Vermont H 313: An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to alcoholic beverage laws

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.313
2025 Page 1 of 14

VT LEG #380888 v.1
H.313 1
Introduced by Representatives Sibilia of Dover and Logan of Burlington 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Elections; presidential elections; primary elections; ranked-choice 5
voting 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create a 7
temporary Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee to examine issues in 8
implementing ranked-choice voting in Vermont across all elections for State 9
and federal offices. It proposes to require the use of ranked-choice voting for 10
U.S. presidential primary elections for each major political party. 11
An act relating to ranked-choice voting for presidential primary elections 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
* * * Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee * * * 14
Sec. 1. RANKED-CHOICE VOTING STUDY COMMITTEE; REPORT 15
(a) Creation. There is created the Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee 16
to examine issues in implementing ranked-choice voting in Vermont across all 17
elections for State and federal offices. 18
(b) Membership. The Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee shall be 19
composed of the following members: 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.313
2025 Page 2 of 14

VT LEG #380888 v.1
(1) two current members of the House of Representatives, not from the 1
same political party, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 2
(2) two current members of the Senate, not from the same political 3
party, who shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees; 4
(3) one designee, appointed by the Secretary of State; 5
(4) three designees, appointed by the Vermont Municipal Clerks’ and 6
Treasurers’ Association, from different-sized towns, cities, and villages; 7
different regions; and at least one shall be from a town, city, or village that 8
uses a hand count in elections; 9
(5) one designee, appointed by the Vermont League of Cities and 10
Towns; 11
(6) a member of an organization focused on the conduct of elections, 12
who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and 13
(7) a member of a different organization focused on the conduct of 14
elections, who shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees. 15
(c) Powers and duties. The Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee shall 16
study ranked-choice voting systems, with the goal of having any 17
recommendations implemented for all primary and general elections for State 18
and federal office occurring in 2028, including the following issues: 19
(1) education of voters; 20
(2) training of town clerks, presiding officers, and election staff; 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.313
2025 Page 3 of 14

VT LEG #380888 v.1
(3) election integrity, security, and transportation of ballots; 1
(4) technological requirements in tabulators, hardware, and software; 2
(5) canvassing of votes and roles of canvassing committees; 3
(6) post-election processes and reporting; and 4
(7) other items relating to the design and implementation of ranked-5
choice voting systems. 6
(d) Assistance. The Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee shall have 7
the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Vermont Office of 8
Legislative Counsel and the Joint Fiscal Office. 9
(e) Report. On or before January 15, 2026, the Ranked-Choice Voting 10
Study Committee shall report to the House Committee on Government 11
Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government 12
Operations with its findings and any recommendations for legislative action. 13
(f) Meetings. 14
(1) A member of the House of Representatives designated by the 15
Speaker of the House shall call the first meeting of the Ranked-Choice Voting 16
Study Committee to occur on or before July 1, 2025. 17
(2) The Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee shall select a chair 18
from among its members at the first meeting. 19
(3) A majority of the members of the Ranked-Choice Voting Study 20
Committee shall constitute a quorum. 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.313
2025 Page 4 of 14

VT LEG #380888 v.1
(4) The Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee shall cease to exist on 1
November 1, 2026. 2
(g) Compensation and reimbursement. 3
(1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General 4
Assembly, a legislative member of the Ranked-Choice Voting Study 5
Committee serving in the legislator’s capacity as a legislator shall be entitled to 6
per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. 7
§ 23 for not more than four meetings. These payments shall be made from 8
monies appropriated to the General Assembly. 9
(2) Other members of the Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee who 10
are not paid for their services by the organization for which the member is 11
representing on the Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee shall be entitled 12
to per diem compensation as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more 13
than four meetings. These payments shall be made from monies appropriated 14
to the Office of the Secretary of State. 15