Senate advances bill letting three municipal officers switch to Group G retirement

The Vermont Senate moved H519 forward on a voice vote on April 24, 2026, after committee reports described the change as affecting a very small number of municipal law enforcement officers.

Senator Collamore, reporting for the Government Operations Committee, said the bill would allow existing municipal officers in three towns—Randolph, Bethel and Danville—to make “a one-time irrevocable election to switch from group F to group G on or before December 1.” He said officers hired on or after Jan. 1, 2027, would be enrolled in group G by default.

The bill also makes technical clarifications: it updates year references (changing 2022 to 2023 in several places) and inserts “on or before” language to ensure Jan. 1 is included in statutory definitions. Collamore said those changes fix an employment-date gap and align retirement calculations for the affected positions.

Committees that reviewed the bill characterized its fiscal effect as negligible. Senator Hardy reported the Committee on Finance voted 7-0-0, calling the revenue impact “extremely de minimis.” Senator Westman said Appropriations likewise found a de minimis budget effect and voted 7-0-0. Collamore said Government Operations heard from municipal officials, the director of the Vermont Retirement System and analysts from the Joint Fiscal Office and Legislative Council; that committee voted 5-0-0.

On the floor the Senate considered a strike‑all amendment offered by the Government Operations Committee; the amendment was approved by voice vote (“ayes have it”). Senators then voted by voice to order the bill read a third time and proceed.

The bill will next proceed under the ordered third reading and any further floor action required before final passage.