VT S0079

Creates the Recreational Trails Compensation Study Committee to evaluate whether private property owners who allow public recreational trails on their land should receive compensation or other benefits

Committee membership includes 9 voting members: Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation (chair), Commissioner of Taxes, representatives from trail/conservation organizations, two private landowners (one with and one without conservation easements), a trail planning expert, and a Vermont League of Cities and Towns representative

Committee duties include reviewing current private property use for trails, summarizing costs and liabilities to landowners, analyzing economic value of recreational trails, and investigating compensation practices in other jurisdictions

Report with findings and legislative recommendations due to General Assembly by December 15, 2026; committee ceases to exist March 1, 2027

Appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2026 for consultants to evaluate outdoor recreation's economic impact and support committee work; effective date July 1, 2025