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Senate committee adopts amendment to S.127 adding VHFA loan language and allowing UL 217 smoke alarms
Summary
The Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee approved an amendment to S.127 that adds language for the Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s revolving loan program and explicitly permits UL 217–compliant smoke alarms for new construction; the committee assigned members to report sections for the bill’s floor presentation.
Members of the Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee voted to approve an amendment to S.127 that adds language for the Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s (VHFA) revolving loan program and updates permitted smoke-alarm technology for new construction.
The amendment — circulated to committee members before the vote — adds language clarifying VHFA’s ability to charge an amount otherwise authorized by the agency in the context of its revolving loan program and includes a provision about rent increases tied to that authority. It also permits UL 217–compliant smoke alarms in addition to photoelectric alarms already allowed under current law.
The change to smoke-alarm language was explained on the record by Daniel Leonard, Office of Legislative Council, who said the amendment “will now permit UL standard 217 compliant smoke alarms.” Leonard described UL 217 as the industry standard and said the most recent systems are updated to detect fire sources such as foam insulation and modern consumer products, to differentiate small smoldering fires from open flames, and to reduce false-positive alarms. “This is allowing the latest smoke alarm technology to be used in Vermont,” Leonard said.
Committee members also discussed a provision described in the amendment that would allow VHFA, through its revolving loan program, to charge an amount otherwise authorized by the agency; the discussion referenced a threshold tied to rent increases — that rent would have to increase by more than 3% in a specified instance — but the amendment text and committee record did not specify further implementation details.
A committee member voiced reservations about the 3% reference prior to the vote; the amendment carried by a recorded tally of 4–1. The motion’s mover and seconder were not specified in the committee record provided.
After adopting the amendment, committee members divided responsibility for reporting sections of S.127 on the floor. Committee member Ann Cummings said she will report the committee’s budget and asked that the Joint Fiscal Office materials be distributed; other members volunteered to cover sections including taxes, appropriations, public accommodations, brownfields, and first-generation home-buyer provisions. Pam and Thomas were identified as staff or members who will receive and circulate section-by-section materials.
The committee did not vote on the underlying bill during this meeting; the discussion and the amendment approval were described as preparation for floor debate on S.127 scheduled for the following day.
