An act relating to an exemption for disability-related income on candidate disclosure forms

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Michael Nigro

The bill exempts disability-related income from candidate disclosure forms, removing these funds from required reporting.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

Summary of Bill H 889 (Session 2025-2026, Vermont)

Purpose and intent

The bill proposes an exemption related to disability-related income from the candidate disclosure forms used in candidate filings.

In practical terms, it aims to exclude income that a candidate receives due to a disability from being disclosed on required disclosure forms.

Key provisions and changes

Exemption for disability-related income: The bill creates or codifies an exemption so that income connected to a candidate’s disability is not required to be reported on candidate disclosure forms.

Scope: Applies to income that falls under disability-related sources as defined by the bill (the exact statutory definition would be specified in the text; the summary notes the focus on disability-related income).

Disclosure forms: Modifies the information candidates must report, specifically removing or not counting certain disability-related income for transparency requirements.

Who/what would be affected

Candidates: Individuals running for public office who are required to file disclosure forms would be affected. Their disability-related income would be exempt from disclosure under the bill.

Disclosure obligations: The Vermont ethics or election-related disclosure framework would be altered to exclude a category of income from gross reporting on these forms.

Potential impact on stakeholders: Advocates for disability rights and candidates with disabilities, as well as the agencies administering candidate disclosures, may experience changes in reporting practices and administrative processes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Action history: The bill received its first reading and was referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs on February 6, 2026.

Next steps: The committee would typically review, potentially amend, and then send the bill back to the full House for consideration. If passed, it would progress to the Senate (and potentially to a conference or governor, depending on Vermont’s process for this session).

Additional notes

Co-sponsor: Michael Nigro (indicating bipartisan or cross-party sponsorship not explicitly stated, but noted in the record).

Specifics not provided in the available summary: The exact statutory definitions, the precise scope of the exemption (which types of disability-related income are covered), any thresholds or limitations, and how the exemption interacts with other disclosure requirements (e.g., whether it affects all disclosure fields or only certain categories).

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize implications for specific stakeholders (candidates, election officials, disability advocacy groups) or add a comparison to existing disclosure rules in Vermont.