Various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families

State Bills: Vermont

Published April 1st, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

Vermont H0657 passed the House on April 1, 2026, enacting various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families. The bill was sponsored by 23 representatives and underwent amendments before final passage. The legislation now proceeds to the Vermont Senate for further consideration.

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What changed

Vermont House Bill H0657 was passed on April 1, 2026, establishing various programming and operational requirements for the Department for Children and Families. The bill received bipartisan sponsorship from 23 representatives and was amended twice during House consideration, including amendments from Rep. Arsenault of Williston and Goodnow of Brattleboro, and from the Committee on Human Services. The legislation passed third reading and is now advancing to the Senate.

Vermont state agencies and departments under the Children and Families umbrella should prepare to implement new programming requirements once the bill completes the legislative process and is signed into law. Compliance teams should monitor Senate action and review current departmental policies against the new requirements once the final enacted text is available. No specific compliance deadlines or penalties were identified in the summary documentation.

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Vermont / H0657 Passed H0657 H Passed 2026-04-01

An act relating to various programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families

Bill Details

State Vermont

Session 2025-2026 Session

Chamber House

Official Source legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H...

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Action History

2026-04-01 H Read third time and passed 2026-04-01 H Rep. Arsenault of Williston and Goodnow of Brattleboro moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to 2026-04-01 H Action Calendar: Action postponed until April 1, 2026 2026-03-31 H Rep. Wood of Waterbury moved to postpone action until April 1, 2026, which was agreed to 2026-03-31 H Action Calendar: Third Reading 2026-03-27 H Third Reading ordered 2026-03-27 H Report of Committee on Human Services, as amended, agreed to 2026-03-27 H Rep. McGill of Bridport, Bishop of Colchester, Cole of Hartford, Donahue of Northfield, Eastes of Guilford, Garofano of Essex, Maguire of Rutland City, Noyes of Wolcott, and Wood of Waterbury moved to amend the report of the Committee on Human Services, which was agreed to 2026-03-27 H Rep. Bluemle of Burlington recommended for the Committee on Appropriations 2026-03-27 H Rep. Waszazak of Barre City recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means 2026-03-27 H Rep. Donahue of Northfield reported for the Committee on Human Services 2026-03-27 H Read second time 2026-03-27 H Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 27, 2026 2026-03-26 H Rep. Donahue of Northfield moved to postpone action until March 27, 2026, which was agreed to 2026-03-26 H Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 26, 2026 2026-03-25 H Rep. Donahue of Northfield moved to postpone action until March 26, 2026, which was agreed to 2026-03-25 H Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment 2026-03-24 H Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment 2026-03-18 H Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a) 2026-03-12 H Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a) 2026-01-13 H Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services