VermontWindham towns can form a council for shared police services
Windham County towns may form a shared police services council if at least five vote to join, and each member town pays a population-based share.
What it does
Windham County towns may form a council to arrange shared police and related services once at least five towns vote to join.
Member towns get one vote each on the council and pay a population-based share of costs. Nonmembers are not charged for council services.
The council sets the budget and service standards for member towns, while the county sheriff’s department provides services under an annual agreement.
The council reports on its finances and services and evaluates the pilot. It ends by June 30, 2034, or sooner if membership falls to one town.
Argument forMember towns could shape shared police services through local representatives, service standards, and council oversight.
Argument againstMember towns may pay a population-based share even if the council’s services do not match each town’s needs.
More detail
Windham County municipalities may form a council to arrange regional law enforcement and related services. A municipality may join by majority vote of its legislative body. At least five municipalities must vote to join before the council is established. Council operations and taxation begin on July 1, 2026, or when at least five towns have voted to join, whichever occurs later.
Each member town has one council representative, receives services set by the council, and pays a share of costs based on population. These rules apply to Windham County towns that vote to join the council. Nonmember towns are not charged for council services and may establish their own police agencies or contract for police services independently. A town may withdraw by majority vote, effective at the end of the next fiscal year.
The council sets the budget and service standards, and the Windham County Sheriff’s Department provides services under an annual agreement. Services are for member towns and must be coordinated with state and local police agencies and emergency services. The council’s approved budget is included in the county budget, and collected funds may be used only for council-approved purposes. The council prepares a budget each year for the following fiscal year and submits it to the county assistant judges by December 1.
The council reports each year, evaluates the pilot, and ends by June 30, 2034, or sooner if only one town remains a member. The reporting and evaluation duties apply to the Windham County council and its pilot program. When the council ends, remaining funds are returned by population to current and prior member towns that were members during the current fiscal year. Annual reports begin in 2027. Evaluations are due by September 30, 2030, and December 31, 2033.
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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 20Senate Message: Signed by Governor Phil Scott May 19, 2026Latest
- May 20Signed by Governor Phil Scott on May 19, 2026Became Law
- May 13Delivered to Governor on May 13, 2026To Governor
- May 6Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 5As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 5House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 5House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 5Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 1House proposal of amendmentMinor
- Apr 30House proposal of amendmentMinor
- Apr 30Entered on Notice Calendar
- Apr 30House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- Apr 28Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 28Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 24Third Reading orderedMinor
- Apr 24Report of Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs agreed to
- Apr 24Rep. Page of Newport City recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- Apr 24Rep. Morgan, M. of Milton reported for the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- Apr 24Read second timeMinor
- Apr 24Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 23Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 15Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
- Apr 15Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 11Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military AffairsMinor
- Feb 27Read 3rd time & passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Feb 27Motion by Senator White to suspend rules disagreed to
- Feb 27Point of order on ground of lack of germaneness raised by Senator Heffernan sustained
- Feb 27Pending third reading, motion to amend bill offered by Senator(s) HardyMinor
- Feb 27New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Feb 263rd reading ordered
- Feb 26Second division of amendment not agreed to.
- Feb 26First division of amendment not agreed to.
- Feb 26Question on amendment offered by Senator(s) Hardy divided on request of Senator White
- Feb 26Recommendation of amendment by Senator(s) Hardy, text
- Feb 26Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations agreed to
- Feb 26Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Collamore for Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Feb 26Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Hardy
- Feb 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Feb 26Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 25Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Feb 25New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 24Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Feb 24Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 24Entered on Notice Calendar
- Jan 15Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government OperationsIntroduced
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