Committee reviews recent housing laws, zoning reforms and program changes in Jan. 6 briefing

On Jan. 6, 2026, a legislative committee convened the first day of a multi‑day inquiry to review housing legislation passed in recent sessions and to ask which provisions have worked and which need legislative follow‑up. The committee’s chair framed the inquiry as a review of enacted law rather than a general diagnosis of the housing market: “There’s not enough of it. It’s too expensive. It’s hard to permit. It’s hard to finance. We don’t have enough money for subsidy,” the chair said, explaining the committee’s focus on what legislation has produced in practice.

Cameron Wood, of the Office of Legislative Counsel, walked members through Act 181 and related changes. Wood said the act’s housing provisions are extensive and highlighted programmatic changes to the Vermont Home Improvement Program (VHIP), including administrative clarifications that allow the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to subgrant funds and charge an administrative cap of up to 5 percent. Wood also described the statutory distinction between 5‑year and 10‑year forgivable loans/grants tied to affordability restrictions and noted expanded beneficiary categories, including people exiting homelessness, some participants in refugee resettlement programs and certain people with disabilities receiving Medicaid home‑and‑community‑based…