Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House 2 D cosponsors

H 650 — An act relating to educational technology products

Last action — Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 13, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 30% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill regulates the registration and privacy compliance of educational technology products used in Vermont schools.

This bill requires providers of educational technology products used in Vermont schools to register and report certain information, ensuring compliance with privacy laws. The Agency of Education will review these registrations and create a list of products in use, aiming to establish a certification process for educational technology.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means education workers may need to adjust to new compliance requirements for technology products used in their schools.
  • Families: Families can expect enhanced privacy protections for student data through regulated educational technology.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

257 added · 118 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill H 650 adds a new section that clearly defines what constitutes educational technology products and who the providers of these products are. This is important because it establishes a formal registration requirement for these providers, ensuring that they are accountable and transparent about how they handle student data. By requiring annual registration with the Secretary of State and a registration fee, the bill aims to enhance the oversight of educational technology in schools and help protect student privacy.

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AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.650 Page 1 of 5 H.650 An act relating to educational technology products It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 1 of 12 H.650 Introduced by Representatives Arsenault of Williston and Graning of Jericho Referred to Committee on Date:
Subject:
Commerce and trade;
protection of personal information;
educational technology certification Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to require that providers of educational technology products register annually with the State.
It also requires the Secretary of State to create a certification standard and review process for these products before they can be used by schools.
An act relating to educational technology products It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Student Privacy * * * § 2443f.
Student Privacy * * * § 2443f.
ENFORCEMENT A person who violates a provision of this chapter subchapter commits an BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 2 of 12 unfair and deceptive act in commerce in violation of section 2453 of this title.
Subchapter 3B.
Educational Technology § 2444a.
DEFINITIONS As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Educational technology product” and “product” means any student- facing software, application, or platform that may collect, process, or transmit student data and that is used for teaching and learning purposes in a school.
(2) “Provider of an educational technology product” and “provider” means a person that operates an educational technology product that is in use at a school with or without a contract with the school or school district.
(3) “School” means a public school or an independent school approved pursuant to 16 V.S.A.
§ 166.
§ 2444b.
ANNUAL REGISTRATION (a) Annually, on or before January 31 following a year in which a person meets the definition of a provider of an educational technology product as set forth in section 2444a of this subchapter, the person shall:
(1) register with the Secretary of State;
(2) pay a registration fee of $100.00;
(3) provide the following information during registration:
(A) the name and primary physical, email, and internet addresses of the person;
and BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 3 of 12 (B) the most recent version of the privacy policy and terms and conditions in use by the product;
and (4) list the names of all the products operated by the provider and which products, if any, have been certified by the Secretary of State pursuant to this subchapter.
(b) A provider that fails to register and provide all required information pursuant to subsection (a) of this section:
(1) is liable to the State for:
(A) a civil penalty of $50.00 for each day, not to exceed a total of $10,000.00 for each year, it fails to register pursuant to this section;
(B) an amount equal to the fees due under this section during the period it failed to register pursuant to this section;
and (C) other penalties imposed by law;
and (2) does not otherwise limit the provider’s responsibility to comply with the provisions required of providers set forth in this subchapter.
(c) The Attorney General may maintain an action in the Civil Division of the Superior Court to collect the penalties imposed in this section and to seek appropriate injunctive relief.
§ 2444c.
PRODUCT CERTIFICATION (a)(1) The Secretary of State shall:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 4 of 12 (A) have the sole authority to certify an educational technology product as set forth in this section;
and (B) create a form on its website where a provider of an educational technology product can apply for the product to be reviewed by the Secretary of State for certification.
(2) No school shall use an educational technology product that has not been certified by the Secretary of State pursuant to this section.
(b) The Secretary of State shall develop, publish, and annually review the standards for the certification of an educational technology product.
In developing the certification standards, the Secretary of State shall consider the following about an educational technology product:
(1) the product’s compliance with State curriculum standards;
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(2) advantages of using the product compared with nondigital methods;
(3) whether the product was explicitly designed for educational use;
(4) design features of the product, including any:
(A) geolocation tracking;
(B) use of artificial intelligence;
(C) targeted advertising;
(D) personalized recommendation systems;
(E) access to adults unknown to a student;
and (F) features that would lead to compulsive use;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 5 of 12 (5) the data privacy practices of the provider of the product;
and (6) any other factor the Secretary of State believes is relevant to the education, privacy, and safety of students.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, a certified product shall:
(1) be compliant with all federal and State privacy laws, including the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act;
(2) include clear and easy-to-understand product information;
(3) provide the following to a parent or guardian of a student:
(A) what personal information of the student is collected by the product;
(B) how the personal information collected pursuant to subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3) is maintained, used, and shared by the product;
and (C) the ability to access, correct, and delete the personal information of the student;
(4) not collect:
(A) student data that is not essential for the product to function effectively for the purpose for which it is being utilized;
(B) demographic data of a student except for the name and grade level of the student;
and (C) behavioral, interactional, or sensitive health data of a student;
and BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 6 of 12 (5) not use any data collected to:
(A) sell to or share with a third party;
or (B) create a student profile for noneducational uses, which includes targeted advertising and disciplinary actions.
(d) The Secretary of State shall post on its website and regularly update a list of educational technology products that have been certified by the Secretary of State pursuant to this section.
The Secretary of State may list products that are under active consideration by the Secretary of State and products that have failed certification.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or alter obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, or the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Schools shall provide reasonable modifications and necessary assistive technology to ensure Free Appropriate Public Education and equal access.
(f)(1) A provider that violates this section commits an unfair and deceptive act in commerce in violation of section 2453 of this title.
(2) The Attorney General shall have the same authority under this subchapter to make rules, conduct civil investigations, bring civil actions, and enter into assurances of discontinuance as provided under chapter 63 of this title.
* * * BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 7 of 12 Sec.
2.
CERTIFICATION TRANSITION A school shall submit a list of educational technology products, as that term is defined in 9 V.S.A.
§ 2444a, that are currently in use at the school to the Secretary of State on or before December 15, 2026, in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary of State.
A school may use an educational technology product that has not been certified by the Secretary of State on or before June 30, 2027.
Sec.
3.
EFFECTIVE DATES This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026, except that 9 V.S.A.
§ 2444c(a)(2) (certified product requirement) shall take effect on July 1, 2027.
Sec.
1.
9 V.S.A.
chapter 62 is amended to read:
CHAPTER 62.
PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION * * * Subchapter 3A.
Student Privacy * * * § 2443f.
(b) The Attorney General has the same authority to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter and to conduct civil investigations, enter into assurances of discontinuance, and bring civil actions as provided under chapter 63, subchapter 1 of this title.
(b) The Attorney General has the same authority to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter and to conduct civil investigations, BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 8 of 12 enter into assurances of discontinuance, and bring civil actions as provided under chapter 63, subchapter 1 of this title.
Educational Technology § 2444a.
Educational Technology § 2444a.
(1) “Educational technology product” and “product” mean any student- facing software, application, or platform that may collect, process, or transmit VT LEG #388397 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.650 Page 2 of 5 student data and that is used for teaching and learning purposes in a school in Vermont.
(1) “Educational technology product” and “product” mean any student-facing software, application, or platform that may collect, process, or transmit student data and that is used for teaching and learning purposes in a school in Vermont.
§ 166.
§ 166.
(1) the name and primary physical, email, and internet addresses of the person;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 9 of 12 (1) the name and primary physical, email, and internet addresses of the person;
VT LEG #388397 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.650 Page 3 of 5 (5) which products are known by the provider to be in use in any school or school district;
(5) which products are known by the provider to be in use in any school or school district;
(1) in consultation with the Secretary of State, review all educational technology product provider registrations pursuant to 9 V.S.A.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 10 of 12 (1) in consultation with the Secretary of State, review all educational technology product provider registrations pursuant to 9 V.S.A.
§ 2444a;
§ 2444a;
VT LEG #388397 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.650 Page 4 of 5 (4) determine where assistive technology may be included in an individualized education plan;
(4) determine where assistive technology may be included in an individualized education plan;
(iv) design features of the product, including any:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 11 of 12 (iv) design features of the product, including any:
VT LEG #388397 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.650 Page 5 of 5 (v) whether the product serves as beneficial assistive technology or provides some other form of benefit for special education purposes;
(v) whether the product serves as beneficial assistive technology or provides some other form of benefit for special education purposes;
(b) Report.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.650 Page 12 of 12 (b) Report.
VT LEG #388397 v.1
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Action History

  1. Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31

  2. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Education

  3. Second Reading

  4. Entered on Notice Calendar

  5. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Education

  6. Read third time and passed

  7. Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 27, 2026

  8. Rep. Graning of Jericho moved to postpone action until March 27, 2026, which was agreed to

  9. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  10. Third Reading ordered

  11. Report of Committee on Commerce and Economic Development agreed to

  12. Rep. Ode of Burlington recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means

  13. Rep. Graning of Jericho reported for the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

  14. Read second time

  15. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  16. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  17. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)

  18. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  19. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 188 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (188)

188 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education technology
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors H 650?
H 650 is sponsored by Edye Graning (Democrat) and Angela Arsenault (Democrat).
What is the current status of H 650?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 13, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track H 650?
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