Bill would require VHCB to update 2021 farm worker housing assessment by Jan. 15, 2027

Cameron Wood, Office of Legislative Council, told legislators that Section 9A of S.328 would require the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board “on or before January 15th of 2027” to provide an update to its 2021 farm worker housing needs assessment, including a description of any on‑farm housing program, an evaluation of that program’s impact, and identification of barriers to expanding on‑farm housing.

Wood said the update is intended as an implementation check rather than a full new study. He noted that VHCB had performed the original assessment in 2021 using contracted consultants and that VHCB staff were expected to appear later in the session with suggested clarifications to the amendment language.

In summarizing the 2021 report, Wood said the consultants estimated “roughly 2,000 hired farm workers in Vermont live in housing provided on or immediately adjacent to the farm,” and that Vermont Department of Taxes records (2019 current‑use registry) listed 345 farms with 559 separate employee housing dwellings — figures the report rounded to an approximate statewide total of about 600 units. Wood also said the report found a geographic concentration of on‑farm housing, with roughly 70% of such units located in Franklin, Addison and Orleans counties.

The hearing record described several quality and data concerns that the 2021 assessment flagged: overcrowding, cleanliness and temperature/moisture control problems, and limited statewide information on the number and condition of on‑farm units. The consultants’ cost estimates in the report, cited by Wood, divided needs into tiers: about 150–200 dwellings could require small improvements costing under $5,000 each; roughly 100–150 could require $5,000–$50,000; and about 75–100 could need major renovation or replacement.

Wood emphasized three of the report’s top recommendations that he said motivated the Section 9A language: designating an organization to coordinate long‑term planning; creating a stakeholder community with multiyear commitments; and developing an action plan supported by partners and funding. He told the chamber his understanding was that sponsors wanted VHCB to report on what it had implemented from those recommendations rather than to commission a wholly new needs assessment.

A participant confirmed the assessment is linked on the meeting materials page; Representative Bartholomew asked where to find the report and staff pointed to the posted document. Wood and others said VHCB and BHCD representatives would appear later in the morning to present their suggested edits to the bill language and to answer questions about implementation.

The chamber paused to wait for VHCB/BHCD testimony; under the proposal in Section 9A, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board would be required to submit the update by Jan. 15, 2027.