VermontVermont law changes tax rules, wildlife fees, and property valuation dates
Vermont taxpayers may use a new process to support qualifying scholarships and claim a federal tax credit, while the law also changes state tax rules, wildlife fees, and a future property valuation date.
What it does
Vermont taxpayers may donate to scholarship groups and claim a federal income tax credit through the process described in the law. The groups and scholarship programs must meet Vermont's requirements.
The Department may set fees through regulations for certain research and commercial uses of its properties, and tuition for Green Mountain Conservation Camps. State law must set fees for other land access.
Starting July 1, 2031, towns use January 1 instead of April 1 as the date for annual property valuations.
The law changes Vermont's treatment of some federal tax items, raises limits for certain state tax credits, and changes how some tax revenue is allocated. The summary does not give the new credit limits or revenue amounts.
Argument forTaxpayers could support qualifying scholarships and receive a federal tax credit, which may help fund educational programs that meet Vermont's requirements.
Argument againstVermont's requirements could keep some scholarship groups or programs from qualifying, which may limit the choices available to taxpayers seeking the federal tax credit.
More detail
Vermont taxpayers may donate to scholarship groups through a process that allows them to claim a credit on their federal income tax returns. The process covers Vermont taxpayers, scholarship groups, and the educational programs receiving scholarships. Scholarship groups and the educational programs they support must meet Vermont-specific requirements. The summary does not give this process's effective date.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife may set certain property fees and camp tuition through regulations. These rules cover access to Department of Fish and Wildlife properties and Green Mountain Conservation Camps. The Department may set fees for certain research and commercial uses and tuition for Green Mountain Conservation Camps. Fees for other access to Department properties must be set by state law. The summary does not give these rules' effective date.
Annual property valuations use January 1 as the grand list assessment date. The date applies to annual property valuations on municipal grand lists. The January 1 assessment date starts July 1, 2031.
The law changes Vermont's treatment of some federal tax items, raises limits for certain tax credits, and changes where some tax revenue goes. These provisions cover Vermont income tax, research and development credits for work done in the state, Downtown and Village Center Tax Credits, and allocations of meals and rooms and purchase and use tax revenue. The affected federal tax items include bonus depreciation for qualified production property, certain deductions, and income from some small-business stock. Vermont follows federal income tax treatment for items the state has not expressly treated differently. The summary gives multiple effective dates starting January 1, 2025, but does not specify the dates for these provisions.
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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
- 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 29Committee of Conference report adopted (House bill)Major
- 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 Cummings for Committee, text
- May 29Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Lyons
- May 8Senate Message: Committee of Conference members appointed
- May 8Committee of Conference appointed: Senators Cummings, Hardy, and Mattos
- May 8House message: House refused to concur in Senate proposal of amendment & requested Conference Committee; House Conference Committee members appointedMinor
- May 7Speaker appointed Reps. Kornheiser of Brattleboro, Canfield of Fair Haven, and Kimbell of Woodstock as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House
- May 7Senate proposal of amendment not concurred in and Committee of Conference requested upon motion of Rep. Kimbell of WoodstockMinor
- May 7Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 6Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 5Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 1Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Roll Call, requested by Senator Weeks, Failed -- Needed 14 of 27 to Pass -- Yeas = 11, Nays = 16. Result: fail.Upper
- Vote recorded Roll Call, requested by Senator Vyhovsky, Failed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 2, Nays = 27. Result: fail.Upper
- May 1Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Weeks
- May 1Roll Call, requested by Senator Weeks, Failed -- Needed 14 of 27 to Pass -- Yeas = 11, Nays = 16
- May 1Pending third reading, Senator Williams proposal of amendment, disagreed toMinor
- May 1Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Vyhovsky
- May 1Roll Call, requested by Senator Vyhovsky, Failed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 2, Nays = 27
- May 1Pending third reading, Senator Vyhovsky proposal of amendment, disagreed toMinor
- May 1Pending third reading, Senator White proposal of amendment, agreed toMinor
- May 1Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) WhiteMinor
- May 1Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) VyhovskyMinor
- May 1Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) BeckMinor
- May 1New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 303rd reading ordered
- Apr 30Proposal of amendment by Committee on Finance, as amended, agreed toMinor
- Apr 30Senator White requested & granted leave to withdraw amendment
- Apr 30Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) White; textMinor
- Apr 30Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Cummings, Beck, Brock, Chittenden, Gulick, Hardy, and Mattos agreed toMinor
- Apr 30Reported favorably by Senator Perchlik for Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 30Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Cummings for Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 30Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) CummingsMinor
- Apr 30Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) BeckMinor
- Apr 30Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) WhiteMinor
- Apr 30Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 30Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 30Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 29Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) BeckMinor
- Apr 29Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) WhiteMinor
- Apr 29Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 29Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 29Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 28Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 28Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 28Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 24Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 24Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 24Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 24Entered on Notice Calendar
- Apr 21Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- Apr 21Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 21Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 21Entered on Notice Calendar
- Apr 1Read 1st time & referred to Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 27Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 27Rep. Galfetti of Barre Town moved to amend the bill, which was disagreed to
- Mar 27Rep. North of Ferrisburgh moved to amend the bill, which was disagreed to
- Mar 27Rep. Tagliavia of Corinth moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to
- Mar 27Rep. Sibilia of Dover, Burrows of West Windsor, Boutin of Barre City, Carris Duncan of Whitingham, Donahue of Northfield, Lipsky of Stowe, Tomlinson of Winooski, and White of Bethel moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to
- Mar 27Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 26Rep. Kimbell of Woodstock and Kornheiser of Brattleboro moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to
- Mar 26Rep. Cole of Hartford asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment
- Mar 26Rep. Priestley of Bradford and Cole of Hartford moved to amend the bill
- Mar 26Rep. Tagliavia of Corinth moved to amend the bill, which was disagreed to
- Mar 26Rep. Nigro of Bennington recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 26Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 26, 2026
- Mar 25Rep. Kimbell of Woodstock moved to postpone action until March 26, 2026, which was agreed to
- Mar 25Rep. Kimbell of Woodstock spoke for the Committee on Ways and Means
- Mar 25Read second timeMinor
- Mar 25Action Calendar: Favorable
- Mar 24Notice Calendar: Favorable
- Mar 17Committee bill read first time and referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)Introduced
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