Bill
Bill > H0397
VT H0397
VT H0397An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response
summary
Introduced
02/26/2025
02/26/2025
In Committee
05/27/2025
05/27/2025
Crossed Over
03/27/2025
03/27/2025
Passed
06/11/2025
06/11/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
06/11/2025
06/11/2025
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response.
AI Summary
This bill makes comprehensive amendments to various statutes related to emergency management, municipal finances, and state administrative procedures. The bill requires the Division of Emergency Management to provide annual updates to legislative committees on all-hazards mitigation plans, create a more detailed State Emergency Management Plan, and expand grant programs to include voluntary buyouts for flood-prone properties. It also establishes new provisions for municipalities, such as allowing them to carry forward unassigned fund balances and borrow money for emergency-related expenses. The bill introduces a new section enabling the Governor to authorize dam drawdowns during potential flood events, with specific requirements for developing drawdown plans. Additionally, the bill modifies local option tax revenue sharing, with municipalities now receiving 75% (increased from 70%) of collected taxes. The legislation includes technical corrections to emergency management terminology, provides for the continuation of federal regulations incorporated into state rules until January 2029, and includes specific financial provisions for the cities of Barre and Milton regarding tax increment financing. The bill's provisions will largely take effect on July 1, 2025, with some sections taking effect immediately or on October 1, 2025.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Government Affairs
Sponsors (71)
Edward Waszazak (D)*,
Michelle Bos-Lun (D),
Michael Boutin (R),
Lucy Boyden (D),
Jana Brown (D),
Mollie Burke (D),
Bridget Burkhardt (D),
Elizabeth Burrows (D),
Gregory Burtt (R),
Scott Campbell (D),
Bill Canfield (R),
Emily Carris-Duncan (D),
Conor Casey (D),
Ela Chapin (D),
Kevin Christie (D),
Brian Cina (D),
Voranus Coffin (R),
Esme Cole (D),
Jonathan Cooper (D),
Mari Cordes (D),
Joshua Dobrovich (R),
Leonora Dodge (D),
Zon Eastes (D),
Martha Feltus (R),
Gina Galfetti (R),
Ian Goodnow (D),
William Greer (D),
James Gregoire (R),
Lisa Hango (R),
Leanne Harple (D),
Troy Headrick (D),
Rebecca Holcombe (D),
Jay Hooper (D),
Robert Hunter (D),
Charlie Kimbell (D),
Emilie Krasnow (D),
Larry Labor (R),
Kate Lalley (D),
Saudia Lamont (D),
Jed Lipsky (I),
Kate Logan (D),
Jim Masland (D),
Kate McCann (D),
Topper McFaun (R),
Jubilee McGill (D),
Marc Mihaly (D),
Kristi Morris (D),
Christopher Morrow (D),
Mike Mrowicki (D),
Richard Nelson (R),
Todd Nielsen (R),
Dan Noyes (D),
Kate Nugent (D),
John O'Brien (D),
Carol Ode (D),
Herb Olson (D),
Gayle Pezzo (D),
Phil Pouech (D),
Monique Priestley (D),
Christopher Pritchard (R),
Beth Quimby (R),
Tom Stevens (D),
Shawn Sweeney (D),
Michael Tagliavia (R),
Dara Torre (D),
Kenneth Wells (R),
Candice White (D),
Kirk White (D),
Kevin Winter (R),
Theresa Wood (D),
David Yacovone (D),
Last Action
House message: Governor approved bill on June 11, 2025 (on 06/13/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.397 |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 (Act 57) – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, As Enacted | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/GENERAL-381708-v10-FN_-_H_397_Hazards.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/ACTS/ACT057/ACT057%20As%20Enacted.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/H-0397/H-0397%20As%20Passed%20by%20Both%20House%20and%20Senate%20Official.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, Senate Proposal of Amendment | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/GENERAL-381708-v9-FN_-_H_397_Hazards.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, As recommended by the Senate Committee on Appropriations | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/GENERAL-381708-v8-FN_-_H_397_Hazards_SAC.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, As recommended by the Senate Committee on Finance | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/GENERAL-381708-v7-FN_-_H_397_Hazards.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, As recommended by the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Draft 2.5 | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/GENERAL-381708-v6-FN_-_H_397_Hazards.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, As passed by the House of Representatives | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/FN-H.397-APBH.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/H-0397/H-0397%20As%20passed%20by%20the%20House%20Official.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, As recommended by the House Committee on Appropriations, Draft 1.2 | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/FN-H.397-HAC.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, As recommended by the House Committee on Ways and Means, Draft 2.2 | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/FN-H.397-HWM.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - H.397 – An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response, As recommended by the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, Draft 2.4 | https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/2025-2026-House-Bills/FN-H.397-Hazards-HGOMA.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/H-0397/H-0397%20As%20Introduced.pdf |
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