Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 3 D · 1 R cosponsors

S 60 — An act relating to establishing the Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund to provide payments for farm and forestry operation losses due to weather conditions

Last action — Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 11, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on March 27, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

375 added · 187 removed

Plain-language change summary

The new version of Bill S.60 adds more detailed findings about the challenges faced by Vermont farmers following severe weather events in recent years. It also emphasizes the need for grants to help small and medium-sized farms, highlighting that existing federal crop insurance programs do not effectively serve these farmers. The changes are important because they aim to ensure that funding is more accessible and targeted to help farms remain viable and resilient in the face of future climate challenges.

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AS PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 1 of 8 S.60 An act relating to establishing the Farm Security Special Fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather conditions It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 1 of 14 S.60 Introduced by Senators Hardy, Heffernan, Major and Plunkett Referred to Committee on Agriculture Date:
February 11, 2025 Subject:
Agriculture;
disaster relief;
funding Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to establish the Farm Security Special Fund to provide financial assistance to farms that experienced qualifying losses due to weather conditions.
An act relating to establishing the Farm Security Special Fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather conditions It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
(2) Many existing State and federal programs that are designed to support farms are difficult to access, are administratively burdensome, and currently do not meet the needs of Vermont farmers in a holistic way.
(2) Many existing State and federal programs that are designed to support farms are difficult to access, are administratively burdensome, are not equitably distributed to small- and medium-scale farmers, and currently do not meet the needs of Vermont farmers in a holistic way.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 2 of 14 (3) In particular, because federal crop insurance programs are not designed to serve the needs of smaller scale or more diversified farming operations, many Vermont farmers are not covered by crop insurance.
(4) The State should establish a permanent funding support program to:
(A) maintain the viability of farms in Vermont in order to ensure food security, climate resilience, rural economic vitality, and environmental health;
(B) continuously invest in farms in a way that makes them more resilient to current and future challenges;
and (C) provide a source of relief funds permanently available to farmers impacted by climate emergencies and extreme weather.
Sec.
2.
6 V.S.A.
chapter 207 is amended to read:
CHAPTER 207.
PROMOTION AND, MARKETING, AND SUPPORT OF VERMONT FARMS, FOODS, AND PRODUCTS * * * Subchapter 4.
Farm Security Special Fund § 4631.
DEFINITIONS As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Eligible weather condition” means any of the following weather conditions that are found to be closely correlated with agricultural income losses:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 3 of 14 (A) high winds;
(B) excessive moisture, intense precipitation, or flooding;
(C) extreme heat;
(D) abnormal freeze conditions;
(E) widespread fire event;
(F) hail;
(G) drought;
or (H) any other severe weather or growing conditions impacting agricultural income, as determined by the Review Board.
(2) “Farm” means a parcel or parcels of land owned, leased, or managed by a person and devoted primarily to farming and that is subject to regulation under the Required Agricultural Practices.
(3) “Farm Security Special Fund Review Board” or “Review Board” means the Board established under section 4634 of this title.
(4) “Farming” has the same meaning as in section 2.16 of the Required Agricultural Practices.
§ 4632.
FARM SECURITY SPECIAL FUND (a) There is established the Farm Security Special Fund to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets and that shall be managed in accordance with 32 V.S.A.
chapter 7, subchapter 5.
The Fund shall consist of:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 4 of 14 (1) funds appropriated by the General Assembly;
(2) funds from public and private sources that the Secretary accepts for the Fund;
and (3) funds from federal government aid for State support of farmers suffering income loss due to weather conditions.
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(b) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall ensure language accessibility of the Fund through procurement and provision of interpretation and translation services.
(c) All balances in the Fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward and remain part of the Fund.
§ 4633.
FARM SECURITY SPECIAL FUND;
GRANTS (a) The Secretary, after consultation with the Review Board, shall award grants from the Farm Security Special Fund to farms that have incurred financial losses or expenses due to an eligible weather condition.
(1) Grants from the fund shall be in an amount that reimburses a farm for up to 50 percent of uninsured or otherwise uncovered losses due to eligible weather conditions, up to a maximum award of $150,000.00 total per year per qualified applicant farm.
(2) The Secretary shall establish criteria for the amount of an award based on the annual net income of the farm in relation to the median net income of all farms in Vermont.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 5 of 14 (3) The Secretary may verify the occurrence of an eligible weather condition claimed under this section through a site visit or through use of available data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, from other federal or State certified weather data sources, or from other public or private weather or satellite date or models.
(4) Losses reimbursable by a grant under this section include:
(A) wages or compensation;
(B) replacement of lost income from destroyed crops or impacted livestock;
(C) debt payments or other ongoing expenses;
(D) costs of replanting;
(E) livestock feed replacement costs;
(F) infrastructure or equipment repair and replacement;
(G) repair of farm roads and roads necessary to access farms;
or (H) other losses as determined by the Secretary after consultation with the Review Board.
(b) The Secretary shall develop a streamlined application for awards under this section that shall include:
(1) a brief description of the damage that occurred;
(2) attestation of an eligible weather condition or event;
(3) an estimate of losses;
and BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 6 of 14 (4) a year-end report of farm income and expenses from Schedule F of U.S.
Internal Revenue Form 1040.
(c) An application for an award under this section may be made at any time, and the Fund may only close the application process upon award of all appropriated funds for the relevant fiscal year.
(d) Applications for an award under this section shall be processed in the order received, but an application shall not be ready for evaluation until the Secretary determines that the application is administratively complete and includes all documentation required by the Secretary.
(e) All administratively complete applications shall be evaluated by the Review Board.
Within 10 days of receipt of an administratively complete application, the Review Board by majority vote shall recommend to the Secretary whether to issue a grant to the applicant.
If the Review Board recommends an award under this section, the Secretary shall issue the award within two weeks of the date of the Review Board’s recommendation.
§ 4634.
FARM SECURITY SPECIAL FUND REVIEW BOARD (a) Creation.
There is created the Farm Security Special Fund Review Board, which for administrative purposes shall be attached to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
(b) Organization of Board.
The Board shall be composed of:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 7 of 14 (1) the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or designee, who shall serve as chair;
(2) the State Chief Recovery Officer or designee;
(3) representatives of three organizations or entities with experience granting relief funds or technical assistance to farmers, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets;
and (4) two farmers who have received relief funding, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
(c) Member terms.
The members designated in subdivisions (b)(3) of this section shall be appointed to initial terms of two years.
Thereafter, each appointed member shall serve a term of three years or until the member’s earlier resignation or removal.
The members designated in subdivision (b)(4) of this section shall be appointed to initial terms of one year.
Thereafter, each appointed member shall serve a term of three years or until the member’s earlier resignation or removal.
A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term.
An appointed member shall not serve more than three consecutive three-year terms.
(d) Powers.
(1) The Review Board shall review applications for assistance under this section, assess the accuracy and validity of the applications, and recommend to the Secretary applicants who should receive assistance under this section.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 8 of 14 (2) In order to ensure that the Fund is meeting the needs of Vermont’s agricultural community, the Review Board annually shall review the application process, eligibility criteria, distribution, and accessibility of the Fund.
The Review Board annually shall recommend to the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Agriculture ways to improve the effectiveness of the Fund.
(e) Officers;
committees.
The Board may elect officers, establish one or more committees or subcommittees, and adopt such procedural rules as it shall determine necessary and appropriate to perform its work.
(f) Quorum;
meetings;
voting.
A majority of the sitting members shall constitute a quorum, and action taken by the Board may be authorized by a majority of the members present and voting at any regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present.
The Board may meet as an advisory body under 1 V.S.A.
chapter 1, subchapter 2.
(g) Compensation.
Private sector members shall be entitled to per diem compensation authorized under 32 V.S.A.
§ 1010(b) for each day spent in the performance of their duties, and each member shall be reimbursed from the Fund for the member’s actual and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the member’s duties.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 9 of 14 Sec.
3.
FUNDING INTENT;
REPORT ON FUTURE APPROPRIATIONS (a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Farm Security Special Fund receive an annual appropriation equal to 50 percent of the average documented farm losses from eligible weather conditions, as defined in 6 V.S.A.
chapter 207, subchapter 4, averaged over previous years.
(b) To determine the appropriate funds for deposit to the Farm Security Special Fund, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall recommend to the Farm Security Special Fund Review Board on or before December 15, 2025 an amount to be appropriated to the Farm Security Special Fund based on the farm losses from eligible weather conditions averaged over the previous three calendar years.
On or before January 15, 2026, the Farm Security Special Fund Review Board shall submit to the Senate Committees on Agriculture and on Appropriations and the House Committees on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and on Appropriations a recommended appropriation to the Farm Security Special Fund.
Sec.
4.
EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
Sec.
1.
FINDINGS The General Assembly finds that:
(1) In 2023 and 2024, Vermont experienced extreme flooding and other climate-fueled disasters that devastated farms and other working lands businesses across the State.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 10 of 14 (2) Many existing State and federal programs that are designed to support farms are difficult to access, are administratively burdensome, and currently do not meet the needs of Vermont farmers in a holistic way.
and VT LEG #381910 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 2 of 8 (C) provide a source of relief funds permanently available to farmers impacted by climate emergencies and extreme weather.
and (C) provide a source of relief funds permanently available to farmers impacted by climate emergencies and extreme weather.
Farm Security Special Fund § 4631.
Farm Security Special Fund § 4631.
VT LEG #381910 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 3 of 8 (2) “Farm” means a parcel or parcels of land owned, leased, or managed by a person and devoted primarily to farming and that is subject to regulation under the Required Agricultural Practices.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 11 of 14 (2) “Farm” means a parcel or parcels of land owned, leased, or managed by a person and devoted primarily to farming and that is subject to regulation under the Required Agricultural Practices.
§ 4632.
§ 4632.
(1) funds transferred by the General Assembly;
(1) funds appropriated transferred by the General Assembly;
VT LEG #381910 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 4 of 8 (c) All balances in the Fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward and remain part of the Fund.
(c) All balances in the Fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward and remain part of the Fund.
§ 4633.
§ 4633.
(3) The Secretary may verify the occurrence of an eligible weather condition claimed under this section through a site visit or through use of available data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, from other federal or State certified weather data sources, or from other public or private weather or satellite data or models.
(3) The Secretary may verify the occurrence of an eligible weather condition claimed under this section through a site visit or through use of available data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 12 of 14 from other federal or State certified weather data sources, or from other public or private weather or satellite data or models.
VT LEG #381910 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 5 of 8 (B) replacement of lost income from destroyed crops or impacted livestock;
(B) replacement of lost income from destroyed crops or impacted livestock;
(d) Applications for an award under this section shall be processed in the order received, but an application shall not be ready for evaluation until the VT LEG #381910 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 6 of 8 Secretary determines that the application is administratively complete and includes all documentation required by the Secretary.
(d) Applications for an award under this section shall be processed in the order received, but an application shall not be ready for evaluation until the Secretary determines that the application is administratively complete and includes all documentation required by the Secretary.
§ 4634.
§ 4634.
FARM SECURITY SPECIAL FUND REVIEW BOARD (a) Creation.
FARM SECURITY SPECIAL FUND REVIEW BOARD BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 13 of 14 (a) Creation.
and VT LEG #381910 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 7 of 8 (4) two farmers who have received relief funding, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
and (4) two farmers who have received relief funding, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
(3) In order to ensure that the Fund is meeting the needs of Vermont’s agricultural community, the Review Board annually shall review the VT LEG #381910 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 8 of 8 application process, eligibility criteria, distribution, and accessibility of the Fund.
(3) In order to ensure that the Fund is meeting the needs of Vermont’s agricultural community, the Review Board annually shall review the application process, eligibility criteria, distribution, and accessibility of the Fund.
(e) Officers;
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.60 Page 14 of 14 (e) Officers;
The Board may meet as an advisory body under 1 V.S.A.
The Board may meet as an advisory body under V.S.A.
APPROPRIATION In addition to other funds appropriated to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets in fiscal year 2026, the sum of $7,500,000.00 is appropriated to the Agency from the General Fund in fiscal year 2026 for the purpose of implementing the Farm Security Special Fund established under 6 V.S.A.
chapter 207, subchapter 4.
Sec.
4.
VT LEG #381910 v.1
Sec.
3.
EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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Amendments

2 amendments

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Action History

  1. Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026

  2. Delivered to Governor on March 20, 2026

  3. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

  4. As passed by Senate and House

  5. Title amended

  6. House proposal of amendment concurred in

  7. Reported favorably by Senator Collamore for Committee on Agriculture

  8. House proposal of amendment; text

  9. Favorable report by Committee on Agriculture

  10. House proposal of amendment

  11. Favorable report by Committee on Agriculture

  12. House proposal of amendment

  13. Entered on Notice Calendar

  14. Recommitted to Committee on Agriculture on motion of Senator Ingalls

  15. House proposal of amendment; text

  16. House proposal of amendment

  17. House proposal of amendment

  18. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

  19. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  20. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  21. Third Reading ordered

  22. Report of Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry, as amended, agreed to

  23. Report of Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations

  24. Rep. Stevens of Waterbury recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

  25. Rep. Bos-Lun of Westminster reported for the Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

  26. Read second time

  27. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  28. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  29. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)

  30. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  31. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

  32. Read 3rd time & passed

  33. Motion disagreed to

  34. Pending third reading, Senator(s) Vyhovsky moved to amend bill

  35. New Business/Third Reading

  36. 3rd reading ordered

  37. Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Agriculture, as amended, agreed to

  38. Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Agriculture amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations

  39. Reported favorably by Senator Norris for Committee on Appropriations with recommendation of amendment

  40. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Major for Committee on Agriculture

  41. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations

  42. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

  43. New Business/Second Reading

  44. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

  45. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

  46. Second Reading

  47. Entered on Notice Calendar

  48. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

  49. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Agriculture

  50. Second Reading

  51. Entered on Notice Calendar

  52. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Agriculture

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 186 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (186)

186 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.

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Subjects

environment agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 60?
S 60 is sponsored by Robert Plunkett (Democrat), Joseph "Joe" D Major (Democrat), Steven Heffernan (Republican), and Ruth E Hardy (Democrat).
What is the current status of S 60?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 11, 2025. Enacted.
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