Vermont towns could enforce energy rules for homes and businesses

Vermont towns and cities would be allowed to enforce state building energy standards. This permission would cover residential and commercial buildings within the town or city. Local governments could include the state energy standards in their building rules and enforce them through the required local rulemaking process. The bill proposes July 1, 2026, as its effective date, but the recorded actions do not establish enactment.

Qualifying buildings would count as compliant, and the State could not pursue enforcement solely because they used the 2020 energy standards. For qualifying homes, courts also could not award damages, penalties, or other relief under the residential standards law solely for using the older rules. Homes would need a filed compliance certificate using the 2020 residential standards during the protected period. Commercial builders or owners would need to follow the 2020 commercial standards referenced in Executive Order No. 06-25 during that period. Protection would cover use of the older standards alone, rather than other violations. The protected period would begin on September 17, 2025, and run until amendments to the respective residential or commercial energy rules are adopted.

A Residential Contractor Registry Task Force would advise the Office of Professional Regulation on contractor registration and voluntary credentials. The group would recommend ways to improve the registry and voluntary credentials in areas such as construction supervision, energy rules, and efficient building practices. Implementation would depend on fiscal year 2027 General Fund money being set aside for this purpose. Its advice on licensing contractors or moving oversight to another agency would not itself make those changes. The first meeting would be due by August 1, 2026. Reports would be due annually by November 1, starting in 2026. The group would end on June 30, 2029.

The Director of Fire Safety and the Office of Professional Regulation would study possible building and professional rules and report to lawmakers. Fire Safety would assess whether and how Vermont should adopt a residential building code. Professional Regulation would assess whether home energy raters and energy professionals should be regulated. These studies would not themselves adopt a residential building code or require energy professionals to obtain licenses. The building code report would be due by January 15, 2027. The report on regulating energy professionals would be due by November 1, 2028.

Energy courses would explain how each covered profession affects building energy use, airflow, and moisture. The courses would cover specified professionals overseen by the Office of Professional Regulation and covered heating technicians, electricians, and plumbers. They would also explain relevant state or utility incentives. Heating technician, electrician, and plumbing courses would last no more than two hours. The Office of Professional Regulation courses would have no stated time cap. Master and journeyman plumbers who complete the course would not need to repeat it for an additional specialty license. Boiler inspectors would not have an energy-course requirement under the section marked repealed. Covered courses would be required for initial licenses or certifications and renewals. Regulators would review them every three years beginning January 1, 2028, and update them as needed.