Bill > H0479

This bill proposes a comprehensive set of housing-related initiatives aimed at addressing Vermont's housing challenges. The bill establishes the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program, which provides funding to rehabilitate rental housing units and prioritizes housing for specific vulnerable populations, such as individuals exiting homelessness, immigrants, refugees, and people with disabilities. It creates a new Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program to support manufactured homeowners and home park owners in improving existing homes and infrastructure. The bill also establishes the Vermont Infrastructure Sustainability Fund to provide low-interest loans to municipalities for expanding water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure that can support housing development. Additionally, the legislation creates a Universal Design Study Committee to explore statewide standards for accessible residential buildings, modifies housing appeals processes to expedite housing development projects, prioritizes brownfield site remediation for housing, and requires various reports on housing-related initiatives. The bill also includes provisions for tax credits for first-generation homebuyers, changes to landlord certificate requirements, and a study on off-site housing construction to potentially reduce building costs. The legislation aims to comprehensively address housing accessibility, affordability, and development across multiple fronts, with most provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

General and Housing (H)

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.479