Vermont S 307: An act relating to binding interest arbitration for employees of the Vermont Judiciary

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED S.307
2026 Page 1 of 3

VT LEG #385874 v.1
S.307 1
Introduced by Senators Major, Plunkett and White 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Labor; employment practices; minimum wages; overtime; firefighters 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require 6
overtime for firefighters for hours worked in excess of 42 hours a week. 7
An act relating to overtime pay for firefighters 8
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 9
Sec. 1. SHORT TITLE 10
This act may be cited as the “Fire Service Weekly Overtime Standard Act.” 11
Sec. 2. PURPOSE 12
The purpose of this act is to establish a maximum average workweek for 13
career firefighters and to ensure that hours worked beyond this threshold are 14
compensated at an overtime rate consistent with other public safety 15
professionals. This act is intended to promote firefighter health and safety, 16
support recruitment and retention, and reduce fatigue-related risk in emergency 17
operations. 18

BILL AS INTRODUCED S.307
2026 Page 2 of 3

VT LEG #385874 v.1
Sec. 3. 21 V.S.A. chapter 5, subchapter 3 is redesignated to read: 1
Subchapter 3. Minimum Wages and Overtime Pay 2
Sec. 4. 21 V.S.A. § 388 is added to read: 3
§ 388. OVERTIME PAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS 4
(a) Definitions. 5
(1) “Firefighter” means a full-time firefighter as defined in 20 V.S.A. 6
§ 3151(4). 7
(2) “Regular rate of pay” means the hourly compensation assigned to a 8
firefighter for scheduled hours of work, exclusive of overtime premiums. 9
(3) “Hours worked” means all hours during which a firefighter is 10
permitted or required to perform duties for the employer, including all paid 11
leave, paid time off, and paid standby time. 12
(b) Standard. 13
(1) No State, municipal, or county fire department shall employ any 14
firefighter for an average workweek greater than 42 hours unless the firefighter 15
is compensated at a rate of one and one-half times the firefighter’s regular 16
wage rate for all hours worked in excess of 42 hours based upon an average 17
workweek. 18
(2) An average workweek shall be calculated using the prior eight-week 19
period, based upon a seven-day workweek. For purposes of this subsection: 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED S.307
2026 Page 3 of 3

VT LEG #385874 v.1
(A) total hours worked during the previous eight-week period shall 1
be divided by eight; and 2
(B) any resulting weekly total above 42 hours triggers overtime 3
payment for the excess hours worked in the current pay period. 4
(3) Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a bargaining unit, 5
municipality, or fire district from adopting a more protective overtime 6
threshold or rate through collective bargaining or local ordinance. 7
(c) Rulemaking. The Commissioner may adopt rules necessary to carry out 8
the purpose of this section, including uniform overtime calculation procedures 9
and reporting standards. 10
(d) Implementation. Municipalities and departments shall make any 11
necessary scheduling or staffing adjustments prior to January 1, 2027. 12
Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE 13
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 14