[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6322940,"mediaKeyId","2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5","parentId",2344598,"title","Draft bill would create statewide rental housing registry; committee flags privacy, municipal coordination and fees","audioSeconds",484,"startMs",3391000,"endMs",3875000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5&start=3391&end=3875","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5/thumbnail_3391000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322940/Vermont/Draft-bill-would-create-statewide-rental-housing-registry-committee-flags-privacy-municipal-coordination-and-fees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322940-0e96a6c24abe470bf87f338de16dd91e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773473435&Signature=RpTMwbb8eV24EqJpdQLaH8SuxSLF0G9ljoVnDsgqJI2V28e0Cn0TEgs-XMhy~ulOcBUTVkwxv6i3xcBn0aTcOHdnV~n7aUjGxK5gMlBCwgQ0SUZGMYXaAC38hdluybW8S1nRDmX-9bK6WR6COvRrowucYyGNiAsMiXkCCc6QZL3ouXWLmbIxsq9XZl7-1L-0TPtairuoainS-5QCNFaFLxruSXfYjum2mq8JjUhq-flla4U6M2kRscTXsCCFkUnPSxTaymaDm1efNvZzJR5wkPGA-TvoNXlEh~bLtuB5b3Gst4WsJcBsZjjL0debZgNNCuEFzHAOjZgXhPcpuI8uSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-19T15:18:30Z","article","The committee reviewed draft language on Feb. 19 that would create a statewide rental housing registry maintained by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), including a $35 annual registration fee for long-term and short-term rental units, legislative counsel Cameron Wood said.

The draft lists registration data to include owner/landlord name and contact information, unit location, year built, unit type, number of units in a building, school property account number, accessibility features and other DHCD-determined fields. Owners of long-term rentals would file within 30 days of a landlord certificate filed with the Department of Taxes; short-term rentals would register within 30 days of renting a unit. The draft exempts owners of mobile-home lots who do not own the manufactured home located on the lot.

Municipalities that already operate a rental-registration program would not have to pay the state fee for units registered locally, but would be required to supply their registration data to DHCD so the state registry can be updated.

Committee members raised privacy and practical concerns. Wood noted the draft does not prohibit the registry from being public and that some of the collected fields (phone numbers, email addresses) could become public records unless the committee specifies confidentiality protections. Members also discussed alternatives: the Department of Taxes already receives landlord-certificate data (form LRC-142) that contains owner and tenant information; some committee members suggested obtaining aggregate or non-identifying data from the tax department rather than a public statewide registry.

Why it matters: A statewide registry would create a single statewide dataset for housing planning and emergency response, but it intersects with privacy concerns, municipal registries and existing tax-department data flows.

Next steps: Committee members expressed interest in exploring less intrusive alternatives and asked counsel to obtain testimony from the Department of Taxes, DHCD, municipal registry operators and public-safety stakeholders before advancing the provision.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House General - 2025-02-19 - 10:15AM","oneSentenceSummary","A draft section would require long-term and short-term rental owners to register units with DHCD and pay an annual $35 fee unless already registered locally; committee members raised privacy and municipal-fee coordination concerns and asked for alternatives such as aggregated tax-department data.","taxTitle","General & Housing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",30954,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6322944,"Committee examines draft Vermont Infrastructure Sustainability Fund to finance municipal infrastructure for housing",412,2828000,3240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5&start=2828&end=3240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5/thumbnail_2828000.jpg","/articles/6322944/Vermont/Committee-examines-draft-Vermont-Infrastructure-Sustainability-Fund-to-finance-municipal-infrastructure-for-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322944-2864f3ab35037d0cb9502ee54acd0124/orig.mp4?Expires=1773473435&Signature=iaHTrt6N6UPmR-~xmGjOR9Ylu7-Rqq5g9wHORhEPRmMnsrKbtUMx6cLfpOjrIH7LOe2Uf7hq5FHW0LWLDtwz5axNMae1u8aNXY2Ahv4bNYNO~86sAb54uVerq6~rZA2XYLeSIVMGUfReL3VJN1Ui2vUMelUM1ut-R7dnH4OXM6tlTpmw6JSdY8Q~TPIQkl0GwCGiju9a8oOHxri4G~3qlKk0T~jfdg30n1wHLaCZ5yyPAR33uhjB9y3ctieXZaXDVi5GTfqxT4VSbaK8l~KSm9yI1pUhZuYNpzz6JOHOFgS6bw3ja0-Rj46n7mPhJP4WuBbbF3Awz1-do6u5Qu36xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative counsel presented draft language on Feb. 19 creating a Vermont Infrastructure Sustainability Fund to provide capital for municipal water, sewer and other public infrastructure projects that block housing development, the committee heard.

The draft would establish a special, revolving fund administered by the Vermont Bond Bank, with program guidelines developed in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development and other agencies. Eligible activities in the draft include preliminary engineering, design and construction, transportation investments and other activities the bank's guidelines identify.

Wood said the draft envisions that the bond bank would offer low-interest loans or bonds to municipalities to expand infrastructure capacity, and that proceeds returning to the fund would be reused for additional projects. He told the committee the proposal is a loan program, not a grant program: \"It's just they'd be lending at a very low, as you heard this morning's test on very, very low interest rates, like 2%, 1%. And as it returns, it returns to the fund.\"

Application criteria in the draft would require an explicit link between the financed project and housing unit production, municipal commitment to own and operate the project, project readiness, and demonstration of financing for project completion. The draft also directs the bank to establish award terms such as maximum loan amount, amortization, maximum interest rate, eligible security and whether a loan is eligible for forgiveness.

Why it matters: Municipal infrastructure capacity is frequently cited by developers and municipal officials as a barrier to housing production. A revolving loan fund aimed at capacity expansion could accelerate housing projects linked to water, sewer and transportation improvements.

Next steps: Committee members signed up to follow the section; Wood said the draft references an administration proposal for $9.1 million to seed the fund and that the committee may follow up with administration witnesses to detail eligible activities and guidelines.","Legislative counsel presented draft language creating a special fund, administered by the Vermont Bond Bank, to provide low-interest loans or bonds to municipalities for water, sewer and other public infrastructure where lack of capacity blocks housing development.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6322949,"Committee reviews proposed Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program",482,2043000,2525000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5&start=2043&end=2525","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5/thumbnail_2043000.jpg","/articles/6322949/Vermont/Committee-reviews-proposed-Manufactured-Home-Improvement-and-Repair-Program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322949-440f870a75ef616275fb0db66fdcc493/orig.mp4?Expires=1773473435&Signature=OuPxal7Njz72dNvgBVMdPQQX4hMq~9Lup4rDjjDCqwKUsfpu2~kcDBHzL5zoiwonNKB-dGGmWBXCnwRLhYaVpZot-IIQIYJupziCZGSw~KzcjNzaV4tAhEkELHN2uC5YF8sm9MmAZ-HAXoLCSovQu77IMFBEthU-IvsvUwNSEiF9qal9JYl~HlHQtvBg65aQiE01NdryvNuw3iZCOXxn10T6fS3Xmwy8eF0eX4XXu5eAikQ2-RmAa-HItjmZvjw2Bj0cxyu4BJi7r55JnJnXAiLYM~XMg0kMCC~vEB4SThEZDuPM~dkbbkmbG9qwnadwJ6RZG4xgf1ARBXREbRMVcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on General and Housing reviewed draft language on Feb. 19 that would create a new Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program to deliver funding through statewide or regional nonprofit housing organizations, legislative counsel Cameron Wood said.

Under the draft section (proposed new section 700), the Department of Housing and Community Development would award up to $20,000 to owners of manufactured-housing communities for small-scale capital needs to infill vacant lots, site work and other improvements. Examples given in the draft include disposal of abandoned homes, lot grading and preparation, electrical upgrades, 9-1-1 safety improvements, relocation out of flood zones, and septic improvements; costs could also cover legal fees and marketing to make lots available.

A second subdivision would allow awards to manufactured-homeowners (owner-occupied primary residences) to address habitability and accessibility, with a cap of $15,000 per homeowner for foundation work, HUD-approved slabs, site prep, skirting, tie-downs and utility connections, the draft says.

Wood described the draft as a new statutory program; he and members discussed whether language should be broadened to cover other arrangements (for example, cooperative park ownership versus park owners), and he noted the draft language as written limited awards in one subdivision to park owners rather than individual homeowners. \"The language is limited to owners of a manufactured housing community,\" he said, and he recommended the committee flag that distinction for possible change.

Why it matters: Manufactured and mobile homes represent a portion of the state's housing stock that committee members and witnesses have flagged as in need of targeted capital and habitability funding. The new program would create a permanent statutory program that could be considered for base funding in future budgets.

Next steps: Committee members volunteered to take the section to develop clarifying questions and to request administration witnesses for detail on administration funding intentions and program mechanics.","Legislative counsel presented draft language proposing a new manufactured-home program to provide grants to community owners and up to $15,000 for owner-occupied manufactured homeowners, with caps and eligible expense lists.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6322954,"House committee reviews draft changes to Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program",470,368000,838000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5&start=368&end=838","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344598-cddc72fbbe8576d2d7502aab2205ecc5/thumbnail_368000.jpg","/articles/6322954/Vermont/House-committee-reviews-draft-changes-to-Vermont-Rental-Housing-Improvement-Program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322954-3672ca9c5b1f9ca0210e44a55cdc335a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773473435&Signature=hntE6uyw~rn0riMhUJQL4EthrNRrB51pclMshxqF2u2NcNMAH8XbE3FLrCmdr23KL9sUVo8lXls734itm5gdsCGH28EoTzXuRob2VQsAMFDxXHIq9NrzH5Kd76bcjp6mWn8BaF2GVHJM8Wd79mxziSLz9C6KN4vdamXJDqxxZuB03m~BAef2zMxQOEfHgEraIptQ~OmvP9RE-KgqNfLjjQsb8s1IdJTKucd1IhlfejsEymSF4wGZQv4pXLls9FeGlcMGOu64uiXyQ9CHkjWuaKO0SMEGLY1U3Zc8J8ATPI9DHv4hhIurDLOIdyoHs1eQW0svVLeqj-rDTjUSREwSnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on General and Housing reviewed a preliminary draft committee bill on Feb. 19 that would change how the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program (VHIP) provides funds to bring rental units online, legislative counsel Cameron Wood said.

The draft request (25-0838) replaces the program's current mix of grants and two forgivable-loan terms by eliminating the five-year forgivable loan and keeping only grants and 10-year forgivable loans, Wood said. The draft also changes maximum per-unit assistance from $70,000 under current language to a $50,000 cap per unit with an additional up to $20,000 available specifically for bringing a unit to Vermont access standards.

That $20,000 accessibility increment would be available only after a project first qualifies for the $50,000 award, Wood said. \"My understanding of the change is no,\" he said when asked whether the $20,000 could be obtained without the $50,000; \"the 20 would be part of the 50.\" He flagged the point for future clarification with the department.

The draft adds language allowing the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to subgrant funds to other state agencies, governmental subdivisions and nonprofit partners and would exempt entities carrying out that subsection from certain licensed-lender requirements, Wood said. It also replaces an existing requirement that a landlord coordinate with \"a nonprofit housing partner\" with coordination with an entity \"approved by the department.\"

Under current program text, grant recipients must lease rehabilitated units to prioritized populations (for example, people exiting homelessness). The draft keeps those targeted leasing requirements for grants but removes them for 10-year forgivable loans, which would instead require that the landlord charge an applicable fair market rent and maintain that term for the loan period.

The draft also changes forgiveness mechanics for loans: where a prior provision provided a 10% forgiveness credit per year, the draft replaces it with a prorated credit (language to be clarified), and it creates a revolving fund so loan repayments that return to the department can be reused for future awards.

Committee members pressed for clarifications on eligibility and intent. One member asked whether an inhabited accessory unit (for example, a mother-in-law unit already in use) could access the accessibility increment; Wood said the current drafting appears aimed at bringing units \"online\" and that the committee should flag language if it does not match their policy intent.

Why it matters: VHIP is a primary state tool to subsidize rehabilitation or creation of rental units. Changes to loan terms, qualifying populations and per-unit caps affect how quickly units can come to market and which households are prioritized.

Next steps: Cameron Wood told members the draft is iterative and that legislators will be asked to identify sections they want to \"report on\" and work with legislative counsel and the administration on clarifying language before the committee marks up the bill.","Legislative counsel walked the House Committee on General and Housing through a preliminary committee-bill draft that would change the structure and eligibility of the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program, including removing a five-year forgivable loan option and adjusting per-unit funding limits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Draft bill would create statewide rental housing registry; committee flags privacy, municipal coordination and fees

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Committee reviews proposed Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program

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