Five Highlights from the 2026 Legislative Session

Each year Vermont Legal Aid advocates for Vermonters in the halls and committee rooms of the statehouse. Here are five highlights from the past legislative session.

1. H.772: Tenant rights preserved despite pushback
   • This was one of the most significant moments of the legislative session. After months of advocacy, testimony and countless hours of lobbying, this bill ultimately failed on the Senate floor. Vermont Legal Aid opposed provisions that would have weakened tenant protections and due process, helping preserve important legal protections for Vermont renters. Read more on VTDigger.
2. H.385: A path forward for survivors of financial abuse
   • Survivors of domestic and sexual violence who are forced into debt through financial abuse now have a pathway to seek debt relief without navigating the court system — a significant step toward helping survivors regain financial independence. Throughout the legislative process, Vermont Legal Aid attorneys shared powerful testimony and real-world client experiences that highlighted how financial abuse is used as a tool of coercion and control. Learn more on NBC-TV5.
3. H.938: Protecting Vermonters facing homelessness
   • This landmark legislation overhauls Vermont's emergency housing system. Throughout the legislative process, we provided legal analysis and testimony drawn from years of representing clients navigating the emergency housing system. After years of advocacy, the law now ensures Vermonters facing homelessness receive better notice of denials and can remain housed while their appeal is pending — a critical due-process protection. Read more on VTDigger.
4. H.657: A significant win for foster youth and vulnerable families
   • After years of advocacy, Vermont Legal Aid is proud to see this important legislation signed into law. The bill ends the state's practice of using federal Social Security benefits intended for children in foster care to reimburse the cost of their care, preserving those funds for the children themselves as they transition into adulthood. It also eliminates the Reach Up asset limit, allowing more families to build financial stability without losing the essential benefits they rely on. Learn more on Vermont Public.
5. Investing in access to justice
   • Vermont Legal Aid is deeply grateful to the Legislature for approving a one-time $100,000 appropriation to support the statewide Legal Helpline operated by Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont, as well as a one-time $200,000 appropriation to maintain newly expanded immigration legal services, strengthening access to justice for immigrant communities across Vermont.