more resilient communities across Vermont.

Status: House voted 103-47 to override Gov. Scott’s veto.

S.37 – Holding toxic polluters accountable for medical monitoring expenses

(Vote scored: Concurrence with House version)

Pro- Environment vote: YES

This bill would hold large polluters accountable for the harm caused by toxic chemical releases. The bill provides two important legal tools to address toxic pollution. The first legal remedy allows Vermonters to hold polluters accountable for the costs of medical monitoring required as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals. The second legal remedy provided by S.37 would allow state government to hold the companies that make dangerous chemicals liable for the harm they cause to Vermont’s air, land, and water. Unfortunately, despite the bill passing the Legislature, it was vetoed by Governor Scott. VCV will be pushing for a veto override vote when the Legislature reconvenes.

Status:Enacted by Legislature but VETOED by Gov. Scott; Senate vote 19-11.

S.55 – Protecting children from toxic chemicals

(Vote scored: Second reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES 

This bill updates the Toxic-Free Families Act (Act 188) to collect more consumer-friendly information on which toxic chemicals are being used in children’s products, while also improving the process for identifying harmful chemicals and phasing them out of use in children’s products sold in Vermont.

Status:Enacted; Senate vote 25-5.

S.113 – Reducing the use of single-use plastic products

(Vote scored: Third reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

This bill restricts single-use plastic bags at the point of sale; bans plastic stirrers such as used for coffee or tea; requires that plastic straws only be offered on demand; and bans the use of expanded polystyrene foam (what is often called Styrofoam). The bill also establishes a Working Group to look at how to better address other single-use plastic products that are polluting our environment and threatening public health.

Status:Enacted; Senate vote 30-0.

H.439 – Increasing the investment in low-income weatherization programs

(Vote scored: amending the bill as recommended by the Committee on Ways & Means)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

This bill would have increased the long-term investment in the existing, highly successful low-income weatherization programs, which help Vermonters save money, while having more comfortable and healthier homes. The bill would have increased the existing fuel tax on heating oil, propane, kerosene, and other dyed diesel fuel, and the revenue generated would have helped some of Vermont’s most vulnerable families weatherize their homes.

Status:Passed the House, but alternative short-term funding proposal was enacted instead; House vote 81-60.

S.37 – Amendment to make it harder for Vermonters to hold toxic polluters accountable for medical monitoring expenses

(Vote scored: amendment offered by Rep. Beck and others)

Pro-Environment vote: NO

This amendment would have added barriers to Vermonters trying to hold a polluter accountable for the costs of medical monitoring they require due to toxic exposure. Corporate lobbyists pushed hard for this language, since it would have tilted the legislation toward helping polluters rather than victims of toxic contamination. The amendment ultimately failed.

Status: Amendment failed; House vote 55-87.

S.40 – Testing and cleanup of lead contamination in drinking water of schools and child care facilities

(Vote scored: Concurrence with proposal of amendment)

Pro-Environment vote: YES 

This bill requires testing for lead contamination in drinking water in all Vermont schools and childcare facilities. The bill sets a standard for acceptable lead levels (4 parts per billion) that is more protective than the federal EPA, and requires remediation of any lead contamination found above that level. Importantly, the Legislature also allocated funding to ensure the initial testing and remediation happens quickly and consistently across the state.

Status: Enacted; House vote 138-3.

S.49 – Testing and regulating toxic PFAS contamination in public drinking waters and surface waters

(Vote scored: Second reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

This bill requires the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to develop drinking water and surface water standards for PFAS chemicals, to ensure Vermonters’ water is healthy and safe. PFAS is the class of toxic chemicals that were discovered in Vermont drinking water wells, and pose significant threats to public health and the environment.

Status:Enacted; House vote 135-1.

S.96 – Long-term clean water funding

(Vote scored: Concurrence with proposal of amendment)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

The bill significantly increases the resources available for clean water projects across the state. It dedicates a portion of the existing rooms and meals tax to the Clean Water Fund, estimated at raising an additional $12 million or so per year when fully implemented. It also creates a new regional distribution model that aims to incorporate local knowledge and expertise, and improved on-the-ground oversight of projects.

Status:Enacted; House vote 126-14.

H. 715 – Clean Heat Standard

(Vote scored: Veto override)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

A bill to incentivize a clean energy transition for fossil fuel companies. This bill will help Vermonters – particularly those with lower incomes – heat their homes and buildings with access to more cost-effective, efficient, cleaner and more local heating solutions.

Status: House failed to override Gov. Scott’s veto 99-51.

S.148 – Environmental Justice

(Vote scored: Amending the bill as recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources, Fish, and Wildlife)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

A bill to require State agencies to incorporate environmental justice into their work, establish an Advisory Council on Environmental Justice within the Agency of Natural Resources, and require the creation of an environmental justice mapping tool. This bill will be an important step towards achieving meaningful community engagement in environmental decisions – particularly among overburdened communities and vulnerable populations.

Status: Enacted; passed the House 109-31.

S.20 – Ban on toxic PFAS chemicals

(Vote scored: Second Reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

A bill to ban toxic PFAS chemicals from food packaging, firefighting foam, ski wax, and carpets and rugs. This bill will help protect people from exposure to harmful chemicals when using these products, and will help protect our environment and water by reducing the amount of PFAS-containing products in our waste stream.

Status: Enacted; passed the House 145-0.

S.234 – Modernize Act 250

(Vote scored: Third Reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

A bill to update Vermont’s state land use law, Act 250, with provisions to maintain intact forests, promote working forests, and support smart growth housing development.

Status: Passed the House 99-43, but was VETOED by Gov. Scott.

H.606 – 30 by 30

(Vote scored: Amending the bill as recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources, Fish, and Wildlife)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

A bill to promote community resilience and biodiversity protection by establishing a state goal of conserving 30% of our land by 2030, and 50% by 2050, and requiring the Agency of Natural Resources to develop a plan to achieve these goals.

Status: Passed the House 98-42, but was VETOED by Gov. Scott.

H. 697 – Current Use

(Vote scored: Third Reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

A bill to strengthen the Use Value Appraisal Program (often called “Current Use”) by increasing the amount of forest land that is eligible for enrollment. This bill will help alleviate the pressure of property taxes to convert old forests to more intensive uses and align the program with the goals of the state’s Climate Action Plan by promoting old forests that help mitigate climate change.

Status: Enacted; passed the House 99-40.

H.175 – Modernize Bottle Bill

(Vote scored: Third Reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES

A bill to expand the Bottle Bill to cover additional beverages like bottled water and wine bottles. This would keep an estimated 100 million more bottles and cans out of Vermont’s landfills and off roadsides every year. This bill would increase recycling and create green jobs, and is another step forward in our work to reduce plastic pollution.

Status: Passed the House 99-46, but stalled out before final enactment.

S.15 – Universal Vote by Mail

(Vote scored: Second Reading)

Pro-Environment vote: YES 

A bill to implement universal mail-in voting for all general elections in Vermont, which would help make it easier for all eligible Vermonters to vote.

Status: Enacted; passed the House 119-30.