VermontState hiring rules favor veterans; disabled veterans park free at meters
Starting July 1, 2026, Vermont must make hiring efforts for eligible veterans and military spouses, and disabled veteran vehicles may use municipal meters free.
What it does
Vermont must make a diligent effort to recruit, interview, and hire eligible veterans and military spouses, while following applicable hiring and affirmative action rules.
Veterans and spouses of people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who pass certain state job exams receive five extra points; some disabled veterans and their spouses receive ten.
Vehicles with disabled veteran plates from any state may park at municipal meters without a fee.
Argument forRecruiting efforts and exam points could help eligible veterans and military spouses compete for state jobs.
Argument againstExtra exam points could make it harder for other applicants to compete for some state jobs.
More detail
Vermont must make a diligent effort to recruit, interview, and hire certain veterans and military spouses. Covered people include honorably discharged veterans, certain spouses of veterans receiving specified federal benefits, and spouses of people currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The effort follows applicable collective bargaining requirements, other state hiring rules, and state or federal affirmative action standards. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Eligible applicants receive extra points on certain state competitive exams. Veterans and spouses of people currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces receive five points. Service-connected disabled veterans, veterans’ unremarried widows or widowers, and spouses of totally service-connected disabled veterans receive ten points. Applicants must meet the requirements for an open competitive recruitment that uses a point-based exam and pass it. The ten-point preference is subject to 20 V.S.A. § 1543. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Vehicles with disabled veteran plates may park at municipal parking meters without paying. The plates may be issued by any state. The law 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
- Apr 29House message: Governor approved bill on April 27, 2026Latest
- Apr 28Signed by Governor Phil Scott on April 27, 2026Became Law
- Apr 21Delivered to Governor on April 21, 2026To Governor
- Apr 17Senate Message: Passed in concurrenceMajor
- Apr 16Read 3rd time & passed in concurrencePassed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 16New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 15Reported favorably by Senator White for Committee on Government Operations, read 2nd time and 3rd reading orderedMinor
- Apr 15Favorable report by Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Apr 15Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 14Favorable report by Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Apr 14Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 14Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 24Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government OperationsMinor
- Mar 19Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 19Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 18Rep. Stone of Burlington, Birong of Vergennes, Boyden of Cambridge, Coffin of Cavendish, Hango of Berkshire, Morgan, M. of Milton, Nugent of South Burlington, Pinsonault of Dorset, and Waters Evans of Charlotte moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to
- Mar 18Rep. Page of Newport City recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- Mar 18Rep. Stone of Burlington spoke for the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- Mar 18Read second timeMinor
- Mar 18Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 18, 2026
- Mar 17Rep. Waters Evans of Charlotte moved to postpone action until March 18, 2026, which was agreed to
- Mar 17Action Calendar: Favorable
- Mar 13Notice Calendar: Favorable
- Feb 26Committee bill read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)Introduced
VeteransEconomy & JobsTransportation