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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont bill requires General Assembly approval for all state-owned railroad lease extensions
Last action · February 25, 2025: Read 1st time & referred to Committee on TransportationSponsor: Wendy Harrison
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill requires that all extensions for leases of receive approval from the General Assembly. It takes effect upon passage.
Changes the oversight process for state-owned rail assets by shifting lease extension authorization authority to the legislature, impacting how long-term rail operations are managed.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Secretary
Must seek General Assembly approval for railroad lease extensions and provide specified notices to legislative committees.
Railroad operators
Subject to lease terms, short-term agreement limits, and legislative approval processes for operating State-owned railroad property.
Key Facts
- Requires that all extensions for leases of State-owned railroad property be approved by the General Assembly.
- Allows the Secretary to enter into short-term leases or operating agreements not to exceed six months with a responsible railroad operator to preserve continuity of service.
- Requires the Secretary to notify the House and Senate Committees on Transportation within 10 calendar days after entering into any short-term lease or agreement.
- Requires the Secretary to notify transportation committees or the Joint Transportation Oversight Committee when there are 12 months remaining on an operating lease or lease extension for any State-owned railroad.
Show all 5 facts
- The act takes effect upon passage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must approve railroad lease extensions under this bill?
What is the maximum duration for a short-term lease or operating agreement entered into by the Secretary?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Feb 25, 2025SenateIntroducedRead 1st time & referred to Committee on Transportation
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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