The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont Bill H.656 Provides Supplemental Pay, Health Benefits, and Retirement Plans for General Assembly Members
Last action · January 13, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military AffairsSponsor: Mary Howard
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
This bill provides supplemental session compensation to General Assembly members experiencing income shortfalls due to their service, makes members eligible for Executive Branch health benefits, and opens the State's to members beginning in the 2027-2028 biennium.
Lawmakers gain access to state-subsidized health insurance, retirement matching funds, and income-shortfall protection, altering the financial terms of serving in the legislature starting in January 2027.
- Members of the General Assembly in Vermont have historically served on a part-time basis with set per-session compensation and limited access to standard executive branch benefits. 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.
Members of the General Assembly
Lawmakers become eligible for supplemental income shortfalls during sessions, executive-branch health insurance coverage terms, and state retirement plan matching contributions.
State Treasurer
The State Treasurer is required to administer the Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, handle account fund applications, and certify necessary payroll percentages to the Governor.
Key Facts
- The Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate are entitled to a supplemental monthly payment if their household income during the legislative session falls below their pre-service median monthly income due to legislative service.
- Members of the General Assembly other than the Speaker and President Pro Tempore are also eligible to receive monthly supplemental compensation if their household income drops during the legislative session due to their service.
- Members of the General Assembly are included in the definition of 'employees' for the purpose of group hospital-surgical-medical expense insurance.
- Members of the General Assembly must pay the same portion of health insurance premiums as employees of the Executive Branch.
Show all 8 facts
- Members elected or appointed to serve in the General Assembly for the 2027-2028 biennium and after are eligible to participate in the State's Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.
- Participating members of the Defined Contribution Retirement Plan must contribute 2.85 percent of their compensation per payroll period, while the State contributes seven percent.
- Participating members become vested in the Defined Contribution Retirement Plan after completing one year and 11 months of creditable service.
- Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the act take effect on January 1, 2027, while Section 4 takes effect upon passage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the new supplemental compensation payments?
What health insurance benefits do General Assembly members receive under this bill?
What are the contribution rates for lawmakers participating in the Defined Contribution Retirement Plan?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
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 13, 2026HouseIntroducedRead first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Legislative Benefit Realignment
The bill integrates part-time General Assembly members into state employee benefit structures such as executive health plans and defined contribution retirement plans.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools