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Bill

H 594

An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Maguire and 1 co-sponsor

The bill creates two programs, TEHAP and Return Home, to provide temporary emergency housing and a pathway back to permanent housing for Vermonters in FY2027–FY2028.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 594

Overview

House Bill H.594 (2025-2026, Vermont) proposes establishing two new programs—the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return Home Program—for fiscal years 2027 and 2028. The bill aims to address housing stability and accountability for individuals or households experiencing temporary housing displacement, with a structured timeline and reporting/oversight components. The measure recently progressed to the House Human Services Committee (read first time and referred on 2026-01-07).

Primary purpose and intent

  • Create dedicated programs to manage temporary emergency housing needs and facilitate returns to stable housing.
  • Provide a framework for funding, administration, eligibility, and accountability related to emergency housing and reintegration efforts within a two-year fiscal window (FY2027–FY2028).
  • Establish program parameters that may support Vermonters facing housing insecurity by offering temporary housing options and a pathway back to permanent housing.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of two programs:
    • Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program (TEHAP): Focused on short-term, emergency housing solutions and related accountability measures.
    • Return Home Program: Designed to assist eligible individuals or households in returning to and sustaining permanent housing after a period of displacement.
  • Fiscal years affected: The programs are authorized or structured for FY2027 and FY2028.
  • Administrative framework (implied): Likely includes governance, funding allocation, eligibility criteria, service delivery, and reporting requirements to track outcomes and program effectiveness.
  • Accountability components: Emphasizes oversight, progress tracking, and potential performance measures to ensure proper use of funds and successful reintegration.

Note: The available summary does not include the bill’s full text, so specific details such as eligibility criteria, funding amounts, match requirements, performance metrics, match requirements, reporting timelines, and enforcement mechanisms are not enumerated here. The committee assignment indicates the bill will be reviewed by the House Committee on Human Services.

Who would be affected

  • Eligible individuals and households needing emergency housing support in Vermont.
  • Service providers and nonprofit organizations partnering with the state to deliver temporary housing and return-home services.
  • State agencies responsible for housing, human services, and related oversight, which would administer, fund, and monitor the programs.
  • Local communities may experience implementation impacts through service delivery, funding flows, and population-level outcomes related to housing stability.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Action: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services on 2026-01-07.
  • Next steps (likely, contingent on committee and subsequent readings): committee consideration, potential amendments, floor actions in the House, and eventual passage or modification before advancing to the Senate (and possibly to the Governor for signature).
  • Fiscal window: Programs are scoped for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, indicating a two-year authorization period with potential sunset or renewal considerations after FY2028.

Additional notes

  • Co-sponsors: Rep. Eric Maguire and Rep. Theresa Wood.
  • The bill’s substantive details (e.g., funding levels, eligibility, service design, and accountability metrics) would be clarified in committee hearings and the full text. Readers should monitor subsequent committee reports and floor amendments for precise provisions.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the full bill text once available to provide a more detailed itemized summary of eligibility, funding, governance, and metrics.

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

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