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Public policy in Vermont

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The Public Policy Project on Ballotpedia aims to illuminate major policy issues being discussed and implemented throughout the United States. Public policy can be complicated and controversial; deciding what works best and how to allocate resources to achieve a policy goal can involve multiple trade-offs. Much of the public policy that affects citizens economically, legally and socially, is made at the state level. Below you will find links and introductions to all the Vermont public policy articles on Ballotpedia. To see the policy overview of another state click on the map below.

For a list of all public policy articles on Ballotpedia see here.

Budget Policy

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Budget and finances

In Vermont, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Between fiscal years 2015 and 2016, total government spending in Vermont increased by approximately $129.0 million—from $5.4 billion in fiscal year 2015 to an estimated $5.6 billion in 2016. This represents a 2.4-percent increase.[1]
  • In Vermont in fiscal year 2015, 34.2 percent of total tax revenues came from property taxes. Income taxes accounted for 26.8 percent of total state tax collections.
  • Education accounted for 33.5 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015, while 28.5 percent went to Medicaid.
  • Taxes

    Vermont generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying a state-level property tax, a personal income tax and select sales taxes (otherwise known as excise taxes).

    Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states' total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid (e.g., federal funds), lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise (or special sales) taxes and corporate income tax.[2]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the United States Census Bureau, Vermont collected $3.09 billion in tax revenue in 2016. The state's tax revenue per capita was $4,941.
  • Civil Liberties Policy

    Civil Liberties Policy Logo.png

    Affirmative action

    Affirmative action in Vermont refers to the steps taken by employers and universities in Vermont to increase the proportions of historically disadvantaged minority groups at those institutions. Historically, affirmative action nationwide has taken many different forms, such as strict quotas, extra outreach efforts, and racial and gender preferences. However, racial quotas in university admissions were banned in a 1978 United States Supreme Court case, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.[3]

    On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, effectively ending the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

    As of March 2015, 109 out of 577 public four-year universities across the country reported that they considered race in admissions. This practice has been banned in eight states. Meanwhile, 28 states require affirmative action plans in either public employment or apprenticeships. Affirmative action programs that grant racial preferences have come under scrutiny in the courts for potentially violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.[4][5]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • In Vermont, one public university reported considering race in admissions as of March 2015.
  • At that time, Vermont did not have a law regarding affirmative action requirements for employers.
  • The effects of affirmative action policies are contested. Proponents argue that affirmative action diversifies selective institutions and provides more opportunities to minorities. Opponents argue that implementing policies that favor some groups requires discrimination against others and that these policiesmay harm individuals they are meant to help.

    Campaign finance

    Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations and nonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections through independent expenditures or issue advocacy.

    This page provides background on campaign finance regulation, lists contribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures in Vermont, compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in Vermont with those from other states, and details the candidate reporting requirements in Vermont.

    The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.[6]

    As of August 2025:
  • Individuals could contribute $5,180 to gubernatorial candidates, $1,940 to state senate candidates, and $1,290 to state house candidates.
  • State parties could contribute unlimitedly to candidates for state office.
  • Political committees could contribute $5,180 to gubernatorial candidates, $1,940 to state senate candidates, and $1,290 to state house candidates.
  • Corporations and unions could contribute $5,180 to gubernatorial candidates, $1,940 to state senate candidates, and $1,290 to state house candidates.
  • Background

    Seal of the United States Federal Election Commission

    The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign election laws. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing limits and prohibitions on contributions and overseeing public funding of presidential elections.[7] According to the FEC, an individual becomes a federal candidate and must begin reporting campaign finances once he or she has either raised or spent $5,000 in his or her campaign. Within fifteen days of this benchmark, the candidate must register with the FEC and designate an official campaign committee, which is responsible for the funds and expenditures of the campaign. This committee must have an official treasurer and cannot support any candidate but the one who registered it. Detailed financial reports are then made to the FEC every financial quarter after the individual is registered. Reports are also made before primaries and before the general election.[8]

    The rules governing federal election campaigns and contributions have evolved over the past generation as result of a number of Supreme Court decisions. In the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited. The court's decision also overturned the ban on for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and unions broadcasting electioneering communications in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before a general election.[9] In the SpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission decision, the first application of the Citizens United decision, the court held that contribution limits on what individuals could give to independent expenditure-only groups, and the amount these organizations could receive, were unconstitutional. Contribution limits on donations directly to candidates, however, remained unchanged.[10][11] In 2014's McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court overturned biennial aggregate campaign contribution limits, and held that individuals may contribute to as many federal candidates as they want, but may only contribute up to the federal limit in each case.[12]

    While the FEC governs federal election campaigns and contribution limits, individual states enforce their own regulation and reporting requirements. Regulations vary by state, as do limits on campaign contributions and third-party activities to influence elections. Candidates for local office must follow any applicable state and local campaign finance regulations.

    Contribution limits

    The table below details contribution limits as they applied to various types of individuals and groups in Vermont as of August 2025. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.

    Vermont contribution limits as of August 2025
      Individuals Single candidates committees PACs Political party Super PACs Corporations Unions
    Statewide Candidate (incl. Governor) $5,180 $5,180 $5,180 unlimited $0 $5,180 $5,180
    Senate $1,940 $1,940 $1,940 unlimited $0 $1,940 $1,940
    House $1,290 $1,290 $1,290 unlimited $0 $1,290 $1,290
    PAC $5,180 $5,180 $5,180 $5,180 $0 $5,180 $5,180
    Party committees $12,950 $12,950 $12,950 $77,690 $0 $12,950 $12,950
    Ballot measures unlimited unlimited unlimited unlimited $0 unlimited unlimited
    Limits apply per two-year election cycle.
    Sources: Office of the Vermont Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance," accessed August 12, 2025

    State comparisons in the 2024 elections

    See also: State-by-state comparison of campaign finance requirements

    As of the 2024 elections, there were no individual contribution limits on contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates in 12 states. The remaining 38 states, including Vermont, had varying limits.


    Vermont

    Individual contribution limits in Vermont:

    • Governor: $4,480 per two-year election cycle
    • State Senate: $1,680 per two-year election cycle
    • State House: $1,120 per two-year election cycle
    Comparison to other states

    In the 38 states with individual contribution limits:

    • Governor
    • State Senate
      • Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
      • Maximum: $15,499.69 per election (Ohio)
    • State House
      • Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
      • Maximum: $15,499.69 per election (Ohio)

    Candidate reporting requirements

    Seal of Vermont

    DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 17-61 of the Vermont Election Law

    An individual becomes a candidate when he or she has taken action to become a candidate for state, county, local, or legislative office in a primary, special, general, or local election, including accepting contributions or making expenditures totaling $500 or more, filing the requisite petition for nomination, or announcing that he or she seeks an elected position.[14]

    Each candidate who spends or raises $500 or more in an election cycle must register and file campaign finance reports with the Vermont Secretary of State.[14]

    Registration of campaign

    A candidate who has made expenditures or has received contributions of $500 or more in an election cycle must register with the Vermont Secretary of State within 10 days of reaching that threshold. The submitted registration form must include the following:[15]

    1. the candidate's full name and address;
    2. the office the candidate is seeking;
    3. the name and address of the bank in which the candidate maintains his or her campaign checking account; and
    4. the name and address of the treasurer responsible for maintaining the checking account.

    Campaign reports

    Campaign reporting forms must be filed with the secretary of state and include the following information:[16][17]

    1. the full name, town of residence, and mailing address of each contributor who contributes an amount in excess of $100, including the date of the contribution and the amount contributed;
    2. the total amount of all contributions of $100 or less and the total number of all contributors making such contributions;
    3. each expenditure listed by amount, date, to whom paid, and for what purpose;
    4. the amount contributed or loaned by the candidate to his or her own campaign during the reporting period;
    5. each debt or other obligation, listed by amount, date incurred, to whom owed and for what purpose, incurred during the reporting period;
    6. all contributions and expenditures accepted or spent during the reporting period and during the campaign to date;
    7. full disclosure of the manner in which any indebtedness is discharged or forgiven; and
    8. a certification of the truth of the statements and the signatures of the candidate or the treasurer of the campaign.

    Reporting schedule

    Each candidate for statewide or state legislative office that spends or receives $500 or more during an election cycle is required to file campaign finance reports on these dates.

    Report filing deadlines
    July 1 (of the first year of the two-year general election cycle)
    March 15 (of the second year of the two-year general election cycle; same applies to below dates)
    July 1
    August 1
    September 1
    October 1
    October 15
    Friday before the general election
    Two weeks after the general election
    Sources: Vermont General Assembly, "The Vermont Statutes Online: Title 17: 061-2964," accessed August 13, 2025


    Contributions and expenditures received or spent after 5 p.m. on the third day prior to the filing deadline must be reported on the next report.[16]

    Campaign finance legislation

    The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to Vermont's current legislative session.[18]

    Election and campaign ballot measures

    See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Vermont ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked 8 statewide ballot measures relating to elections and campaigns.

    1. Vermont End the Residency Requirement to Vote Amendment (1974)
    2. Vermont Manner of Electing the Vermont Secretary of State (1883)
    3. Vermont Direct Primary Act (1916)
    4. Vermont Primary Elections Act (1914)
    5. Vermont Voting Age Amendment, Proposal 5 (2010)
    6. Vermont Statewide Referendum: Primary Elections Question 1 (1914)
    7. Vermont Statewide Referendum: Primary Elections Question 2 (1914)
    8. Vermont Statewide Referendum: The Direct Primary (1916)


    Contact information

    Election agencies

    Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
    See also: State election agencies

    Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Vermont can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

    Vermont Town Clerks

    Click here for a list

    Vermont Secretary of State, Elections Division

    128 State Street
    Montpelier, Vermont 05633-1101
    Phone: 802-828-2363
    Email: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/about/contact/
    Website: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/

    U.S. Election Assistance Commission

    633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
    Washington, DC 20001
    Phone: 301-563-3919
    Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
    Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
    Website: https://www.eac.gov

    Federal Election Commission (FEC)

    1050 First Street, NE
    Washington, DC 20463
    Telephone: (202)-694-1100
    Toll-free: 1-800-424-9530
    Email: info@fec.gov
    Website: http://www.fec.gov/

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Vermont campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report (Fiscal 2014-2016)," accessed June 26, 2017
    2. Brunori, D. (2011). State Tax Policy: A Political Perspective. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Press
    3. Oyez, "Regents of the University of California v. Bakke," accessed February 11, 2015
    4. Miller Center of Public Affairs, "Affirmative Action: Race or Class?" accessed February 10, 2015
    5. Business and Legal Resources, "Affirmative Action," accessed March 31, 2015
    6. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Campaign Finance Enforcement," accessed May 28, 2025
    7. Federal Election Commission, "About the FEC," accessed June 27, 2012
    8. Federal Election Commission, "Candidate Registration Brochure," accessed December 7, 2012
    9. New York Times, "Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit," January 21, 2010
    10. Federal Election Commission, "Speechnow.org v. FEC," April 7, 2014
    11. OpenSecrets, "Two Federal Court Rulings Could Change Campaign Finance Landscape," March 26, 2010
    12. Federal Election Commission, "Ongoing Litigation," accessed March 18, 2015
    13. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Limits on Contributions to Candidates 2023-2024 Election Cycle," accessed May 8, 2025
    14. 14.0 14.1 Office of the Vermont Secretary of State, "Guide to Vermont's Campaign Finance Law," accessed August 12, 2025
    15. Vermont General Assembly, "The Vermont Statutes Online: Title 17: 061-2921," accessed August 13, 2025
    16. 16.0 16.1 Vermont General Assembly, "The Vermont Statutes Online: Title 17: 061-2963," accessed August 13, 2025
    17. Vermont General Assembly, "The Vermont Statutes Online: Title 17: 061-2962," accessed August 13, 2025
    18. Bills are organized by most recent action. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

    Nonprofit regulation

    Nonprofit regulation in Vermont involves a complex set of rules that govern nonprofit organizations and charitable giving throughout the state. Major issues surrounding nonprofit regulation nationwide include the following:

    • contribution limits,
    • donor disclosure, and
    • the redefinition of issue advocacy.


    Vermont is one of 11 states that do not require charitable organizations, or those intending to solicit on their behalf, to register with the state in order to solicit contributions, whether they are a Vermont organization or based out-of-state.[1]

    According to Guidestar, an organization that reports on nonprofit companies, regulation of nonprofit activity protects donors and organizations from potential fraud and helps "to maintain trust in the [nonprofit] sector." According to the London School of Economics, nonprofit disclosure requirements can create privacy concerns among potential donors, thereby having an unintended negative impact on donor participation.[2][3]

    Education Policy

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    K-12 Public education

    The Vermont public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, Vermont had 83,534 students enrolled in a total of 293 schools in 98 school districts. There were 6,761 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 12 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, Vermont spent on average $20,838 per pupil.[4] The state's graduation rate was 85 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.[5]

    Higher education

    Vermont's higher education system is composed of 23 colleges and universities. Of these, six are public institutions, 16 are nonprofit private schools, and one is a for-profit private institution.[6]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Vermont's total retention rate in the 2013-2014 school year was 78 percent, one of the highest in the country.
  • The six-year graduation rate for public four-year institutions in Vermont was 65.3 percent, a higher rate than in two neighboring states.
  • In Vermont, the percentage of all part-time faculty, including graduate assistants, increased from 26.5 percent to 46.1 percent between the 1993-1994 and 2013-2014 school years.
  • School choice

    School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies, magnet schools, and charter schools. Other options include school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).[7][8]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • As of June 2016, Vermont had not approved legislation authorizing the creation of charter schools.
  • In Vermont, there were 8,890 students enrolled in 110 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 9.56 percent of the state's total school-age population.
  • Under Vermont's Town Tuitioning Program, students in towns that do not operate public high schools and/or elementary schools are eligible to receive vouchers to pay tuition at any public or approved private (non-religious) school inside or outside Vermont.
  • Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

    Charter schools

    Charter schools are public schools operated independently of public school systems. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

    As of June 2016, Vermont had not enacted charter school legislation.[9][10]

    Election Policy

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    Ballot access requirements

    In order to get on the ballot in Vermont, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

    There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

    1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
    2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
    3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

    This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Vermont. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

    Redistricting

    Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Vermont's one United States Representative and 180 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[11][12][13][14]

    Vermont was apportioned one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Vermont after the 2020 census.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Following the 2020 United States Census, Vermont was apportioned one congressional seat, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.
  • The Vermont State Senate comprises three single-member districts, six-two member districts, three three-member districts and one six-member district for a grand total of 13 districts. The Vermont House of Representatives comprises 58 single-member districts and 46 two-member districts for a grand total of 104 districts.
  • Because Vermont is home to only one U.S. House district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature is primarily responsible for drawing state legislative district lines; an advisory commission is also involved in the process.
  • Voting



    Election Policy VNT Logo.png

    Election Information
    2026 election and voting dates
    Voter registration
    Early voting
    Absentee/mail-in voting
    All-mail voting
    Voter ID laws
    State poll opening and closing times
    Time off work for voting

    Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

    Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

    The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

    This article includes the following information about voting policies in Vermont:

    Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

    For information on elections happening this year, click here.

    Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

    Energy Policy

    Energy Policy-Logo.png

    Energy information

    Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as available natural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

    Fracking

    Read about Vermont's state energy profile »

    According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Vermont had no oil or natural gas reserves as of May 2017; thus, no fracking occurred in the state.[15]

    Environmental Policy

    Environmental Policy Logo.png

    Environmental information

    Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. Federal, state, and local government entities develop and implement environmental policies through laws and regulations. This page features information about environmental policy in Vermont.

    Endangered species

    Endangered species policy in Vermont involves the identification and protection of endangered and threatened animal and plant species. Policies are implemented and enforced by both the state and federal governments.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • As of July 2016, Vermont had five species—four endangered species and one threatened species—listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
  • Of these, three were animal species and two were plant species.
  • Finance Policy

    Policypedia Finance Final.png

    Financial regulation information

    The United States financial system is a network that facilitates exchanges between lenders and borrowers. The system, which includes banks and investment firms, is the base for all economic activity in the nation. According to the Federal Reserve, financial regulation has two main intended purposes: to ensure the safety and soundness of the financial system and to provide and enforce rules that aim to protect consumers. The regulatory framework varies across industries, with different regulations applying to different financial services.[16]

    Individual federal and state entities have different and sometimes overlapping responsibilities within the regulatory system. For example, individual states and three federal agencies—the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—regulate commercial banks. Other sectors of the financial market are regulated by specific entities.[17][18]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • In 2015, there were a total of seven distinct commercial banks in Vermont, with total deposits of $12.09 billion.
  • The Department of Financial Regulation regulates financial institutions in Vermont.
  • In 2015, a total of 4,075 financial crimes were reported in Vermont according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN), an agency of the United States Department of Treasury.
  • Some, such as the Brookings Institution, argue that expanded governmental regulation of banks and financial products (e.g., mortgages) can prevent large-scale financial crises, protect consumers from abusive practices, and stabilize financial markets. Others, such as the Cato Institute, argue that over-regulation of banks of banks and financial products burdens business, stalls economic growth, and does little, if anything, to stabilize financial markets. Beyond this basic debate about the role of the government in regulating the private financial sector, there are varying opinions about the proper extent of governmental regulation.[19][20]

    Healthcare Policy

    Healthcare Policy Logo.png

    Healthcare information

    Healthcare policy in Vermont involves the creation and implementation of laws, rules, and regulations for managing the state's healthcare system. The healthcare system consists of services provided by medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental and physical illness and injury. The system also encompasses a wide range of related sectors, such as insurance, pharmaceuticals and health information technology.

    According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the 50 state legislatures collectively "make thousands of health policy decisions each year," not including the decisions made by local governments, which often oversee hospitals, and private bodies, such as insurers. These decisions can include budget appropriations, requirements for doctors obtaining their licenses, which services are covered by insurance, how personal health information is managed, and which immunizations children must receive, among many others.[21]

    Healthcare policy affects not only the cost citizens must pay for care, but also their access to care and the quality of care received, which can influence their overall health. A top concern for policymakers is the rising cost of healthcare, which has placed an increasing strain on the disposable income of consumers as well as on state budgets.

    Other issues in healthcare policy include

    Medicaid spending

    Vermont's Medicaid program provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by the states within federal guidelines. A program related to Medicaid is the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers low-income children above the poverty line and is sometimes operated in conjunction with a state's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a separate program from Medicare, which provides health coverage for the elderly.

    Effect of the Affordable Care Act

    The impact of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has been debated among politicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The ACA was signed into law in 2010 by President Barack Obama (D). The law facilitated the purchase of health insurance through a system of health insurance exchanges, tax credits, and subsidies. Initially, states were required to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the law; a 2012 ruling by the United States Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion voluntary for states. The law also required insurers to cover healthcare services within a standard set of benefits and prohibited coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. Under the law, all individuals were required to obtain health insurance.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Between 2013 and 2016, the number of uninsured individuals in Vermont declined by 48.9%.
  • About 29,000 individuals in Vermont were enrolled in health plans offered through the health insurance exchange in 2017. Enrollment in Medicaid amounted to about 170,000 in May 2017.
  • The Kaiser Family Foundation found that between 2016 and 2017, average monthly premiums for benchmark plans on Vermont's exchange increased by an average of 5% in the Burlington market, from $468 to $492.

  • Immigration Policy

    Policypedia Imigration Final.png

    Immigration information

    Immigration policy determines who may become a new citizen of the United States or enter the country as a temporary worker, student, refugee, or permanent resident. The federal government is responsible for setting and enforcing most immigration policy.

    Meanwhile, states assume a largely supportive role, enacting their own supplementary laws and setting policies that may, for example, determine which public services immigrants can access, establish employee screening requirements, or guide the interaction between related state agencies and their federal counterparts.

    Some jurisdictions, including some states, cities, and counties, have adopted policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement; these jurisdictions have become known as sanctuary jurisdictions.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • As of November 2016, Vermont allowed lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant women to enroll in Medicaid. The state also issued driver's licenses to individuals residing in the country without legal permission.
  • In 2014, Vermont's population amounted to about 626,000 individuals. Native-born citizens comprised 95.6 percent of the population; 2.4 percent of residents were naturalized citizens and 1.8 percent were non-citizens.
  • Vermont's poverty rate during 2014 was 7.8 percent. Among native-born citizens, 7.8 percent lived below the poverty line, compared to 12.1 percent of non-citizens.
  • Pension Policy

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    Public pensions

    Vermont public pensions are the state mechanism by which state and many local government employees in Vermont receive retirement benefits.

    There were ten public pension systems in Vermont as of 2020. Of these, three were state-level programs while the remaining seven were administered at the local level. Membership in Vermont's various pension systems totaled 61,121, as of fiscal year 2020. Of these, 27,678 were active members.[22]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Total contributions of $355.3 million were made to Vermont's state and local pension systems, in fiscal year 2020. Of this amount, $107.8 million came from employees.
  • Vermont's state and local pension systems made payments totaling $457.4 million, in fiscal year 2020.
  • Vermont's state and local pension systems held $5.0 billion in total cash and investment holdings, as of fiscal year 2020.

  • Public policy in other states

    Click your state for an overview of policy information in your state.
    http://ballotpedia.org/Public policy in STATE


    Footnotes

    1. Fishman, S. & Barrett, R. (2012). Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: The 50 State Guide. NOLO.
    2. Guidestar, Fundraising: What Laws Apply?" accessed February 18, 2015
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