Housing

S.325 – Regional Planning and Act 250 Tier Jurisdiction

S.325 revises Vermont’s implementation of Act 181, the 2024 law that modernized Act 250. The bill creates a new, temporary Joint Legislative Environmental Oversight Committee with oversight authority over the Land Use Review Board and the permitting processes of the Agency of Natural Resources. The bill revises regional plan amendment requirements related to Tier 1B, repeals Tier 3 and the road rule, and delays several natural resource protection provisions to allow more time for rulemaking and public engagement. It also extends interim housing exemptions for certain housing projects through January 2028 and preserves pathways for development in designated growth areas. It expands the types of accessory on-farm businesses exempt from construction permits.

Status: Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 16, 2026.

S.328 – Housing and Common Interest Communities

S.328 addresses municipal planning, housing finance, zoning, and common interest communities. It requires municipal plans to include stronger analysis of housing needs, targets, and barriers to development, while expanding financing tools by allowing towns and cities to issue revenue bonds payable solely from special assessments where the bond will benefit only a limited area.

S.328 also establishes a pilot program in the Office of the State Treasurer to demonstrate the possibility of reducing housing development costs through modular construction, codifies the Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s Rental Housing Revolving Loan Program (enacted in the 2023 Big Bill and amended in 2025).

The bill includes provisions affecting condominium and homeowners’ association rules, including family childcare and electric vehicle charging equipment. In addition, it makes zoning-related changes intended to support duplexes and smaller multi-unit housing in areas served by infrastructure.

Status: Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 18, 2026.

Energy

S.202 – Plug-in Photovoltaic Devices

S.202 creates a legal framework for portable solar energy generation devices, often described as small plug-in solar systems. The bill defines qualifying systems, limits their capacity, exempts compliant devices from certain certificates of public good and utility interconnection requirements, and prohibits fees associated with installation. The legislation explicitly distinguishes plug‑in solar devices from Vermont’s net‑metering program. Customers participating in net metering are not eligible to use portable solar devices under S.202, and compensation for any excess electricity exported from these systems is prohibited.

Status: Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 16, 2026.

H.527 – Extending the Sunset of 30 V.S.A. § 248a

H.527 extends the deadline for new applications seeking a Certificate of Public Good for communications facilities by three years, from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2029. A Certificate of Public Good is a permit required for certain infrastructure projects, and this bill specifically amends 30 V.S.A. § 248a, which governs these certificates for communications facilities. The bill also clarifies that for applications other than minor modifications or facilities of limited size and scope, the applicant must attend a public meeting with the local legislative body or planning commission within the 60-day notice period before filing, and the Department of Public Service is required to attend these meetings.

Status: Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 15, 2026.

Environment

S.223 – Water Quality of the Waters of Vermont

S.223 creates a Water Quality, Lake Classification, and Antidegradation Study Group to review Vermont’s existing water quality standards and classification framework. The group is tasked with evaluating whether current statutes, rules, and policies adequately protect lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, particularly in relation to high-quality waters and antidegradation requirements. It brings together legislators, agency staff, environmental advocates, business representatives, and other stakeholders to recommend whether legislative or policy changes are needed. The bill does not enact new rules but directs a review process focused on lakes, rivers, and ponds across Vermont.

Status: As signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 18, 2026.

S.212 – Potable Water Supply and Wastewater System Connections

S.212 updates Vermont’s potable water supply and wastewater permitting framework, especially for connections to existing public systems. The bill authorizes the Agency of Natural Resources to create a general permit for certain connections and allows qualified municipalities to receive partial delegated authority for technical review.

Status: Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 18, 2026.

If you have any questions about how these changes could affect your project, contact us.