VT H0149

Expands Vermont's equal pay protections beyond sex, race, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity to include color, religion, ancestry, place of birth, age, crime victim status, and physical or mental condition

Prohibits employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations from paying different wages to employees in any protected class for equal work requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions

Permits differential wages only when based on seniority systems, merit systems, quantity/quality of production, or bona fide job-related factors that do not perpetuate discrimination

Employers claiming a bona fide factor exception must demonstrate the factor is job-related and based on legitimate business considerations

Effective date: July 1, 2025