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Bill

S 309

An act relating to residential rental agreements, eviction procedures, and the creation of the positive rental payment credit reporting pilot program

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Alison Clarkson

S.309 updates Vermont rental terms and eviction procedures and launches a pilot to report timely rent payments to credit bureaus with privacy safeguards.

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 309

Summary of Bill S.309 (2025-2026), Vermont

Purpose and overall intent

S.309 aims to reform residential rental agreements and eviction procedures in Vermont, while establishing a pilot program to report positive rental payment history. The bill seeks to balance tenants’ protections with landlords’ interests, reduce unnecessary evictions, and create mechanisms to recognize and reward timely rent payments.

Key provisions and changes

  • Residential rental agreements

    • Updates to terms governing written rental agreements, including notice requirements, renewal processes, and clarifications of tenant and landlord rights.
    • Provisions intended to standardize lease language and reduce ambiguities that can lead to disputes.

  • Eviction procedures

    • Revisions to eviction timelines and notice requirements, with an emphasis on due process and tenant protections.
    • Potential enhancements to renter access to remedies and temporary relief during eviction proceedings.
    • Provisions may address procedural steps for nonpayment, cure periods, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure lawful evictions.

  • Positive rental payment credit reporting pilot program

    • Establishment of a pilot program to report tenants’ timely rental payments to a credit reporting system.
    • Criteria for participation, duration, and geographic or provider scope of the pilot.
    • Safeguards to protect tenant privacy and ensure accuracy of reported data.
    • Mechanisms for tenants to challenge inaccuracies and to opt out, if applicable.
    • Potential scoring or credit-building impacts tied specifically to timely rent payments, separate from other credit factors.

Who would be affected

  • Tenants/Renters

    • Benefit from clearer lease terms, enhanced eviction protections, and the opportunity to build credit for timely payments (via the pilot program).
    • Retain rights to due process in eviction, with potential access to remedies or relief during disputes.

  • Landlords and property managers

    • New or clarified requirements around leases and eviction procedures.
    • Access to a system (pilot) that could help verify timely payments and potentially influence rent-related decisions, while also requiring compliance with reporting rules and tenant privacy protections.

  • Housing agencies and service providers

    • Roles in administering or supervising the pilot program, disseminating information, and assisting tenants with understanding credit reporting implications.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral

    • Date: Read 1st time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary (January 27, 2026).
    • Sponsored by a primary sponsor with a listed co-sponsor (Alison Clarkson).

  • Next steps

    • The Judiciary Committee will likely conduct hearings, solicit testimony, and review fiscal implications, with potential amendments before any floor votes.
    • If advanced, the bill would proceed through typical legislative stages (amendments, committee votes, and ratification by each chamber, followed by a governor’s signature or veto).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Credit reporting pilot

    • Could improve tenants’ ability to establish or improve credit for timely rent payments.
    • Requires robust privacy protections, accuracy safeguards, and clear opt-in/outing provisions.
    • Success depends on participant uptake, partner reporting agencies, and tenant awareness.

  • Eviction reforms

    • Aims to reduce unnecessary or precipitous evictions and provide clearer paths for resolution.
    • Implications for landlords’ enforcement strategies and for tenants’ access to relief or mediation options.

  • Fiscal and administrative effects

    • Pilot program may involve funding for administration, data security, and oversight.
    • Agencies may need to develop training and compliance materials for landlords and tenants.

Note: This summary reflects the bill’s stated provisions as publicly available at the time of the action history. For precise text, definitions, and any amendments, consult the official bill language and subsequent legislative analyses.

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

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