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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont creates municipal flood recovery fund backed by annual general fund revenue
Last action · February 18, 2025: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military AffairsSponsor: Edward Waszazak
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What This Bill Would Do
Vermont establishes the Municipal Response and Recovery to provide direct financial assistance to municipalities for flood response, prevention, and , effective July 1, 2025. The fund will receive an annual deposit equal to 0.5 percent of General Fund revenue, with disbursements beginning July 1, 2026. Additionally, the State Treasurer must submit a distribution and legislative recommendation report by December 1, 2025.
Qualifying local governments gain a dedicated, recurring state funding stream for flood mitigation and emergency response infrastructure starting in mid-2026.
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.
Municipalities
Qualifying municipalities become eligible to receive direct financial assistance for flood response, recovery, and resiliency projects.
State Treasurer
The State Treasurer is tasked with managing the Special Fund, accepting contributions, and submitting a comprehensive report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025.
Key Facts
- Establishes the Vermont Municipal Response and Recovery Special Fund to fund municipal flood response, recovery, and resiliency projects.
- Annually deposits 0.5 percent of General Fund revenue into the Special Fund.
- Requires all interest earned on Special Fund balances to be credited back to the Special Fund, overriding standard statutory provisions.
- Authorizes the State Treasurer to accept public or private gifts, donations, and grants for the Special Fund.
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- Prohibits the disbursement of monies from the Special Fund prior to July 1, 2026.
- Directs the State Treasurer to submit a written report to legislative committees by December 1, 2025, detailing proposed uses, distribution guidelines, and legislative recommendations.
- Takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can municipalities start receiving money from the new fund?
Where does the money for the Special Fund come from?
What is the State Treasurer required to do before the fund starts disbursing money?
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- Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroducedRead 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.
Creation of Dedicated Municipal Flood Fund
The state is shifting toward a dedicated, recurring revenue percentage mechanism specifically earmarked for municipal flood response and resilience.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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