Vermont H 147: An act relating to establishing the Recreational Trails Compensation Study Committee

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.147
2025 Page 1 of 5

VT LEG #379418 v.1
H.147 1
Introduced by Representatives Marcotte of Coventry, Bosch of Clarendon, 2
Boutin of Barre City, Burditt of West Rutland, Carris-Duncan 3
of Whitingham, Cina of Burlington, Cooper of Pownal, Duke of 4
Burlington, Graning of Jericho, Kascenska of Burke, Lalley of 5
Shelburne, Lipsky of Stowe, Masland of Thetford, Nigro of 6
Bennington, Noyes of Wolcott, Ode of Burlington, Olson of 7
Starksboro, Priestley of Bradford, Squirrell of Underhill, 8
Surprenant of Barnard, Torre of Moretown, Waszazak of Barre 9
City, and White of Bethel 10
Referred to Committee on 11
Date: 12
Subject: Conservation and development; real property; trail use; compensation 13
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish the 14
Recreational Trails Compensation Study Committee to review and recommend 15
to the General Assembly whether real property owners who allow use of their 16
property for public recreational trails should receive compensation or other 17
benefit. 18
An act relating to establishing the Recreational Trails Compensation Study 19
Committee 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.147
2025 Page 2 of 5

VT LEG #379418 v.1
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
Sec. 1. RECREATIONAL TRAILS COMPENSATION STUDY 2
COMMITTEE; REPORT 3
(a) Creation. There is created the Recreational Trails Compensation Study 4
Committee to review whether real property owners who allow use of their 5
property for public recreational trails should receive compensation or other 6
benefit. 7
(b) Membership. 8
(1) The Recreational Trails Compensation Study Committee shall be 9
composed of the following members: 10
(A) the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or designee; 11
(B) the Commissioner of Taxes or designees; 12
(C) a representative of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council, 13
appointed by the Governor; 14
(D) a representative of the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic 15
Collaborative, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 16
(E) a representative of a land conservation organization, appointed by 17
the Committee on Committees; 18
(F) a private landowner who has a conservation easement that 19
includes recreation, appointed by the Governor; 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.147
2025 Page 3 of 5

VT LEG #379418 v.1
(G) a private landowner who does not have a conservation easement 1
on the land and currently provides public access, appointed by the Speaker of 2
the House; 3
(H) a representative who has expertise in trail planning, design, 4
building, and maintenance, appointed by the Committee on Committees; and 5
(I) a representative of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, 6
appointed by the Governor. 7
(2) The Study Committee may invite other entities to participate in the 8
conduct of the study as non-voting participants. 9
(c) Powers and duties. The Recreational Trails Compensation Study 10
Committee shall: 11
(1) review how private property currently is made available for use by 12
public recreational trails; 13
(2) summarize the costs and liabilities that private property owners incur 14
when private property is used by public recreational trails; 15
(3) assess available economic data and other relevant available data or 16
analysis and conduct further necessary economic analysis to determine the 17
value that recreational trail access provides to the State and to local economies; 18
(4) investigate whether and how private property owners in other 19
jurisdictions are compensated for allowing use of property for public 20
recreational trails or other public outdoor recreation; 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.147
2025 Page 4 of 5

VT LEG #379418 v.1
(5) recommend to the General Assembly whether real property owners 1
who allow use of their property for public recreational trails should receive 2
compensation or other benefit and, if so, the source of the compensation or 3
other benefit; 4
(6) how to ensure trail siting, design, construction, and management 5
meet minimum standards; and 6
(7) how to ensure that new trail development is established based on the 7
merit of the opportunity being created in comparison to any incentive provided 8
to a private landowner. 9
(d) Assistance. The Recreational Trails Compensation Study Committee 10
shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Department 11
of Forests, Parks and Recreation. 12
(e) Report. On or before December 15, 2026, the Recreational Trails 13
Compensation Study Committee shall submit a written report to the General 14
Assembly with its findings and any recommendations for legislative action. 15
(f) Meetings. 16
(1) The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or designee 17
shall call the first meeting of the Recreational Trails Compensation Study 18
Committee to occur on or before September 15, 2025. 19
(2) The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or designee 20
shall be the chair of the Study Committee. 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.