Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted

H 941 — An act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture

Last action — House message: Governor approved bill on June 18, 2026

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 17, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on May 29, 2026.

Prognosis

Advancing 50% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

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In plain language

This bill allows municipalities to regulate agricultural activities locally.

The bill enables local governments to create and enforce regulations concerning agricultural practices within their jurisdictions. This aims to address community-specific agricultural concerns and promote local governance in agricultural regulation.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

220 added · 103 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of Bill H.941 now includes specific provisions allowing for limited municipal regulation of farming and farm structures in designated Tier 1A areas, which was not as clearly defined in the original bill. Additionally, it mandates the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets to study and report on how these municipal regulations affect farm activities. These changes are significant because they clarify local authorities' roles in regulating farming while ensuring that agricultural practices meet required standards. This can help balance community interests with the needs of the farming sector.

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AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.941 Page 1 of 5 H.941 An act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 1 of 10 H.941 Introduced by Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry Date:
Subject:
Municipal and county government;
municipalities;
municipal and regional planning and development;
municipal regulation of agriculture Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to prohibit municipal regulation of agricultural activities that are subject to the Required Agricultural Practices Rule and the construction of farm structures, except for farming or farm structures in Tier 1A areas.
For farming and farm structures in Tier 1A areas, this bill would permit limited municipal regulation.
This bill also would permit limited municipal regulation of growing certain plants.
This bill also would require the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets to study and report on the municipal regulation of farm activity as it relates to the agricultural economy.
An act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF AGRICULTURE (a) The General Assembly finds that since the enactment of 2004 Acts and Resolves No.
MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF AGRICULTURE BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 2 of 10 (a) The General Assembly finds that since the enactment of 2004 Acts and Resolves No.
§ 4413, with the exception of farming and the construction of farm structures in accordance with 24 V.S.A.
§ 4413, with the exception of farming and the construction of farm structures within Tier 1A areas established in accordance with 10 V.S.A.
§ 6034.
Sec.
2.
24 V.S.A.
§ 4413 is amended to read:
§ 4413.
LIMITATIONS ON MUNICIPAL BYLAWS * * * (d)(1) A bylaw under this chapter shall not regulate:
(A) required agricultural practices, including the construction of farm structures, as those practices are defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets farming that meets the minimum threshold criteria in the Required Agricultural Practices Rule and is therefore required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices Rule, except as set forth in section 4412 of this title;
(B) construction of a farm structure as authorized under the Required Agricultural Practices Rule, except as set forth in section 4412 of this title;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 3 of 10 (C) accepted silvicultural practices, as defined by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, including practices that are in compliance with the Acceptable Management Practices for Maintaining Water Quality on Logging Jobs in Vermont, as adopted by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation;
or (C)(D) forestry operations.
(2) As used in this section:
(A) “Farm structure” means a building, enclosure, or fence for housing livestock, raising horticultural or agronomic plants, or carrying out other practices associated with accepted agricultural or farming practices, including a silo, as “farming” is defined in 10 V.S.A.
§ 6001(22), but excludes a dwelling for human habitation.
(B) “Forestry operations” has the same meaning as in 10 V.S.A.
§ 2602.
* * * Sec.
3.
24 V.S.A.
§ 4412 is amended to read:
REQUIRED PROVISIONS AND PROHIBITED EFFECTS Notwithstanding any existing bylaw, the following land development provisions shall apply in every municipality:
* * * (15) Farming in Tier 1A areas.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 4 of 10 (A) No bylaw shall have the effect of prohibiting farming or the construction of farm structures in a Tier 1A area.
However, farming in Tier 1A area may be regulated only as follows:
(i) A municipality shall not regulate noise, smell, lighting, and hours of operation.
(ii) A municipality may regulate:
(I) ingress and egress of vehicular traffic and ensuring pedestrian safety, including regulating parking, signage, pavement markings, functional enclosure of livestock adjacent to roads;
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and (II) siting and setback requirements for new infrastructure, including farm structures, in a manner that does not create public safety concerns, including fire safety concerns to neighboring buildings.
(B) Eligibility.
For a farm to be eligible for the benefit of this subdivision (15), it shall be farming that meets the minimum threshold criteria in the Required Agricultural Practices Rule and is therefore required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices Rule and the construction of farm structures.
However, a parcel where farming is taking place as of July 1, 2026, that has been conserved for agricultural purposes, or farm structures built prior to July 1, 2026, shall be exempt from municipal regulation.
(C) As used in this section:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 5 of 10 (i) “Farm structure” means a building, enclosure, or fence for housing livestock, raising horticultural or agronomic plants, or carrying out other practices associated with accepted agricultural or farming practices, including a silo, but excludes a dwelling for human habitation.
(ii) “Food” means articles or agricultural commodities for human or animal consumption.
(iii) “Poultry” has the same meaning as in 6 V.S.A.
§ 1459(4).
(16) No bylaw shall have the effect of prohibiting cultivation or other use of land for growing plants for food for personal use, donation, or sale, including orchard crops, viticultural crops, and for maple sap;
or the raising, feeding, or management of poultry, excluding roosters, for personal use, donation, or sale.
4.
MUNICIPAL REGULATION AND FARMING STUDY;
REPORT (a) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall convene a stakeholder group to study and report on how to address municipal regulation of agriculture to better support farmers and their role in the agricultural economy.
The group shall examine current and prospective municipal regulations of agriculture to identify how the regulations are currently working and whether there are shortcomings or challenges.
The group also shall address how municipal regulations have affected or could affect existing farms, statewide and regional food security, farm succession, and the BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 6 of 10 establishment of new farming operations, including whether municipal regulations have significantly restricted or functionally prohibited or could significantly restrict or functionally prohibit farming.
The group shall examine whether municipalities should be prohibited or restricted from regulating the raising, feeding, or managing of livestock, including providing a model ordinance that would permit the necessary functions in raising, feeding, or managing livestock.
(b) On or before December 15, 2026, the Agency of Agriculture shall submit a report to the House Committees on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and on Environment and the Senate Committees on Agriculture and on Natural Resources and Energy with its findings and recommendations.
Sec.
5.
EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on passage.
Sec.
1.
FINDINGS AND INTENT;
MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF AGRICULTURE (a) The General Assembly finds that since the enactment of 2004 Acts and Resolves No.
115, it has been both the intent of the General Assembly and the controlling law that a municipality shall not regulate farming, including the construction of farm structures.
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to clarify that municipalities lack authority to regulate farming or the construction of farm structures as set BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 7 of 10 forth in 24 V.S.A.
§ 4413, with the exception of farming and the construction of farm structures in accordance with 24 V.S.A.
§ 4412.
Sec.
§ 4413 is amended to read:
§ 4413 is amended to read:
§ 4413.
§ 4413.
(A) required agricultural practices, including the construction of farm structures, as those practices are defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets farming that meets the minimum threshold criteria in the Required Agricultural Practices Rule and is therefore required to comply with the VT LEG #388473 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.941 Page 2 of 5 Required Agricultural Practices Rule, except as described in section 4412(16) of this title;
(A) required agricultural practices, including the construction of farm structures, as those practices are defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets farming that meets the minimum threshold criteria in the Required Agricultural Practices Rule and is therefore required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices Rule, except as described in section 4412(16) of this title;
§ 1101;
§ 1101;
(E) accepted silvicultural practices, as defined by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, including practices that are in compliance with the Acceptable Management Practices for Maintaining Water Quality on Logging Jobs in Vermont, as adopted by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 8 of 10 (E) accepted silvicultural practices, as defined by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, including practices that are in compliance with the Acceptable Management Practices for Maintaining Water Quality on Logging Jobs in Vermont, as adopted by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation;
(A) “Farm structure” means a building, enclosure, or fence for housing livestock, raising horticultural or agronomic plants, or carrying out other practices associated with accepted agricultural or farming practices, VT LEG #388473 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.941 Page 3 of 5 including a silo, as “farming” is defined in 10 V.S.A.
(A) “Farm structure” means a building, enclosure, or fence for housing livestock, raising horticultural or agronomic plants, or carrying out other practices associated with accepted agricultural or farming practices, including a silo, as “farming” is defined in 10 V.S.A.
§ 2602.
§ 2602.
§ 6001(22).
§ 6001(22).
§ 4412 is amended to read:
§ 4412 is amended to read:
* * * (15) No bylaw shall have the effect of prohibiting the raising, feeding, or management of poultry, excluding roosters, for personal use, donation, or sale.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 9 of 10 * * * (15) No bylaw shall have the effect of prohibiting the raising, feeding, or management of poultry, excluding roosters, for personal use, donation, or sale.
§ 1459(4).
§ 1459(4).
VT LEG #388473 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.941 Page 4 of 5 (A) Ingress and egress of vehicular traffic and ensuring pedestrian safety, including regulating parking, signage, pavement markings, functional enclosure of livestock adjacent to road;
(A) Ingress and egress of vehicular traffic and ensuring pedestrian safety, including regulating parking, signage, pavement markings, functional enclosure of livestock adjacent to road;
(b) The stakeholder group shall consider options to address conflicts, including establishing or expanding the Required Agricultural Practices Rule to regulate livestock, particularly addressing stocking densities on parcels of less than 10 acres;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.941 Page 10 of 10 (b) The stakeholder group shall consider options to address conflicts, including establishing or expanding the Required Agricultural Practices Rule to regulate livestock, particularly addressing stocking densities on parcels of less than 10 acres;
(c) On or before January 31, 2027, the Secretary shall submit a report to the House Committees on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and on VT LEG #388473 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.941 Page 5 of 5 Environment and the Senate Committees on Agriculture and on Natural Resources and Energy that summarizes findings, considerations, and any recommendations of the stakeholder group and offers a recommendation from the Secretary on solutions, including recommended statutory changes or rulemaking, that would best support municipalities when significant landowner conflicts arise regarding livestock.
(c) On or before January 31, 2027, the Secretary shall submit a report to the House Committees on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and on Environment and the Senate Committees on Agriculture and on Natural Resources and Energy that summarizes findings, considerations, and any recommendations of the stakeholder group and offers a recommendation from the Secretary on solutions, including recommended statutory changes or rulemaking, that would best support municipalities when significant landowner conflicts arise regarding livestock.
VT LEG #388473 v.1
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Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on June 18, 2026

  2. Signed by Governor on June 18, 2026

  3. Delivered to the Governor on June 12, 2026

  4. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment

  5. Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

  6. Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

  7. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment thereto

  8. Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth

  9. House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment as moved by Senator Ingalls

  10. House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment, text

  11. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  12. House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment

  13. House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment

  14. Entered on Notice Calendar

  15. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment with proposal of amendment

  16. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in with further amendment thereto, as offered by Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury, Bartholomew of Hartland, Bos-Lun of Westminster, Brigham of St. Albans Town, Burtt of Cabot, Lipsky of Stowe, Nelson of Derby, and O'Brien of Tunbridge

  17. Action Calendar: Action postponed until May 14, 2026

  18. Action Calendar: Action postponed until May 14, 2026

  19. Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until May 14, 2026, which was agreed to

  20. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

  21. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

  22. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  23. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  24. New Business/Third Reading

  25. 3rd reading ordered

  26. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture agreed to

  27. Proposal of amendment not agreed to

  28. Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Vyhovsky; text

  29. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Ingalls for Committee on Agriculture

  30. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Vyhovsky

  31. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

  32. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

  33. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

  34. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

  35. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

  36. Second Reading

  37. Entered on Notice Calendar

  38. Committee on Government Operations relieved; bill committed to Committee on Agriculture on motion of Senator Collamore

  39. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations

  40. Read third time and passed

  41. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  42. Third Reading ordered

  43. Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to

  44. Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury spoke for the Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

  45. Read second time

  46. Action Calendar: Committee bill for second reading

  47. Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until March 31, 2026, which was agreed to

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

  49. Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until March 27, 2026, which was agreed to

  50. Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 26, 2026

  51. Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 26, 2026

  52. Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until March 26, 2026, which was agreed to

  53. Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 24, 2026

  54. Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 24, 2026

  55. Rep. Durfee of Shaftsbury moved to postpone action until March 24, 2026, which was agreed to

  56. Action Calendar: Committee bill for second reading

  57. Notice Calendar: Committee bill for second reading

  58. Committee bill read the first time and placed on Notice Calendar of March 18, 2026

Sponsors

  • House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 189 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (189)

189 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 189 →

"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

agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors H 941?
H 941 is sponsored by House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry.
What is the current status of H 941?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 17, 2026. Enacted.
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