VermontVermont study group reviews water quality and wetlands certification options
A study group examines Vermont water protections, while the Natural Resources Secretary weighs whether to recommend certifying wetlands professionals.
What it does
A study group reviews Vermont water quality, including lake and pond protections, and recommends possible policy or legal changes. It reports its findings to lawmakers by December 15, 2026.
The Secretary reports whether Vermont should certify wetlands professionals who identify wetlands boundaries. The report must discuss possible benefits, drawbacks, and effects on professionals’ liability.
Argument forThe study may help lawmakers find gaps in water protections and weigh changes for lakes, ponds, and public uses.
Argument againstWetlands professionals and their customers may still lack a certification program while the Secretary studies whether to recommend one and lawmakers consider the report.
More detail
A study group reviews water quality issues and reports findings and recommendations to the General Assembly. The group includes legislators, Natural Resources Agency representatives, businesses with water permitting experience, environmental nonprofits, and other groups interested in water quality. The group must submit its written report to the General Assembly by December 15, 2026.
The Secretary of Natural Resources reports whether Vermont should create a program to certify wetlands professionals. The proposed certification would cover professionals who identify and mark wetlands boundaries. The report must describe possible benefits and drawbacks and discuss effects on professionals’ liability. If the Secretary recommends a program, the report must describe proposed certification rules, what certified professionals could do, and any benefits their services could provide to customers or in regulatory proceedings. The Secretary must report to the General Assembly by January 15, 2027.
Where do you stand?
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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 18, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 18, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 12, 2026To Governor
- May 26Senate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted
- May 26Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 26As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 26Committee of Conference report adopted
- May 26Committee of Conference report submitted by Senator Bongartz for Committee, text
- May 26Committee of Conference report
- May 22Committee of Conference report
- May 22Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 22House message: House adopted Conference Committee report
- May 21Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 21Committee of Conference report adopted (Senate bill)Major
- May 21Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 21Notice Calendar: Report of Committee of Conference
- May 14House message: House appointed Conference Committee members
- May 13Speaker appointed Reps. Sheldon of Middlebury, Labor of Morgan, and Satcowitz of Randolph as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House
- May 13Senate Message: House proposal of amendment not concurred in and Committee of Conference appointedMinor
- May 13Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 13Committee of Conference appointed: Senators Watson, Bongartz, and Williams
- May 13House proposal of amendment not concurred in; Committee of Conference requested, on motion of Senator WatsonMinor
- May 13House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 13Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 12House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 8House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 8Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 8House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- May 6Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 6Rep. Hoyt of Hartford asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment
- May 6Rep. Hoyt of Hartford moved to amend the House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 6Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- May 5Third Reading orderedMinor
- May 5Report of Committee on Environment, as amended, agreed to
- May 5Rep. Page of Newport City asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment
- May 5Rep. Page of Newport City moved to amend the report of the Committee on Environment, as amended
- May 5Rep. Page of Newport City moved to amend the report of the Committee on Environment, as amended, which was agreed to
- May 5Report of Committee on Environment amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations
- May 5Rep. Squirrell of Underhill recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- May 5Rep. Hoyt of Hartford reported for the Committee on Environment
- May 5Read second timeMinor
- May 5Action Calendar: Action postponed until May 5, 2026
- May 1Action Calendar: Action postponed until May 5, 2026
- Apr 30Rep. Sheldon of Middlebury moved to postpone action until May 5, 2026, which was agreed to
- Apr 30Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 29Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 24Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- Apr 24Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 17Read first time and referred to the Committee on EnvironmentMinor
- Mar 12Read 3rd time & passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 12New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 113rd reading ordered
- Mar 11Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, as amended, agreed to
- Mar 11Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 11Reported favorably by Senator Watson for Committee on Appropriations with recommendation of amendmentMinor
- Mar 11Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Bongartz for Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Mar 11Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 11Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Mar 11New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 10Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 10Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Mar 10Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 10Entered on Notice Calendar
- Feb 25Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- Feb 25Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Feb 25Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 25Entered on Notice Calendar
- Jan 8Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyIntroduced
Environment & Energy