State AG Pulse | Vermont: Small Is Mighty
Labor & Employment Law: Vermont and Federal Legislative Update
Vermont employers should ensure compliance with an update to the state’s Parental and Family Leave Act (PFLA). H. 461, which took effect on July 1, expands PFLA and now covers individuals in nontraditional family structures....more
On June 12, 2025, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed the Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AADC), which will impose a range of obligations on businesses that offer online products, services, or features likely to be...more
Vermont Governor Phil Scott has signed legislation extending the protections of the state’s unpaid family leave law. The expansion extends safe leave, bereavement leave, and qualifying exigency leave to employees of employers...more
Vermont recently adopted the Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, which goes into effect on January 1, 2027. The law is enforceable by the Vermont Attorney General as an unfair or deceptive act or practice. The Attorney...more
As the nationwide ski season comes to a close, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has targeted ski area signage rules as part of a broader effort to eliminate outdated business regulations....more
On May 16, the governor of Vermont signed into law S 27, an act that is meant to provide medical debt relief for Vermont residents by, among other things, excluding medical debt from credit reporting. For fiscal year 2026, $1...more
On February 26, 2025, Administrative Rules for Notaries Public (the “Administrative Rules”) went into effect. These rules, which were adopted by the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (“OPR”),...more
It’s property tax appeal season in Vermont—property tax grievance hearings typically occur between Mid-May and early June. If your property has been re-assessed, you will receive a notice in the mail informing you of the new...more
Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources is busily working to implement a first-in-the-nation household hazardous waste extended producer responsibility law. Although federal law sets requirements for hazardous waste generated...more
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the latest of many jurisdictions—including neighboring Vermont as well as Minnesota—to adopt new laws promoting pay equity....more
Vermont will join a growing list of states and jurisdictions that require employers to disclose compensation in job advertisements on July 1, 2025. This new law applies to employers with five or more employees and to job...more
The Federal Court of Claims recently ruled in favor of the operator of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in its long-running dispute with the United States over the disposal of spent nuclear fuel (NorthStar Vermont...more
In a continuing trend across U.S. states, Vermont and Pennsylvania have shown their intent to establish more oversight over the digital currency sector. New legislative amendments to Vermont’s financial services laws include...more
On July 1, 2024, Vermont’s Climate Superfund Act (S 259) went into effect. The law, which is the first of its kind, imposes strict liability on fossil fuel extractors and crude oil refiners who are accountable for 1 billion...more
On June 10, 2024, H.612, An Act Relating to Miscellaneous Cannabis Amendments (the “Act”) became law, making a variety of changes to Vermont’s cannabis laws that will have significant implications for the state’s medical and...more
In this month's In Compliance Round-Up, we cover the following topics: Supreme Court Holds Federal Anti-Corruption Law Prohibits State and Local Officials from Accepting Bribes, But Not Gratuities - Ethics Guidance Issued...more
On Monday, June 17, the Vermont legislature passed H.289 to significantly reform the Renewable Energy Standard (“RES”) (30 V.S.A. §§ 8001-8016), overriding Governor Phil Scott’s veto of the bill by a vote of 21-8 in the...more
Governor Phil Scott has vetoed the state’s proposed comprehensive privacy law. In rejecting the bill, he stated he was worried it created an “unnecessary and avoidable level of risk.” He had concerns in three areas....more
Vermont has joined the growing list of jurisdictions with pay transparency laws. On June 4, 2024, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed “An Act Relating to Disclosure of Compensation in Job Advertisements” (the “Act”)...more
Vermont passed a first-of-its-kind law requiring energy companies to pay for part of the damages from extreme weather events, but the law likely will face legal challenges....more
Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed H.704 on June 4, 2024, mandating pay transparency in job postings and advertisements. Effective July 1, 2025, employers with at least five employees must include in any “Vermont job opening”...more
Vermont will soon join nine other states across the country which require employers to disclose compensation in job postings. Governor Phil Scott signed the bill into law Tuesday and it will take effect on July 1, 2025 —...more
Last week, Vermont became the first state to enact a “Climate Superfund” law. As I noted in January, I fear that this will not end well. It seems odd to model a statute on a law frequently given the accolade – deserved, in my...more
Just past midnight on May 11, 2024, the Vermont Legislature passed H.121, the Vermont Data Privacy Act (VDPA). If signed into law, the VDPA would become the most onerous state comprehensive privacy law in the country. Among...more
As Vermont joins the growing number of states with comprehensive consumer data privacy laws, it stands out from the crowd with the ability of Vermonters to bring a private right of action (PRA) against large data holders. In...more