Loading chat...

VT H0022

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/9/2025

Primary Sponsor

Troy Headrick

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2025-2026 Session

AI Summary

  • Amends Vermont's Public Records Act to make severance pay and benefit extension agreements for public agency employees subject to public inspection and copying, removing these from the personnel file exemption

  • Requires every state public agency to publish an annual report by July 1 detailing all benefit extension agreements from the preceding fiscal year, including recipient names, positions, amounts paid, specific benefits, agreement duration, and reasons for termination

  • Authorizes courts to assess punitive damages up to $2,500 against public agencies that act in bad faith by improperly withholding or delaying access to public records

  • Mandates a one-time retroactive report by January 15, 2026 covering all benefit extension agreements from 2018 through 2025

  • Effective date: July 1, 2025

Legislative Description

An act relating to access to information concerning benefit extension agreements for employees of public agencies

Last Action

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

1/9/2025

Committee Referrals

Government Operations and Military Affairs1/9/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available