VT H0412

Extends Act 250 housing exemptions through July 1, 2035 for priority housing projects near designated centers, downtown districts, village centers, and transit routes, with unit limits ranging from 50-75 units depending on location

Modifies Act 250 jurisdiction by removing the "Tier 3" critical natural resources category and replacing mandatory rulemaking with a study to investigate potential expanded protections for river corridors, headwater streams, and habitat connectors

Reduces wetland buffer zones from 50 feet to 25 feet in designated growth areas, Tier 1A/1B areas, and industrial parks, and lowers the wetland compensation ratio from 2:1 to 1:1 in these same locations

Creates the SPARC (Strategic Projects for Advancing Rural Communities) tax increment financing program allowing municipalities to retain up to 100% of education tax increment for projects involving flood resiliency, housing, brownfield remediation, or economic development

Appropriates $45.4 million in General Fund spending for fiscal year 2026, including $15 million each for middle-income homeownership and rental housing programs, $6 million for housing improvement programs, $9.1 million for infrastructure sustainability, and $2 million for brownfield redevelopment