Vermont H 734: An act relating to prohibiting certain provisions in dental insurance contracts with dentists

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.734
2026 Page 1 of 7

VT LEG #386654 v.1
H.734 1
Introduced by Representative Boutin of Barre City 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Elections; campaign finance; lobbying; nonprofit organizations 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to adopt 6
transparency requirements for nonprofit organizations that engage in advocacy, 7
lobbying, and other activities that attempt to impact or influence public policy, 8
including disclosure and reporting of advocacy organization expenditures of 9
more than $10,000.00 annually for Vermont-focused issue advocacy; require 10
nonprofit organizations to annually disclose any affiliated entities and major 11
funders; and create new categories of lobbying entities called “advocacy 12
organizations” and “grassroots lobbying entities.” 13
An act relating to nonprofit transparency in lobbying and elections 14
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 15
Sec. 1. SHORT TITLE 16
This act may be cited as the “Vermont Nonprofit Advocacy Transparency 17
and Accountability Act of 2026.” 18

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.734
2026 Page 2 of 7

VT LEG #386654 v.1
Sec. 2. PURPOSE 1
The purpose of this act is to strengthen transparency, accountability, and 2
fair play in the political and advocacy activities of nonprofit organizations 3
operating in Vermont, particularly those engaging in issue advocacy, 4
grassroots lobbying, influencing public policy, and elections. 5
Sec. 3. 17 V.S.A. § 2901 is amended to read: 6
§ 2901. DEFINITIONS 7
As used in this chapter: 8
(1) “Advocacy organization” means any entity exempt under 26 U.S.C. 9
§ 501(c) that spends more than $10,000.00 per year on issue advocacy, 10
grassroots lobbying, public policy, or election campaigns related to Vermont. 11
(2) “Affiliated entity” means an entity that shares staff, board members, 12
office space, or financial resources with another nonprofit. 13
(3) “Candidate” means an individual who has taken affirmative action to 14
become a candidate for State, county, local, or legislative office in a primary, 15
special, general, or local election. An affirmative action shall include one or 16
more of the following: 17
* * * 18
(2)(4) “Candidate’s committee” means the candidate’s campaign staff, 19
whether paid or unpaid. 20
(3)(5) “Clearly identified,” with respect to a candidate, means: 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.734
2026 Page 3 of 7

VT LEG #386654 v.1
* * * 1
(4)(6) “Contribution” means a payment, distribution, advance, deposit, 2
loan, or gift of money or anything of value, paid or promised to be paid for the 3
purpose of influencing an election, advocating a position on a public question, 4
or supporting or opposing one or more candidates in any election. As used in 5
this chapter, “contribution” shall not include any of the following: 6
* * * 7
(5)(7) “Election” means the procedure whereby the voters of this State 8
or any of its political subdivisions select a person to be a candidate for public 9
office or to fill a public office or to act on public questions, including voting on 10
constitutional amendments. Each primary, general, special, or local election 11
shall constitute a separate election. 12
(6)(8) “Electioneering communication” means any communication that 13
refers to a clearly identified candidate for office and that promotes or supports 14
a candidate for that office or attacks or opposes a candidate for that office, 15
regardless of whether the communication expressly advocates a vote for or 16
against a candidate, including communications published in any newspaper or 17
periodical or broadcast on radio or television or over the internet or any public 18
address system; placed on any billboards, outdoor facilities, buttons, or printed 19
material attached to motor vehicles, window displays, posters, cards, 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.734
2026 Page 4 of 7

VT LEG #386654 v.1
pamphlets, leaflets, flyers, or other circulars; or contained in any direct 1
mailing, robotic phone calls, or mass electronic or digital communications. 2
(7)(9) “Expenditure” means a payment, disbursement, distribution, 3
advance, deposit, loan, or gift of money or anything of value, paid or promised 4
to be paid, for the purpose of influencing an election, advocating a position on 5
a public question, or supporting or opposing one or more candidates. 6
* * * 7
(8)(10) “Four-year general election cycle” means the 48-month period 8
that begins 38 days after a general election for a four-year-term office. 9
(9)(11) “Full name” means an individual’s full first name, middle name 10
or initial, if any, and full legal last name, making the identity of the person who 11
made the contribution apparent by unambiguous reference. 12
(12) “Grassroots lobbying” means the act of urging the public, via 13
media or mass communications, to contact legislators to influence legislation, 14
public policy, or election outcomes. 15
(10)(13) “Independent expenditure-only political