VermontVermont law sets vehicle, inspection, and boating requirements
Vehicle inspections must focus on immediate safety risks, while the law also describes road penalties, commercial-driver rules, and seasonal flotation-device requirements.
What it does
The Department of Motor Vehicles may accept electronic signatures for some salvage title documents and hand-deliver certain duplicate titles. It must clarify inspection rules and limit failures to immediate safety risks.
Towing reimbursement for abandoned vehicles is $250, and the Department of Motor Vehicles must post an online database. Fines are up to $10,000 for oversize vehicles in Smugglers’ Notch and $20,000 for vehicles that substantially block traffic there.
A one-year nondomiciled commercial driver’s license has a $40 fee. Commercial drivers face limits on using portable devices or texting, with exceptions for hands-free use and GPS.
Motorboat stickers must be placed within six inches of the registration number. People on certain vessels must wear a flotation device from November 1 through April 30, with a limited shallow-water exception; airport tax information may be shared to show compliance with federal grant requirements.
Argument forClearer inspection rules could help vehicle owners know which safety problems may cause a vehicle to fail inspection.
Argument againstDrivers and boaters could face large fines or fail inspection if their vehicles or boats do not meet these rules.
More detail
The law describes rules for vehicle titles, registration, and inspections. The provisions cover nondriver IDs, vehicle registrations, titles, kei vehicles, limited-use specialty vehicles, and safety inspections. Limited-use specialty vehicles may be registered and operated only within stated limits. Inspection failures must be based on conditions that pose an immediate safety risk. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The law describes penalties and agency duties involving roads, vehicles, and records. The provisions cover abandoned vehicles, Smugglers’ Notch, snowmobiles, license plates, and certain emergency truck use. The special heavy-truck permission applies to state and municipal employees without a commercial driver’s license during certain emergencies declared by the Governor. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The law describes fees and device-use rules for commercial drivers. These provisions concern nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses and people driving commercial motor vehicles. The device rules include exceptions for hands-free use and GPS. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The law describes boating rules and allows certain airport tax information to be shared. The provisions concern motorboat registration stickers, people on certain vessels, and airport-related tax information shared by the Department of Taxes with the Agency of Transportation. The flotation-device exception applies to hunting and bow fishing in water less than three feet deep. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
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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 29Senate Message: Signed by Governor Phil Scott June 16, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 16, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 10, 2026To Governor
- May 26As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 26House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 26Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 26Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 26Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 26Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 22Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment theretoMinor
- May 22Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 22House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment as moved by Senator(s) WestmanMinor
- May 22House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 22House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 21House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 21Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 21House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- May 20Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 20Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 20Rep. Noyes of Wolcott asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment
- May 20Rep. Noyes of Wolcott moved to amend the House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 20Rep. Tomlinson of Winooski moved to amend the House proposal of amendment, which was agreed toMinor
- May 20Rep. Burke of Brattleboro moved to amend the House proposal of amendment, which was agreed toMinor
- May 20Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- May 19Third Reading orderedMinor
- May 19Report of Committee on Transportation, as amended, agreed to
- May 19Report of the Committee on Transportation amended as recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means
- May 19Rep. Kascenska of Burke recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- May 19Rep. Canfield of Fair Haven recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- May 19Rep. Walker of Swanton reported for the Committee on Transportation
- May 19Read second timeMinor
- May 19Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 18Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 13Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- May 13Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 8Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
- Mar 25Read first time and referred to the Committee on TransportationMinor
- Mar 20Read 3rd time & passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 20New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 193rd reading ordered
- Mar 19Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Transportation, as amended, agreed to
- Mar 19Reported favorably by Senator Westman for Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 19Reported favorably by Senator Chittenden for Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 19Senator(s) Westman, Brennan, Harrison, Perchlik, and White to substitute amendment of the Committee on Transportation agreed to
- Mar 19Reported favorably by Senator Westman for Committee on Transportation with recommendation of amendmentMinor
- Mar 19Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 19Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator Westman
- Mar 19Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 19Favorable report by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 19Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on TransportationMinor
- Mar 19New Business/Committee Bill for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Westman
- Mar 18Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 18Favorable report by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 18Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on TransportationMinor
- Mar 18Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 12Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- Mar 12Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Westman
- Mar 12Favorable report by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 12Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on TransportationMinor
- Mar 12Committee Bill for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Entered on Notice Calendar
- Feb 26Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31
- Feb 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on TransportationMinor
- Feb 26Committee Bill for Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 26Entered on Notice Calendar
- Feb 3Committed to Committee on Transportation on motion of Senator Westman
- Feb 3Committee Bill for Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 3Entered on Notice Calendar
- Jan 30Committee bill read first time & placed on Notice Calendar per Senate Rule 48Introduced
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