Vermont Legislation

VRWA tracks legislation that affects the water-wastewater industry. Below are pending or recently passed bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives in the state legislature of Vermont that may be of interest to our members.

Help us shape VRWA's message to legislators by sending us your comments on these bills. We also encourage you to contact your legislators directly.

For the full text of these bills and the most recent updates available, visit the website of Vermont's legislature.

Last updated: 3/30/10

S.50/H.116
An Act Relating to the Contaminant Testing Requirements for a Public Water Supply the Receives Water from Out-of-State Suppliers

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Main Sponsor in House: Bill Botzow
Main Sponsor in Senate: Robert Hartwell
Description: This bill proposes to exempt public water systems that obtain water from out-of-state source from testing requirements when the water was tested in the state of origin.

S.57
An Act Relating to Municipal Regulation of Water Capacity

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Committed to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy with report of Committee on Government Operations intact, under suspension of Senate Rule 49, on motion of Senator Lyons
Main Sponsors: Jeanette White, Peter Shumlin
Description: This bill proposes to authorize municipalities to regulate the allocation of water capacity.

S.61
An Act Relating to Wastewater Permit Requirements for the Conversion of a Seasonal Residence

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Main Sponsors: Diane Snelling, Susan Bartlett, Robert Hartwell, Virginia "Ginny" Lyons
Description: This bill proposes to require the secretary of natural resources to issue a potable water supply and wastewater system permit for the conversion of a seasonal residence to year-round use if the residence and its potable water supply and wastewater systems meet certain requirements.

S.106
An Act Relating to Approval of the Adoption of the Charter of the Morristown Corners Water Corporation

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations
Main Sponsor: Susan Bartlett
Description: This bill proposes to approve the adoption of the charter of the Morristown Corners Water Corporation.

S.235
An Act Relating to the Water Quality of State Waters

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture
Main Sponsor: Virginia "Ginny" Lyons
Description: This bill proposes to require the secretary of agriculture, food and markets to adopt by rule accepted agricultural practices (AAPs) requiring all dairy and livestock operations to exclude livestock from the waters of the state. The bill would also require the secretary of agriculture, food and markets to adopt by rule an AAP that required all dairy and livestock operations, regardless of size, to develop and implement a nutrient management plan designed to prevent runoff or discharge of nutrients to waters of the state.

S.236
An Act Relating to the Water Quality Standards of Vermont

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Main Sponsor: Virginia "Ginny" Lyons
Description: This bill proposes to clarify the authority of the natural resources board to adopt water management types in the Vermont water quality standards. The bill would also clarify the natural resources board's authority to adopt energy policy in the water quality standards.

S.256
An Act Relating to the Taxation of Capital Gains, Taxes on Soft Drinks, Candy, and Bottled Water, and a Groundwater Withdrawal Royalty

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Finance
Main Sponsors: Hinda Miller, William H. Carris
Description: This bill proposes "smart taxes" which are taxes that influence certain human behaviors beneficial to the long-term goals of Vermont. Specifically, the bill repeals changes made in 2009 to the treatment of capital gains; imposes a sales and use tax on soft drinks and candy; imposes a sales and use tax on bottled water; and imposes a groundwater withdrawal royalty on the extraction of groundwater for the purpose of bottling.

H.28
An Act Relating to Temporary Wastewater System Permits

Status in House: Read Third time and Passed
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Main Sponsor: Pat O'Donnell
Description: This bill proposes to create a temporary wastewater storage permit for temporary dwelling units which cannot be connected to permitted wastewater systems.

H.39
An Act Relating to Increasing the Fees for the Reconnection of Municipal Water and Sewer Services Disconnected because of Nonpayment

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Government Operations
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Margaret Andrews, Gale Courcelle, Peter Fagan, Steven Howard
Description: This bill proposes to increase the fees for the reconnection of municipal water and sewer services disconnected because of nonpayment.

H.40
An Act Relating to the Maximum Duration of a Municipal Water and Sewer Disconnection

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Government Operations
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Margaret Andrews, Gale Courcelle, Peter Fagan, Steven Howard
Description: This bill proposes to increase the maximum duration of a municipal water and sewer disconnection following notice.

H.80 (ACT 0027)
An Act Relating to the Use of Chloramine as a Disinfectant in Public Water Systems

Status: Signed by Governor on 5/21/2009
Main Sponsor: Jim McCullough
Description: This bill proposes to prohibit the use of chloramine as a disinfection chemical in any public water system between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011.

H.145 (ACT 0041)
An Act Relating to Composting

Status: Signed by Governor on 5/23/2009
Main Sponsors: David Deen, Steve Adam, Charles Bohi, Peter Fagan, Jim McCullough, Kristy Spengler, Kate Webb
Description: This act requires the secretary of natural resources, in consultation with the secretary of agriculture, food and markets, to adopt by rule accepted composting practices for the management of composting in the state. The composting practices shall address standards for construction, facility operation, facility siting, the composting process, and management of runoff.

H.259
An Act Relating to Stormwater Discharges to Impaired Waters

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: David Deen, Helen Head, Ann Pugh
Description: This bill purposes to amend the permitting requirements for discharges to stormwater-impaired waters of the state.

H.297 (ACT M009)
An Act Relating to Approval of the Adoption of the Charter of the Morristown Corners Water Corporation

Status: Signed by Governor on 5/18/2009
Main Sponsors: Peter Peltz, Shap Smith
Description: This act approves the adoption of the charter of the Morristown Corners Water Corporation.

H.324
An Act Relating to Wetlands Protection

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: David Deen
Description: This bill proposes to authorize the secretary of natural resources to make administrative determinations to classify certain wetlands; provide for an appeal of these determinations; authorize the secretary to revise the Vermont significant wetlands inventory maps; amend the wetland value relating to hydrophytic vegetation habitat; and provide that violations of wetland regulations do not constitute an encumbrance on marketable title.

H.338
An Act Relating to the Agency of Natural Resources' Delegated Authority to Enforce the Federal Clean Water Act

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: William Johnson
Description: This bill proposes to require the agency of natural resources to report to the general assembly in January of 2010 regarding the environmental and economic benefits of forfeiting the authority delegated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the agency of natural resources to implement and enforce the federal Clean Water Act.

H.345
An Act Relating to Water Quality and the Application of Manure

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Agriculture
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: William Johnson
Description: This bill proposes to exempt farms with a large farm permit, a medium farm permit, or an approved nutrient management plan from the winter ban on the spreading of manure.

H.349
An Act Relating to Stormwater Permit Requirements for Residential Subdivisions

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Brian Savage, Carolyn Whitney Branagan, William Johnson, Heidi Scheuermann
Description: This bill proposes to authorize residential subdivisions to transfer stormwater permits to the municipality in which the subdivision is located if the municipality agrees to be responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the stormwater system for the residential subdivision. Upon municipal agreement to the transfer of a permit, the permit for the residential subdivision shall be incorporated into the municipal permit.

H.410
An Act Relating to Wetlands Management

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Kenneth Atkins
Description: This bill proposes to amend the regulation of wetlands in the state by requiring a permit to conduct activities in naturally-occurring wetlands, but allowing activities in manmade wetlands unless otherwise prohibited by rule.

H.415
An Act Relating to Withholding Rent to Pay for Overdue Water or Utility Charges

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: John Moran, Patsy French, Richard J. Marek, Kesha K. Ram, Ira Trombley
Description: This bill proposes to permit a tenant to withhold rent to pay overdue water or utility bills that are the responsibility of the landlord to prevent utility shut-off.

H.447 (ACT 0031)
An Act Relating to Wetlands Protection

Status: Signed by Governor on 5/21/2009
Main Sponsor: House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
Description: This act amends the statutory requirements for the regulation of wetlands in the state.

H.509
An Act Relating to Pollution Control Measures for Lake Champlain

Status in House: Read Third time and Passed
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture
Main Sponsor: David L. Deen
Description: This bill proposes to amend requirements for agricultural water quality and stormwater control in order to aid in the reduction of phosphorus pollution to Lake Champlain.

H.585
An Act Relating to the Transition of Wetlands Regulation

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: David L. Deen
Description: This bill proposes to clarify the effective date of the transition provisions for the regulation of wetlands.

H.586
An Act Relating to Municipal Authority to Condition Issuance of a Zoning Permit Upon Issuance of a Wastewater or Potable Water Supply Permit

Status in House: Rep. Sweaney of Windsor moved that the bill be committed to the committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources which was agreed to.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Sandy Haas
Description: This bill proposes to clarify that a municipality may adopt a bylaw that prohibits the issuance of a zoning or subdivision permit unless and until a wastewater permit or potable water supply permit is issued.

H.593
An Act Relating to Potable Water Supply and Wastewater System Permits

Status in House: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Ann Manwaring, Janet Ancel
Description: This bill proposes to require that potable water supply and wastewater systems be located to the extent technically feasible to reduce any encumbrance on adjacent property due to required isolation distances or protection areas.

H.763
An Act Relating to Establishment of an Agency of Natural Resources' River Corridor Management Program

Status in House: Passed
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Main Sponsor: House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
Description: This bill proposes to require the agency of natural resources to establish a river corridor management program to promote public health, safety, convenience, and general welfare.

H.779
An Act Relating to Potable Water Supply and Wastewater System Permits

Status in House: Read Third time and Passed
Status in Senate: Read the first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Main Sponsor: House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
Description: This bill proposes to require an applicant for a potable water supply or wastewater system permit to notify affected landowners when isolation distances from the proposed water supply or wastewater system extend onto property other than the property for which the permit is sought.

H.781
An Act Relating to Renewable Energy

Status in House: Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Description: This bill proposes to provide that the Vermont department of environmental conservation shall finally adopt and put into effect by February 1, 2011, alternative stormwater measures for high elevation renewable energy projects, and other purposes.

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