H 397 — An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response

(2) temporary housing and shelter services;

and (3) local infrastructure repairs that are necessary to maintain public safety.

(b) A municipality that has been impacted by an all-hazard flooding event shall be eligible for State funding to cover all of the local match requirements required by federal law or the Federal Emergency Management Agency for flood recovery and assistance.

Sec.

3.

20 V.S.A.

§ 51 is added to read:

§ 51.

FLOOD-PRONE PROPERTIES;

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 6 of 37 (a) Voluntary Buyout Program.

The Division of Emergency Management and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development shall establish and maintain the Voluntary Buyout Program for flood-prone properties.

The Program shall allow a municipality, at the request of the owner of a flood- prone property, to apply for funding to cover the purchase price of the property.

The purchase price shall be the full fair market value of the flood- prone property.

(b) Homeowner Assistance Program.

The Division of Emergency Management and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development shall establish and maintain the Homeowner Assistance Program to provide financial support to the owners of residential properties for:

(1) construction projects to elevate a residential building in flood-prone areas to mitigate future risk of damage;

(2) relocation to other permanent housing in response to flood damage;

and (3) the rebuilding of residential building using flood-resilient materials or designs, including floodproof foundations and water-resistant construction.

Sec.

4.

19 V.S.A.

§ 306 is amended to read:

§ 306.

APPROPRIATION;

STATE AID FOR TOWN HIGHWAYS * * * (i) Municipal Mitigation Assistance Program.

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 7 of 37 (1) The Agency shall administer the Municipal Mitigation Assistance Program.

Through the Program, the Agency shall:

(A) provide assistance and grants to municipalities for environmental mitigation projects related to stormwater and highways and for the establishment and operation of stormwater utilities;

and (B) provide funding for rural and flood-prone municipalities to:

(i) upgrade infrastructure, including improvements to town highways, bridges, and culverts, to increase the capacity of town highway infrastructure to handle high-volume water flow;

and (ii) create and maintain emergency access routes for use during an all-hazard event, as defined by 20 V.S.A.

chapter 1.

(2) Municipalities shall match grants with local funds sufficient to cover 20 percent of the project costs, except that the Agency may issue grants for the establishment or operation of stormwater utilities without requiring a local match.

(3) From the operating expenses appropriated for the Program, the Agency is authorized to pay costs billed to the Agency by municipal stormwater utilities.

* * * BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 8 of 37 Sec.

5.

19 V.S.A.

§ 320 is added to read:

§ 320.

AGENCY SUPPORT FOR CERTAIN TOWN HIGHWAY PROJECTS (a) Design of stormwater management systems.

The Agency shall provide technical assistance to municipalities for the design of upgrades for stormwater management systems affecting town highways, including the design of larger culverts, reinforced ditches, drainage systems, and any other stormwater management system that is capable of managing increased water flow due to severe weather events.

(b) Technical assistance for specialized improvements.

The Agency shall provide technical assistance to municipalities for specialized flood resiliency projects, including the alteration of bridges in flood-prone areas and the removal of dams that pose a significant risk to surrounding communities.

(c) Technical assistance for town highway improvements.

The Agency shall offer technical assistance to municipalities for:

(1) roadwork and infrastructure adaptations for severe weather events;

and (2) identifying and applying for federal, State, and regional grants to support local infrastructure projects.

(d) Asset Management System.

The Agency shall create and maintain the Asset Management System to track:

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 9 of 37 (1) availability of equipment that may be used to respond to an all- hazard flood event, including vehicles, water pumps, and sandbags;

(2) equipment operators and personnel that are trained for disaster management and response;

and (3) locations of critical resources for efficient deployment of those resources during an emergency.

(e) Provision of flood response fleet vehicles.

The Agency shall procure and maintain a fleet of heavy machinery, including vactor trucks, necessary to assist municipalities with debris removal from flood-impacted areas and the maintenance of stormwater and flood mitigation systems to prevent future damage.

The fleet of heavy machinery shall be stored and maintained regionally throughout the State.

Sec.

6.

10 V.S.A.

§ 1007 is added to read:

§ 1007.

AGENCY DUTIES;

FLOOD RESILIENCY AND STREAM FLOW PROJECTS The Agency of Natural Resources shall establish a program to implement and improve stream flow projects in response to flood risks, including:

(1) the clearing debris from surface waters to prevent the blockage of waterways, flood plains, or other flood resiliency systems;

(2) the restoration of degraded flood-retention systems and reservoirs to their original specifications;

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 10 of 37 (3) the alteration of rivers or river beds to mitigate flood risk;

and (4) the permitting of alternative, cost-effective flood mitigation solutions to allow for expedited project implementation.

Sec.

7.

10 V.S.A.

§ 1429 is added to read:

§ 1429.

AGENCY DUTIES;

FLOOD RESILIENCY AND RIVER CORRIDOR NATURALIZATION PROJECTS The Agency of Natural Resources shall establish a program to designate areas at risk of severe flooding and create floodways within portions of those designated areas to mitigate the damage caused by severe flooding.

Through the program, the Agency shall also support riverbank naturalization projects to enhance ecological resilience, reduce erosion, and improve flood mitigation within designated areas.

Sec.

8.

DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT;

POSITIONS;

APPROPRIATION (a) The following positions are created in the Division of Emergency Management:

(1) one full-time, exempt Municipal Grant Liaison;

and (2) one full-time, exempt Flood Mitigation Technician.

(b) The Municipal Grant Liaison shall be dedicated to grant research, grant applications support, coordination between municipal corporations and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and direct assistance to municipal BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 11 of 37 corporations for the acquisition of grants and other funding sources for flood relief and recovery efforts.

The Flood Mitigation Technician shall be dedicated to providing or supporting engineering analyses for flood mitigation projects, oversight of municipal flood remediation and recovery projects, and managing technical assistance to municipal corporations for flood recovery.

(c) There is appropriated to the Department of Public Safety from the General Fund in fiscal year 2026 the sum of $225,000.00 to support the two positions created in this section.

Sec.

9.

DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT;

FLOOD AND WEATHER ALERT SYSTEMS FOR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (a) The Division of Emergency Management shall develop flood alert systems for municipal corporations that have a population of not more than 2,000 residents.

At a minimum, the Division shall make the following available to qualifying municipalities:

(1) surface water flood monitoring devices, which shall automatically trigger notification systems for emergency services providers and residents;

and (2) alert systems that are integrated with a statewide weather alert system for real-time updates during severe weather events.

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 12 of 37 (b) The Division shall also develop and implement a statewide enhanced weather alert system, which shall:

(1) predict local and regional conditions using advanced modeling;

and (2) issue real-time warnings for flooding, blizzards, and ice storms through multiple communication channels.

Sec.

10.

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS AND GENERAL SERVICES;

TRANSFER OF RANDALL MEADOW PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF WATERBURY On or before July 1, 2026, the Department of Buildings and General Services shall finalize a transfer of State-owned real property in the Town of Waterbury referred to as the “Randall Meadow.” The Department shall grant the Town the ability to either acquire ownership of the property or an option to purchase the property, which shall remain available for a period of ten years.

The Department shall transfer this property to the Town of Waterbury.

The Town may use the property for future flood-resilient redevelopment.

Prior to completing the transfer, the Department shall contract for engineering and other necessary services to create a higher volume floodway within the bounds of the property.

Sec.

11.

DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT;

STATE STAKEHOLDERS;

NEEDS ASSESSMENT;

REPORT BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 13 of 37 The Division of Emergency Management, Chief Recovery Officer, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Agency of Natural Resources, and Agency of Transportation shall conduct a needs assessment to identify any additional staffing, resources, technical needs, or authority needed to carry out the provisions of this act.

On or before December 15, 2025, the Division shall submit a written report to the House Committees on Appropriations and on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committees on Appropriations and on Government Operations containing the needs assessments conducted by the State agencies and departments identified in this section.

Sec.

12.

EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

§§ 3a 3a is amended to read:

* * * (3) Annually on or before the last legislative day in January, provide an update and presentation to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 14 of 37 concerning all action items in the all-hazards mitigation plan required by subdivision (1) of this subsection.

* * * VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 2 of 17 Sec.

§§ 41 41 is amended to read:

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 15 of 37 (3) include templates and guidance for regional emergency management and for local emergency plans that support municipalities in their respective emergency management planning;

VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 3 of 17 (B) municipal plans and systems,systems developed in collaboration with the Agency of Human Services, to ensure that vulnerable populations, including olderaging Vermonterspopulations and individuals with disabilities, within the municipality are contacted and visited to ensure their safety and wellness during an all-hazard event;

(B) municipal plans and systems, developed in collaboration with the Agency of Human Services, to ensure that vulnerable populations, including older Vermonters and individuals with disabilities, within the municipality are contacted and visited to ensure their safety and wellness during an all-hazard event;

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 16 of 37 * * * Voluntary Buyout Program and Voluntary Buyout Reimbursement Program * * * Sec.

§§ 51 51 is added to read:

§§ 51. 51.

The municipality shall maintain VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 4 of 17 the acquired property as open space with a deed restriction or covenant prohibiting development of the property.

§§ 3710 3709 is amendedadded to read:

§ 3710.

VOLUNTARY BUYOUT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM (a) There is established the Voluntary Buyout Reimbursement Program to reimburse municipalities for the value of municipal property taxes associated with the flood-prone properties acquired by a municipality pursuant to 20 V.S.A.

§ 51 and preserved as public open space with a deed restriction or covenant prohibiting development of the property.

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 17 of 37 (b) On or before September 1 of each year, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall certify the properties eligible for the Program to the Commissioner of Taxes along with any other information required by the Commissioner of Taxes.

To be eligible for reimbursement under the Program, a municipality must have acquired an eligible property on or after July 1, 2023 and preserved the property as public open space with a deed restriction or covenant prohibiting development of the property.

The Commissioner of Public Safety shall first certify properties to the Commissioner of Taxes pursuant to this subsection on or before September 1, 2025.

(c) The Commissioner of Taxes shall certify the Program payment amounts to the Secretary of Administration.

The Secretary shall make an annual payment to each municipality for each eligible property to compensate for the loss of municipal property tax.

The payment shall be calculated using the grand list value of the acquired property for the year during which the property was either damaged by flooding or identified as flood-prone by the Commissioner of Public Safety, multiplied by the municipal tax rate, including any submunicipal tax rates, in effect each year.

This payment shall be made on or before January 1 of each year for five years.

(d) If a municipality has received payment for any acquired property under subsection (c) of this section for five consecutive years, it shall be eligible for BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 18 of 37 payment for ensuing five year periods in an amount equal to one-half of the initial annual payment calculated under subsection (c).

(e) Payments made pursuant to this section shall be paid from the PILOT Special Fund established under section 3709 of this subchapter.

Payments shall be disbursed only after all other requirements of subchapter 4 of this chapter are met.

If the PILOT Special Fund balance is insufficient to pay the full amount of all payments authorized under this subchapter, then payments calculated under this section and due to each eligible municipality for each property shall be reduced proportionately.

Sec.

5.

VOLUNTARY BUYOUT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM;

TRANSFERS FROM PILOT SPECIAL FUND Notwithstanding any provision of 32 V.S.A.

§ 3709 to the contrary, in fiscal year 2026 the Commissioner of Finance and Management shall transfer from the PILOT Special Fund to the Voluntary Buyout Reimbursement Program $1,000,000.00 for purposes of the administration of the Program.

Sec.

4.

32 V.S.A.

§ 3709 is amended to read:

Notwithstanding subdivision 588(3) of this title, all BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 19 of 37 interest earned on the Fund shall be retained in the Fund for use in meeting future obligations.

MUNICIPAL GRAND LIST STABILIZATION PROGRAM (a) There is established the Municipal Grand List Stabilization Program within the Department of Taxes to reimburse municipalities for municipal property taxes assessed under chapter 133 of this title for flood-prone VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 5 of 17 properties acquired by a municipality pursuant to 20 V.S.A.

To be eligible for BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 20 of 37 the Program under this subchapter, a municipality must have acquired an eligible property on or after July 1, 2023 and preserved the property as open space with a deed restriction or covenant prohibiting development of the property.

The payment shall be calculated using the grand list value of the acquired property for the year during which the property was either damaged by flooding or identified as flood-prone by the Commissioner of Public Safety, multiplied by the municipal tax rate, including VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 6 of 17 any submunicipal tax rates, in effect each year.

After a municipality has received payments for an eligible property for five consecutive years, the Commissioner shall make an annual payment to the BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 21 of 37 municipality for any subsequent year of eligibility in an amount equal to one- half of the amount calculated under subsection (c) of this section.

[Deleted.]DIVISION VTOF LEGEMERGENCY #382262MANAGEMENT; v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 7 of 17 Sec.

POSITIONS;

APPROPRIATION (a) The following positions are created in the Division of Emergency Management:

(1) one full-time, exempt Municipal Grant Liaison;

and (2) one full-time, exempt All-Hazard Mitigation Technician.

(b) The Municipal Grant Liaison shall be dedicated to grant research, grant applications support, coordination between municipal corporations and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and direct assistance to municipal corporations for the acquisition of grants and other funding sources for all-hazard relief and recovery efforts.

The Flood All-Hazard Mitigation BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 22 of 37 Technician shall be dedicated to providing or supporting engineering analyses for all-hazard mitigation projects, oversight of municipal remediation and recovery projects, and managing technical assistance to municipal corporations for all-hazard recovery.

Sec.

6.

[Deleted.] Sec.

DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT;

ALL-HAZARD AND WEATHER ALERT SYSTEMS FOR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS Sec.

7.

§§ 52 52 is added to read:

§§ 52. 52.

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 23 of 37 (A) predicts local and regional conditions using advanced modeling;

* * * Needs Assessment Report * * * VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 8 of 17 Sec.

* * * Vermont Community Radio Program * * * Sec.

9.

VERMONT COMMUNITY RADIO GRANT PROGRAM (a) Findings.

The General Assembly finds that:

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 24 of 37 (1) Vermont’s seven active community radio stations currently serve over 200,000 Vermonters, many in rural and underserved areas.

(2) Community radio stations have consistently provided critical information during emergencies, including Tropical Storm Irene, recent severe flooding, and other natural disasters.

(3) These stations operate with small budgets, primarily relying on volunteer staff and listener donations, and are ineligible for federal funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting due to their size.

(4) Upcoming FCC-approved stations in Bristol, Richmond-Underhill- Jericho, and Ludlow will expand coverage to nearly all Vermont counties, increasing statewide accessibility to vital community radio services.

(5) Investment in these stations strengthens Vermont’s public safety network and promotes civic engagement by providing local, hyper-focused content that commercial and statewide media cannot replicate.

(b) Intent.

The intent of this section is to ensure Vermont’s community radio stations remain resilient and prepared to serve as lifelines during emergencies while fostering local engagement and preserving Vermont’s unique community fabric.

(c) Grant program.

(1) The Vermont Community Radio Grant Program is established to provide one-time funding to community radio stations for the purpose of:

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 25 of 37 (A) upgrading equipment and infrastructure necessary for reliable emergency broadcasting;

(B) procuring and installing backup generators;

and (C) enhancing operational sustainability through software improvements and technical training.

(2) The Program shall be administered by the Commissioner of Public Safety or designee in collaboration with the Vermont Association of Broadcasters.

(3) Grants shall be allocated as follows:

(A) up to $25,000.00 per station for seven active community radio stations;

and (B) up to $10,000.00 per station for three upcoming stations currently under construction.

(4) To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an applicant shall:

(A) be a nonprofit, noncommercial community radio station licensed in Vermont;

(B) demonstrate a history of providing emergency broadcasting services or show the capacity to provide those services upon funding;

and (C) submit a detailed implementation plan for the proposed use of grant funding.

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 26 of 37 (d) Report.

On or before June 30, 2026, a community radio station that receives a grant under the Program shall provide to the Commissioner of Public Safety a report detailing the:

(1) use of grant funds, including itemized expenses;

(2) improvements achieved in emergency readiness and operational capacity;

and (3) impact on community service and engagement.

§§ 1585. 1585.

Unassigned fund balances may be invested and reinvested as are other monies VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 9 of 17 received by a town treasurer and may be expended for any public purpose as established by the legislative body of the municipality.

§§ 1790 1790 is added to read:

§§ 1790. 1790.

ALL-HAZARD EVENT OR STATE OF EMERGENCY BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 27 of 37 The legislative body of a municipality may borrow money, in the name of the municipal corporation, by issuance of its notes or orders for the purpose of paying expenses of the municipal corporation or for public improvements associated with an all-hazards event or a declared state of emergency pursuant to 20 V.S.A.

24 V.S.A.

§ 1759 is amended to read:

§ 1759.

DENOMINATIONS;

PAYMENTS;

INTEREST (a)(1) Any bond issued under this subchapter shall draw interest at a rate not to exceed the rate approved by the voters of the municipal corporation in accordance with section 1758 of this title, or if no rate is specified in the vote under that section, at a rate approved by the legislative branch body of the municipal corporation, such the interest to be payable semiannually as determined by the legislative body of the municipal corporation.

Such The bonds or bond shall be payable serially, the first payment to be deferred not later than from one to five years after the issuance of the bonds and subsequent principal payments or debt service payments, which include both principal and interest payments, to be continued annually in equal substantially level or diminishing declining amounts, as determined by the legislative body of the BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 28 of 37 municipality, so that the entire debt will be paid in not more than 20 years from the date of issue.

(2) In the case of bonds issued for the purchase or development of a municipal forest, the first payment may be deferred not more than 30 years from the date of issuance thereof of the bond.

Thereafter such After any deferral period, the bonds or bond shall be payable annually in equal substantially level or diminishing amounts declining annual debt service as the legislative body of the municipal corporation may determine, so that the entire debt will be paid in not more than 60 years from the date of issue.

* * * (b) General obligation bonds authorized under this subchapter for the purpose of financing the improvement, construction, acquisition, repair, renovation, and replacement of a municipal plant as defined in 30 V.S.A.

§ shall be paid serially, the first payment to be deferred not later than from one to five years after the issuance of the bonds, and subsequent principal payments or debt service payments, which include both principal and interest payments, to be continued annually in substantially level or declining amounts, as determined by the legislative body of the municipal corporation, so that the entire debt will be paid over a term equal to the useful life of the financed improvements, but not more than 40 years from the date of issue, and may be so arranged that beginning with the first year in which principal is payable, BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 29 of 37 the amount of principal and interest in any year shall be as nearly equal as is practicable according to the denomination in which such bonds are issued, notwithstanding other permissible payment schedules authorized by this section.

Sec.

12.

§§ 9 9 is amended to read:

Thereafter, the Governor shall have and VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 10 of 17 may exercise for as long as the Governor determines the emergency to exist the following additional powers within such the area or areas:

chapter 47 or the Vermont Water Quality Standards to allow dams within the State to draw down water levels in anticipation of a flood event that is likely to cause substantial damage or injury to persons or BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 30 of 37 property.

§§ 138 138 is amended to read:

VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 11 of 17 provided, however, that a sales tax imposed under this section shall be collected on each sale that is subject to the Vermont sales tax using a destination basis for taxation.

§ 603 or any other provision of law or municipal charter to the contrary, revenue from the fee shall be used to compensate the BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 31 of 37 Department for the costs of administering and collecting the local option tax and of administering the State appraisal and litigation program established in 32 V.S.A.

§§ 605. 605.

Any remaining VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 12 of 17 revenue shall be deposited into the PILOT Special Fund established by 32 V.S.A.

REIMBURSEMENT TO MUNICIPALITIES OF STATE EDUCATION PROPERTY TAXES THAT WERE ABATED DUE TO FLOODING BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 32 of 37 (a)(1) The Commissioner of Taxes may approve an application by a municipality for reimbursement of State education property tax payments owed under 32 V.S.A.

§ 1535 the State education property taxes that were assessed on eligible property, after application of any property tax credit allowed under 32 V.S.A.

(2) As used in this subsection, “eligible property” means property lost or destroyed due directly or indirectly to severe storms and flooding in an area that was declared a federal disaster between July 1, 2023 and October 15, 2023 VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 13 of 17 December 31, 2024, provided the loss or destruction resulted in one or more of the following:

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 33 of 37 (b) If a municipality demonstrates that, due to disruption to tax collections resulting from flooding in an area that was declared a federal disaster between July 1, 2023 and October 15, 2023 December 31, 2024, the municipality incurred unanticipated interest expenses on funds borrowed to make State education property tax payments owed under 32 V.S.A.

* * * * * * Appropriations * * * *Sec. * * Municipal Charters;

Local Option Tax Revenue Share * * * VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 14 of 17 Sec.

APPROPRIATIONS (a) In fiscal year 2026, the following sums are appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety:

(1) $275,000.00 to support the two positions created in Sec.

6 of this act;

(2) $950,000.00 to support the Urban Search and Rescue Team created pursuant to 20 V.S.A.

§ 50;

and (3) $205,000.00 for the purpose of funding the Vermont Community Radio Grant Program.

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 34 of 37 (b) In fiscal year 2026, the sum of $275,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Agency of Natural Resources for purposes of procuring a fire apparatus.

(c) Any unexpended monies from the appropriation under subdivision (a)(3) of this section shall revert to the General Fund on or before July 1, 2026.

Sec.

14.

[Deleted.] * * * Municipal Charters;

Local Option Tax Revenue Share * * * Sec.

14.

chapter 3, §§ 102d 102d is amended to read:

The City sales tax shall be effective beginning on the next tax quarter following 30 days’ notice in 2006 to the Department of Taxes, or shall be effective on the next tax quarter following 90 days’ notice to the Department of Taxes if notice is given in 2007 or after.

Seventy percent of the The taxes collected shall be paid to the City, and the remaining amount of the taxes collected shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for deposit in the PILOT Special Fund first BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 35 of 37 established in 1997 Acts and Resolves No.

§§ 138. 138.

§§ 138 138 shall be paid to the City on a quarterly basis and may be expended by the City for municipal services only and not for education expenditures.

VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 15 of 17 Sec.

chapter 5, §§ 1214 1214 is amended to read:

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 36 of 37 Sec.

chapter 127, §§ 1308a 1308a is amended to read:

§§ 138 138 shall be paid to the Town on a quarterly basis to the Town after reduction for the costs of administration and collection under subsection (c) of this section.

Revenues received by the Town VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 16 of 17 may be expended for municipal services only and not for education expenditures.

chapter 171, §§ 18 18 is amended to read:

A tax imposed under the authority of this section shall be collected and administered by the Vermont Department of Taxes in accordance with State law governing the State BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.397 Page 37 of 37 tax on sales, meals, alcoholic beverages, and rooms.

§§ 138. 138.

§§ 138. 138.

The tax to be paid to the Town, less its obligation for the 70 percent of the costs of VT LEG #382262 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.397 Page 17 of 17 administration and collection, pursuant to 24 V.S.A.

§§ 138 138 shall be paid to the Town on a quarterly basis and may be expended by the Town for municipal services only and not for education expenditures.

* * * Effective Date * * * Sec.

15.

EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

VT LEG #382262 v.1