MODERNIZING ACT 250 & LAND USE PLANNING

Complex challenges require bold strategic solutions. To meet the need for 80,000 new units of housing by 2035, it will require a coordinated approach and bold strategic solutions to bolster efforts that are already underway.

Collectively, our state land use regulations and programs must be modernized to reflect the needs of Vermonters today and in the next 20 years. We can protect our highly sensitive natural resources while also reforming permitting and Act 250 to allow for growth. Exemptions, more predictable and consistent processes, and redesigning state designation programs will support and incentivize resilient smart growth in larger geographic areas.

Issue Updates

Amid the House and Senate exchanging amendments, the omnibus housing and Act 250 modernization bill is still in play. The Senate is working on a further offer of amendment including a new proposal on the property transfer tax increase that will focus on second homeowners rather than businesses and renters. This further amendment could delay adjournment, which the House may not be willing to do.
May 10, 2024
The Senate continues to work out the details of a bill that has been a top priority for the Vermont Chamber. Despite confusion arising from three different committees all discussing and recommending changes to the bill, it is making progress toward being a balanced housing and Act 250 modernization omnibus bill. The handling of Act 250appeals is still being debated and the Vermont Chamber continues to advocate to keep appeals within the court system.
April 26, 2024
The Senate Natural Resources Committee finished its walk-through of H.687, the House’s Act 250 modernization bill. The committee now has the task of combining the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee’s housing omnibus bill (S.311) with H.687, as well as making their own choices on policy decisions. The committee has a deadline of next Tuesday, April 16 to vote on the bill. The Vermont Chamber continues to advocate for strong exemptions to incentivize housing in smart growth areas and to keep appeals to Act 250 in the environmental courts as outlined in S.311 to ensure fair and impartial determinations.
April 12, 2024
The Senate Natural Resources Committee continued its work reviewing S.311, the Senate’s housing and Act 250 omnibus bill, and transitioned towards a review of H.687, the House’s Act 250 modernization bill that was passed last week. The final legislative vessel for progress is expected to be H.687, but the bill is poised for a Committee of Conference to be appointed in the weeks ahead, where select members of the House and Senate will be tasked with hashing out the details.
April 5, 2024
The House General and Housing Committee voted out an omnibus housing bill with funding for important programs like the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program, Middle-Income Homeownership Development Program, Manufacturing Home Improvement and Repair Program, and the First-Generation Homebuyer Program. However, the total price tag of the bill exceeds $200 million, and with serious budget restraints, any funded program investments will need to prioritize solutions that will make immediate progress in order to reduce this cost.
March 1, 2024
The House Energy and Environment Committee introduced a new version of their Act 250 bill and began the markup process. The process on this complex bill has been challenging and the committee will need to dedicate a significant amount of time over the next few weeks to get it voted out by Crossover Day. The Vermont Chamber will continue to advocate that the bill reflects the compromise made between stakeholders last year which would create exemptions as well as incentivize density in development.
February 23, 2024
The Department of Housing &Community Development and statewide partners are hosting a summit on March 14 in Barre on the Homes for All Toolkit. The event is for novice and emerging small-scale home builders, community development professionals, and local leaders interested in innovative home-building and home-renovation solutions.
February 16, 2024
The Middle-Income Homeownership Development Program was funded at $4.5 million via the FY24 Budget Adjustment Act, with additional funding available in waterfall funding if additional funding becomes available.
January 26, 2024
The Vermont Chamber testified throughout the week in the House and Senate on the compromise reached in the Necessary Updates to Act250 Study with other steering committee members. There seems to be momentum in many of the consensus areas, but many challenging details still need to be worked out, including how appeals will be handled and measures to ensure rural communities are not disadvantaged.
January 19, 2024
A tri-partisan group of legislators joined the Governor and housing advocates at his weekly press conference to announce a wide-ranging housing bill. An educational webinar outlining the many facets of the bill is available online. This is one of several housing bills in the mix already this session.
January 12, 2024
The Chair of the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee has stated that the committee is prioritizing the issue and anticipates having a bill by early February.
January 5, 2024
Megan Sullivan

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Vice President of Government Affairs

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Related Resources

NRB Report on Recommended Act 250 Updates

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Homes for All Toolkit Trainer Summit (March 14, 2024)

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Governor's Administration Housing Reform Legislative Priorities Webinar and Presentation

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