January 28, 2026

Agenda:

• Welcome

• Municipal Authority & Agriculture 

• Rep. David Durfee - Chair of House Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

• Rescheduled - Roll out of Act 181

• Rutland Regional Planning Commission

• Share your rural related bill 

• Opportunity for 2 minute elevator pitch for Rural Caucus Legislators

Minutes:

• Welcome

• Municipal Authority & Agriculture 

• Rep. David Durfee - Chair of House Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

  • Historically it’s been understood in practice and law that towns did not have the authority to regulate farming activities. Especially related to noise, fencing, lighting, etc things that zoning typically regulates.

  • There is some urgency here to continue to protect agriculture. There’s a possibility that as time goes on, municipalities will adopt new or revise ordinances that will affect farmers. There is currently no State protection to growing food for the purposes of personal consumption within town centers.

  • There are currently three different approaches from the Agency of Agriculture, VLCT, and farmers. The Agency would like update some statutes and make adjustments through rulemaking. They have discussed adjusting the dollar amount, from $2000 to $5000, that makes someone considered a farmer. VLCT recommends to make adjustments through statute by using the tiers developed through Act 181 and allow agriculture in all tiers expect 1A, dense development. Rep. Durfee has not received language from VLCT. The farmers (organic, dairy, and produce) would like to see this done through statute and worry about opening up rulemaking. The farmers are aligned, which is not always typical.

  • There is currently a miscellaneous bill in the Senate that takes the Agency’s proposal.

• Share your rural related bill 

• Opportunity for 2 minute elevator pitch for Rural Caucus Legislators

  • Rep. North - 

  • H.805 relating to water resources of the state - The bill contains multiple ideas relating to storm water, permitting, and taxation.

  • Rep. Olson -

  • H.746 relating to potable water supply and wastewater system permitting - The bill looks to simplify rules to maintain environmental protections and be less costly.

  • H.737 relating to changes to Act 250 - The bill looks to allow a rural town to make exemptions/have flexibility with the road rule and tier 3 areas in relation to housing, as well as exempt manufactured homes from act 250, and increase the number of homes able to be built without triggering Act 250 from 10 to 25.

  • H.681 elating to voter approval prior to school closure - The bill looks to creates some framework around school closure process. 

  • Rep. Bos-Lun

  • H.613 relating to victims of officer-involved shootings of an individual experiencing a mental health crisis - The bill proposes to increase police training hours to the standard requirement, include mental health training, incorporate mental health crisis de-escalation into the Vermont Criminal Justice Council’s use of force policy, and more.

  • H.736 relating to medication adherence and continuity of care in inpatient health care settings - A short form bill that looks to address issue regarding taking speciality pharmacy drugs while in inpatient care. 

  • Rep. Noyes

  • H.285 relating to making motor vehicle inspections more affordable - A study regarding Vehicle inspection and examining how the cost inspections are impacting rural vermonters who rely on vehicles, while balancing safety.

  • Rep Lipsky

  • H.85 relating to the taxation of vehicles used for forestry operations - This bill was introduced last year and based on feedback, Rep. Lipsky is looking to amend the bill to include only the taxation of parts used for vehicles of forestry operations.

  • Rep Charlton.

  • H.775 relating to creating tools for housing production - This bill looks to help small developers pencil out projects in rural areas and tools for cost savings/bulk purchase of manufactured homes.

  • Rep. Morrow

  • No bill number yet - A short form bill that looks to reform state permitting processes.

  • Rep. Sibilia

  • No bill number yet - Proposes a requirement of notice to when copper lines are removed.