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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont bill allows non-resident property sellers to provide written notice regarding lack of knowledge on past flooding
Last action · January 29, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and HousingSponsor: Anthony Micklus
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What This Bill Would Do
Non-resident property sellers in Vermont may satisfy mandatory flooding disclosure requirements by notifying potential buyers in writing that they never physically resided on the property and cannot affirm its flooding history.
Real estate sellers who have never lived on their property gain a specific legal exemption from affirming past flood damage, provided they have no personal knowledge of it, shifting disclosure limits for absentee owners.
- Real estate property condition disclosures are governed under Title 27 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated. context
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.
real property sellers
Sellers who have never lived on the property gain the option to provide a written notice of non-residence in lieu of affirming flood history when they lack personal knowledge.
real property buyers
Buyers receive a specific written notice when a seller has no personal occupancy history regarding past flooding instead of a definitive affirmation.
Key Facts
- Sellers who have never physically resided on a property may notify potential buyers in writing that they cannot affirm whether the property experienced past flooding or flood damage.
- The exemption does not relieve sellers from disclosure requirements if they actually possess knowledge that the property was subject to flooding or flood damage during their ownership.
- Sellers must continue to provide a physical, electronic copy, or digital link of the official FEMA flood insurance rate map or notice of its unavailability.
- Sellers must disclose whether they maintain or are required by law to maintain flood insurance on the property.
Show all 5 facts
- The act takes effect upon passage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can a property seller do if they never lived in the home they are selling?
Does this bill remove all flooding disclosure responsibilities for absentee owners?
What else do you want to know?
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- Jan 29, 2026HouseIntroducedRead first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing
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
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
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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