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S 228

An act relating to collective bargaining over remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for State employees

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ruth Hardy and 6 co-sponsors

S.228 would make remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for Vermont state employees negotiable through the collective bargaining process.

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 228

Bill Overview

  • Bill: S.228 (2025-2026) of Vermont
  • Title: An act relating to collective bargaining over remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for State employees
  • Purpose: To require the Executive Branch to negotiate remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for state employees through the collective bargaining process.

Core Provisions

  • Amends 3 V.S.A. § 904 (Subjects for Bargaining) to specify that remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for state employees are subject to collective bargaining.
  • Section 904, as amended, lists the broad range of subjects appropriate for bargaining, including:
    • Wages, salaries, benefits, and related reimbursement practices
    • Minimum hours per week
    • Working conditions
    • Overtime compensation and related matters
    • Leave compensation and related matters
    • Reduction-in-force procedures
    • Grievance procedures (including final-step options)
    • Insurance program terms and employee financial participation
    • Rules for personnel administration (with specific carve-outs and allowances)
    • Manner of enforcement of an employee’s obligation to pay the collective bargaining service fee
    • Crucially, terms and conditions of remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for permanent or limited-status state employees

Who Is Affected

  • State employees in Vermont, including those employed on a permanent basis or with limited status.
  • The Executive Branch, as the negotiating party for state employee work standards.
  • The bill’s expansion of bargaining topics specifically encompasses remote, in-person, and hybrid arrangements (e.g., telework, onsite work, and hybrid models).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and referral:
    • Introduced in the Vermont Senate by Senators Vyhovsky, Hardy, Perchlik, Plunkett, Ram Hinsdale, Watson, and White.
    • Referred to the Senate Committee on Government Operations.
  • Current status (as introduced):
    • 1st reading occurred on January 9, 2026.
    • Committee activity noted with hearings and discussions held in February 2026.
    • No finalized passage information provided in the provided text; act would take effect upon passage (no separate delayed effective date).

Supporting and Stakeholder Context

  • The bill’s supporters include sponsors from the Senate and participating state agencies and employees (as reflected in committee materials and witnesses).
  • Stakeholders cited in materials include the Vermont Commission on Women, state employees, and state agency leadership (e.g., Department of Health, Department of Buildings and General Services, Secretary of Administration).

Practical Implications

  • If enacted, the state’s bargaining process would formally include remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards as negotiable topics.
  • Potential outcomes could affect:
    • Telework eligibility criteria, scheduling expectations, and hybrid work allocations
    • Performance expectations linked to different work arrangements
    • Administrative rules and implementation guidelines for state agencies
  • The exact terms would be determined through collective bargaining between the state (employer) and employee bargaining representatives, subject to statutory constraints and negotiated agreements.

Summary

S.228 proposes to elevate remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for Vermont state employees to the bargaining table, ensuring these arrangements are negotiable alongside other core employment terms. It would integrate work modality standards into existing collective bargaining framework, potentially shaping how state offices operate and how employees engage with flexible work arrangements. The bill is in the early committee stage, with the effective date tied to enactment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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