Vermont committee reviews bill to register and certify school educational-technology products

On Feb. 3, 2026, the Vermont House Committee on Commerce & Economic Development began a review of H.650, a bill that would require educational-technology products used in Vermont schools to register annually with the Secretary of State and obtain a state certification before a school may use them. "So we have a bill that, proposes to require EdTech educational technology, products register annually with the state," Rick Segal, legislative counsel, told the committee.

The bill would require any provider of an educational-technology product—defined in the draft as student-facing software, applications or platforms that collect, process or transmit student data used for teaching and learning—to register on or before Jan. 31 each year and pay a $100 registration fee. Providers would have to supply a contact name, primary physical and email address and Internet address, the product's current privacy policy and terms of service, and a list of products they operate and the certification status of each. A provider that fails to register would be liable for a civil penalty of $50 per day up to $10,000 per year; the attorney general would have authority to seek penalties and injunctive relief.

The Secretary of State…