VermontVermont assigns school districts to regional service areas and studies mergers
Vermont’s law assigns districts to regional service areas, requires merger studies, sets rules for school construction aid, and delays a new funding formula.
What it does
Seven regional education service areas cover Vermont’s supervisory unions. Members can request services, and the areas receive $15,000 start-up grants.
Committees must recommend whether to form unified districts by September 1, 2027. If a committee recommends forming one, voters decide on March 7, 2028.
Approved school projects may receive state aid covering 30 to 75 percent of costs. Only certain merged districts or districts with at least 2,000 students can receive aid above the base amount.
When the foundation formula takes effect, districts may receive help paying 75 percent of annual debt service on qualifying construction debt, unless identified as bad-faith participants in the merger process.
The foundation formula and related tax changes take effect one year later. When the formula begins, eligible schools cannot charge publicly tuitioned students more than the district payment, subject to a later repeal condition.
Argument forMore state construction aid may help eligible districts repair or build schools, while the merger and enrollment rules limit who can receive aid above the base amount.
Argument againstDistricts and towns may have less choice about working together because every district must study a possible merger, and towns cannot withdraw from a union district through fiscal year 2035.
More detail
The law assigns supervisory unions to cooperative educational service areas, which offer specified services to members upon request. The law establishes seven areas and assigns each Vermont supervisory union to one. Members must request the services. The law sets the start-up grant at $15,000.
Facilitators assign school districts to committees that study whether to form unified union school districts. Every Vermont school district is assigned to a merger committee under criteria that include suggested groupings in the law. An isolated district may ask the Legislature to merge it with a unified union district. Towns may not withdraw from a union school district through fiscal year 2035. Committees must report by September 1, 2027. A vote on a recommended district is set for March 7, 2028.
The law provides state construction aid, including state bonding support, for approved school projects. The aid is for school construction projects approved under the State Aid for School Construction Program. Aid may cover 30 to 75 percent of approved project costs. Aid above the base amount is limited to districts formed through a merger found advisable in the committee process, or districts with average daily membership of at least 2,000 students. Applicants seeking aid for older facilities must test for PCBs.
The law provides aid for some existing school construction debt when the foundation formula takes effect. The provision applies to each school district’s qualifying school construction debt. Aid covers 75 percent of annual debt service for school construction debt held as of December 31, 2024. A district identified as a bad-faith participant in the merger committee process does not qualify. Aid begins when the foundation formula takes effect and applies to construction debt held as of December 31, 2024.
The law delays the foundation formula, related tax provisions, and transition measures by one year. The delay covers the foundation formula, related tax provisions, and transition measures. The tuition rule applies to eligible schools and students attending on public tuition. When the foundation formula takes effect, a school eligible to receive public tuition may not charge a publicly tuitioned student more than the district pays under the formula. The tuition limit is prospectively repealed if lawmakers fail to enact a secondary-student weight after receiving the required cost evidence. The tuition limit starts when the foundation formula takes effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29House message: Governor approved bill on June 18, 2026Latest
- Vote recorded Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 68 of 135 to Pass -- Yeas = 125, Nays = 10. Result: pass.Lower
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 18, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 12, 2026To Governor
- May 29House message: House adopted Conference Committee report
- May 29Rep. McCoy of Poultney moved to deliver the bill to the Governor forthwith, which was agreed to
- May 29Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 68 of 135 to Pass -- Yeas = 125, Nays = 10
- May 29Committee of Conference report adopted (House bill)Major
- May 29Rep. Burkhardt of South Burlington demanded yeas and nays
- May 29Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 29Senate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted
- May 29Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Lyons
- May 29Committee of Conference report adopted
- May 29Committee of Conference report submitted by Senator Bongartz for Committee, text
- May 29Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Lyons
- May 29Committee of Conference report
- May 29Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 27Senate Message: Committee of Conference members appointed
- May 27Committee of Conference appointed: Senators Bongartz, Hardy, and Mattos
- May 26House message: House refused to concur in Senate proposal of amendment & requested Conference Committee; House Conference Committee members appointedMinor
- Vote recorded 3rd reading ordered on roll call Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 27, Nays = 2. Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 26Speaker appointed Reps. Conlon of Cornwall, Kornheiser of Brattleboro, and Quimby of Lyndon as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House
- May 26Senate proposal of amendment not concurred in and Committee of Conference requested upon motion of Rep. Conlon of CornwallMinor
- May 26Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 26Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 26Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 26Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 26Rules suspended & bill placed on all remaining stages of passage, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 26Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Hardy
- May 263rd reading ordered on roll call Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 27, Nays = 2
- May 26Proposal of amendment by Committee on Finance, as amended, agreed toMinor
- May 26Proposal of amendment agreed toMinor
- May 26Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Hardy, Beck, Bongartz, and Cummings; textMinor
- May 26Proposal of amendment by Committee on Finance amended as recommended by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 26Reported favorably by Senator Perchlik for Committee on Appropriations with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 26Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Cummings for Committee on FinanceMinor
- May 26Rules suspended, and Sen. Bongartz permitted to speak on report of the bill
- May 26Rules suspended on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 26Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Hardy, Beck, Bongartz, and CummingsMinor
- May 26Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 26Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- May 26Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 22Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 22Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- May 22Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 21Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 21Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- May 21Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 20Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 20Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- May 20Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 19Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 19Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- May 19New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 15Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 15Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- May 15Second ReadingMinor
- May 15Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 14Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- May 14Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- May 14Second ReadingMinor
- May 14Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 12Committee on Education relieved; bill committed to Committee on Finance on motion of Senator Bongartz
- Apr 21Referred to Committee on Education per Temporary Senate Rule 44A
- Apr 17Read 1st time & referred to Committee on RulesMinor
- Apr 17Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- Apr 17Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 17Rep. Logan of Burlington asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment
- Apr 17Rep. Logan of Burlington and Burrows of West Windsor moved to amend the bill
- Apr 17Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 16Third Reading orderedMinor
- Vote recorded Which was disagreed to on a Roll Call Failed -- Needed 71 of 142 to Pass -- Yeas = 34, Nays = 108. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 71 of 141 to Pass -- Yeas = 79, Nays = 62. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 16Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 71 of 141 to Pass -- Yeas = 79, Nays = 62
- Apr 16Rep. Conlon of Cornwall demanded yeas and nays
- Apr 16Which was disagreed to on a Roll Call Failed -- Needed 71 of 142 to Pass -- Yeas = 34, Nays = 108
- Apr 16Rep. Sibilia of Dover demanded yeas and nays
- Apr 16Rep. McCann of Montpelier, Arsenault of Williston, Burrows of West Windsor, Casey of Montpelier, Cina of Burlington, Cole of Hartford, Graning of Jericho, Harple of Glover, Headrick of Burlington, Holcombe of Norwich, Logan of Burlington, Masland of Thetford, McGill of Bridport, Minier of South Burlington, Priestley of Bradford, Rachelson of Burlington, Sibilia of Dover, Stone of Burlington, Tomlinson of Winooski, and White of Bethel moved to amend the bill
- Apr 16Rep. Holcombe of Norwich, Burrows of West Windsor, Cole of Hartford, Masland of Thetford, and Priestley of Bradford moved to amend the bill, which was disagreed to
- Apr 16Which was disagreed to on a division; division results Yes, 22; No, 106
- Apr 16Pending the question, Shall the bill be amended as offered by Rep. Olson of Starksboro and others?, division demanded by Rep. Coffin of Cavendish
- Apr 16Rep. Olson of Starksboro, Yacovone of Morristown, Burke of Brattleboro, LaMont of Morristown, Priestley of Bradford, and White of Bethel moved to amend the bill
- Apr 16Which was disagreed to on a division; division results Yes, 27; No, 113
- Apr 16Pending the question, Shall the bill be amended as offered by Rep. Olson of Starksboro and others?, division demanded by Rep. Burrows of West Windsor
- Apr 16Rep. Olson of Starksboro, Yacovone of Morristown, Bos-Lun of Westminster, Burke of Brattleboro, Burrows of West Windsor, LaMont of Morristown, Lueders of Lincoln, O'Brien of Tunbridge, Priestley of Bradford, and White of Bethel moved to amend the bill
- Apr 16Report of Committee on Ways and Means, as amended, agreed to
- Apr 16Rep. Kornheiser of Brattleboro and Kimbell of Woodstock moved to amend the report of the Committee on Ways and Means, which was agreed to
- Apr 16Rep. Nigro of Bennington recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- Apr 16Rep. Kornheiser of Brattleboro recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- Apr 16Rep. Conlon of Cornwall spoke for the Committee on Education
- Apr 16Read second timeMinor
- Apr 16Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 15Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 14Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- Apr 14Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 2Committee bill read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)Introduced
- May 29House message: Governor approved bill on June 18, 2026Latest
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