Vermont H 319: An act relating to immunity from liability for licensed professionals providing essential services during emergencies

Bill Text

BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.319
2025 Page 1 of 77
H.319
Introduced by Representative Sheldon of Middlebury
Referred to Committee on
Date:
Subject: Conservation and development; solid waste; flood safety; wetlands;
dams
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to amend
multiple environmental subjects. The bill would extend by a year the date by
which an assessment of the end-of-life management of certain battery types
shall be conducted and requires the battery stewardship organization in the
State to complete the assessment instead of the Agency of Natural Resources.
The bill also clarifies when a fuel dealer can deliver to a category one tank that
does not have a valid permit or otherwise may result in a release to the
environment. The bill would provide that information submitted to the
Department of Environmental Conservation under the Healthy Homes
Initiative shall be considered confidential. In addition, the bill would extend
multiple deadline dates for reporting or rulemaking for specific flood safety,
river corridor, wetlands, and dam programs.
An act relating to miscellaneous environmental subjects
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.319
2025 Page 2 of 77
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
* * * Battery Extended Producer Responsibility * * *
Sec. 1. 2024 Acts and Resolves No. 152, Sec. 3 is amended to read:
Sec. 3. ANR BATTERY ASSESSMENT
(a) On or before July 1, 2026, the Secretary of Natural Resources 2027, the
stewardship organization formed pursuant to 10 V.S.A. chapter 168 shall
complete an assessment of the opportunities, challenges, and feasibility of
establishing mandatory end-of-life management programs for the following
battery types:
(1) batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles;
(2) battery energy storage systems; and
(3) batteries that are not easily removable from the products they power.
(b) The assessment required by this section shall include:
(1) a summary of the work and progress other states have made in
establishing end-of-life management programs for the three battery types listed
under subsection (a) of this section; and
(2) policy recommendations on whether mandatory end-of-life
management programs are necessary for the battery types listed under
subsection (a) of this section.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.319
2025 Page 3 of 77
(c) The assessment required by this section shall be provided to the
Secretary of Natural Resources, the House Committee on Environment and
Energy, and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.
* * * Fuel Storage Tanks * * *
Sec. 2. 10 V.S.A. § 1927(d) is amended to read:
(d) No person shall deliver a regulated substance to a category one tank
that is visibly designated by the Agency as not having a valid permit or not
meeting standards adopted by the Secretary related to corrosion protection,
spill prevention, leak detection, financial responsibility, or overfill protection
that may result in the tank releasing a regulated substance to the environment.
* * * Household Hazardous Waste Extended Producer Responsibility * * *
Sec. 3. 10 V.S.A. § 7181 is amended to read:
§ 7181. DEFINITIONS
As used in this chapter:
* * *
(4)(A) “Covered household hazardous product” means a consumer
product offered for retail sale that is contained in the receptacle in which the
product is offered for retail sale, if the product has any of the following
characteristics:
(i) the product or a component of the product is a hazardous waste
under subchapter 2 of the Vermont Hazardous Waste Management
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.319
2025 Page 4 of 77
Regulations, regardless of the status of the generator of the hazardous waste;
or
(ii) the product is a gas cylinder.
(B) “Covered household hazardous product” does not mean any of
the following:
* * *
(iv) architectural paint paint-related products as that term is
defined in section 6672 of this title;
* * *
Sec. 4. 10 V.S.A. § 7182 is amended to read:
§ 7182. SALE OF COVERED HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS;
STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION REGISTRATION;
MANUFACTURER REGISTRATION
(a) Sale prohibited.
(1) A manufacturer of a covered household hazardous product shall not
sell, offer for sale, or deliver to a retailer for subsequent sale a covered
household hazardous product without registering with the stewardship
organization pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
(2) Beginning sixmonths after a final decision on the adequacy of a
collection plan by the Secretary, a manufacturer of a covered household
hazardous product shall not sell, offer for sale, or deliver to a retailer for
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.319
2025 Page 5 of 77
subsequent sale a covered household hazardous product unless all the
following have been met:
(1)(A) The manufacturer is participating in a st