The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont bill establishes municipal flood recovery funding, property buyout programs, and infrastructure assistance
Last action · January 14, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military AffairsSponsors: Edward Waszazak and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill requires the Division of Emergency Management to provide bridge financial assistance and cover local FEMA match requirements for flood-impacted municipalities. It creates voluntary property buyout and homeowner assistance programs, authorizes highway mitigation grants, and appropriates $5,225,000 for 2027.
Flood-prone municipalities and residential property owners gain access to state-funded property buyouts at full fair market value, bridge financing while awaiting federal reimbursements, and state coverage of local FEMA cost shares.
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
Municipalities become eligible for state bridge financing, coverage of local FEMA cost shares, municipal mitigation grants, and direct technical design assistance.
residential property owners
Residential property owners in flood-prone areas may request municipal application for full fair-market property buyouts or financial support for home elevation, relocation, and flood-resilient rebuilding.
Division of Emergency Management
The Division must provide new financial assistance, establish buyout and homeowner assistance programs, maintain an asset management system, and onboard two new staff positions.
Agency of Transportation
The Agency must administer expanded mitigation grants, provide technical and design assistance for town highways, maintain an asset tracking system, and procure a regional heavy machinery fleet.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What financial help is available for municipalities waiting for federal flood reimbursement?
How does the Voluntary Buyout Program determine the purchase price for flood-prone properties?
What is the local match requirement for grants under the Municipal Mitigation Assistance Program?
How much money is appropriated by this bill for fiscal year 2027 and where does it go?
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 14, 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
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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