Witnesses back H.418, a firearms-and-ammunition excise tax, to stabilize funding for survivors' services

Legislators and survivor-service advocates urged the House Ways & Means Committee on Feb. 12 to consider H.418, a bill that would impose an excise tax on firearms, parts and ammunition to finance Vermont's Domestic and Sexual Violence Special Fund.

Representative Angela R. Snow (for the sponsor'ing presentation) summarized the bill's intent: an excise tax (the bill text in committee materials proposed an 11% rate) levied at retail on firearms, parts and ammunition, payable at the point of sale by dealers and vendors. The stated objective is to create a predictable, ongoing revenue source for the Special Fund, which has experienced repeated annual deficits despite prior changes (including a 2017 surcharge and a later increase in the marriage-license fee) to shore up deposits.

Why it matters: Witnesses told the committee the Special Fund (established in statute at 13 VSA ' 5360) is a critical revenue source for 15 statewide service providers offering hotlines, emergency housing, legal advocacy and short-term financial assistance to survivors. Those providers report year-to-year shortfalls and repeated reliance on one-time General Fund infusions.

Sarah Robinson, co-executive director of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said the fund's revenue base (a surcharge on criminal/civil judgments and part of the marriage license fee) has declined since 2015 due to multifaceted causes including changes in policing and court practices, and that the fund faced a projected $350,000'$400,000 shortfall this year. Robinson and local providers asked the committee to pursue a permanent revenue fix rather than recurring one-time appropriations.

Witnesses described other states' experience. Elizabeth Newman, director of public policy at the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, described Colorado's ballot-referred firearm/ammunition excise tax, which passed with 54% in Nov. 2024 and took effect April 2025; Newman said the measure faces litigation but remains in effect with funds beginning to arrive and full releases anticipated in 2027. Witnesses referenced California's and Colorado's models as examples of feasible approaches.

Local providers gave operational context: Donna Macomber of the Women's Freedom Center described opening a new shelter in Springfield and relying on Special Fund distributions for direct survivor supports; Ava Lloyd Lanning of New Story Center (Rutland) said her organization received about $45,000 from the Special Fund in FY26 and that predictable funding is essential to maintain 24/7 services.

Committee members asked detailed questions about the proposed tax rate and revenue stability, noting concerns that court-fee-based revenues had declined because courts waive fines for low-income defendants. Witnesses said the percent chosen reflects state comparisons (California began at 11%, Colorado landed at a lower rate after analysis), and that internal estimates targeted supporting roughly $5 million in annual services. Members asked for Vermont-specific ammunition/sales data and JFO analysis to project revenues and stability.

Legal context and litigation: Newman told the committee Colorado's measure prompted immediate legal challenge; she said there is no stay and the tax remains in effect as litigation proceeds. Committee members expressed interest in analyzing constitutional and implementation issues, and in receiving JFO and Treasury office revenue estimates.

What comes next: Committee members requested follow-up information, including Vermont-specific sales data, JFO revenue estimates, and additional testimony from providers (VITA and others were separately discussed earlier in the session). No vote was taken on H.418 during the Feb. 12 hearing.