Action Taken by Governor Phil Scott on Legislation - June 18, 2026

Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly.

On June 18, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:

• H.933 , An act relating to miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws
• H.937 , An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures
• H.941 , An act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture
• H.942 , An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
• H.944 , An act relating to the fiscal year 2027 Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation
• H.949 , An act relating to homestead property tax yields, the nonhomestead property tax rate, and technical changes to education finance
• H.955 , An act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont's education system
• S.64 , An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists
• S.142 , An act relating to a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians
• S.197 , An act relating to payment reform for primary care
• S.212 , An act relating to potable water supply and wastewater system connections
• S.223 , An act relating to water quality of the waters of Vermont
• S.278 , An act relating to cannabis
• S.313 , An act relating to transforming Vermont's career technical education system
• S.323 , An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
• S.328 , An act relating to housing and common interest communities

On June 18, Governor Scott returned without his signature and vetoed S.230, An act relating to fair employment practices, and sent the following letter to the General Assembly :

Dear Mr. Bloomer:

Pursuant to Chapter II, Section 11 of the Vermont Constitution, I'm returning unsigned and without my approval, in the time permitted by the Constitution, S.230, An act relating to fair employment practices.

This bill was in response to the Vermont State Employees Association's (VSEA) desire to limit the access of other labor organizations to Department of Corrections (DOC) employees for union organizing purposes. This legislative intervention blatantly favoring one union over others would circumvent the rights of DOC employees to form and join a union of their own choosing.

While I do not understand why this bill passed in the first place, the Legislature had the foresight to add previously agreed upon provisions within S.230 to S.313, in anticipation of my objection to being pulled into the gamesmanship between unions. As a result, and as the Legislature was made aware, this bill is completely unnecessary.

For these reasons I'm vetoing S.230.

Sincerely,

/s/

Philip B. Scott

Governor

To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2026 legislative session, click here.

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