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H 349

An act relating to the creation of the Vermont State Building Security Board

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mary Howard

Creates a centralized Vermont State Building Security Board and Buildings and Courthouses Police Department to standardize and redirect security for state buildings and courthouses

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions
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Bill Summary · H 349

Summary of H.349 (2025-2026) – Vermont

What the bill intends to do

  • Establish a centralized Vermont State Building Security Board to oversee security for Vermont State facilities.
  • Transfer primary responsibility for security in all State facilities (excluding the State House) to the new Board.
  • Create a new Buildings and Courthouses Police Department within the Department of Public Safety to provide security and law enforcement for state buildings and courthouses.
  • Clarify security jurisdiction across state buildings, courthouses, and the Capitol Complex, including coordination among the Board, the Supreme Court, and the Sergeant at Arms.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Sec. 1 – Amends 29 V.S.A. § 171 (Security responsibilities)

    • Transfers “responsibility for security” to the Vermont State Building Security Board, under the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services (BGS), for:
      • All State facilities (regardless of construction/renovation funding).
      • Lands where facilities sit and occupants.
      • State-owned or State-leased buildings that house a court plus other functions, and spaces occupied by the Supreme Court, with specific jurisdictional delineations:
      • In buildings that house a court plus other functions, security for the court space remains under the Supreme Court; security elsewhere remains with BGS.
      • In buildings that function exclusively as courthouses, security is under the Supreme Court.
      • The Supreme Court space is under the Supreme Court.
      • The State House security is under the Sergeant at Arms.
    • BGS must develop and regularly update security plans for facilities (except those under Supreme Court or Sergeant at Arms).
    • The Supreme Court and the Sergeant at Arms will help develop/update plans for facilities under their jurisdictions.
    • BGS may delegate security responsibilities for specified facilities.
    • BGS sets statewide standards for security policies, materials, equipment, and basic infrastructure (e.g., voice/data systems).
    • Establishes continuity-of-government and continuity-of-operations planning as addenda to the state Emergency Operations Plan.
    • Requires a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among BGS, the Director of Safety and Security, and the Court Administrator to coordinate security plans and law enforcement in the Capitol Complex; existing related agreements are incorporated.

  2. Sec. 2 – Adds 29 V.S.A. § 173 (Vermont State Building Security Board)

    • Board creation and composition (7 members):
      • 2 members appointed by the Governor.
      • The Vermont State Court Administrator or designee.
      • 1 member appointed by the Attorney General.
      • 3 members appointed by the President of the Vermont State Employees' Association.
    • Board leadership: annual election of a Chair and Vice Chair from among members.
    • Terms: six-year terms, up to two consecutive terms; appointments between Jan 1 and Feb 1 of odd-numbered years.
    • No requirement for oaths; members may hold other public offices and are not disqualified from public employment due to Board membership.
    • Board must hold at least four regular meetings per year; rules for meetings to be adopted.
    • Compensation: non-State employees may receive per diem/expense reimbursements consistent with state law; capped at 12 meetings per year.
    • The Board appoints the Director of Safety and Security, who:
      • Develops and implements an annual comprehensive security plan for State and Judiciary employees.
      • Prepares an annual security-incident report for distribution to specified House/Senate committees.
      • Performs duties assigned by the Board.
    • Director is a compensated State employee; may hire staff as approved by the Board; staff are State employees.
    • The Director partners with the Department of Buildings and General Services for installation, maintenance, and replacement of security-related physical plant changes.

  3. Sec. 3 – Adds 29 V.S.A. § 174 (Buildings and Courthouses Police Department)

    • Defines:
      • “Courthouse” as a building or portion designated by the Supreme Court as a courthouse.
      • “State building” as a building or portion designated by the Director of Safety and Security (in consultation with BGS) as a State building.
    • Creates the Buildings and Courthouses Police Department within the Department of Public Safety.
      • The Commissioner of Public Safety appoints a Chief (exempt State employee) who appoints additional officers; all such positions are classified State employees.
      • The Chief supervises the officer force; appointments and oaths filed with the Public Safety Commissioner.
    • Powers and training:
      • Officers have the same powers as sheriffs and other law enforcement officers in the state, including arrest, peacekeeping, security, and service of process.
      • Officers must be Level II or Level III certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council; the Chief must be Level III.
    • Coordination: The Buildings and Courthouses Police Department will provide security and law-enforcement services for State buildings and courthouses.

  4. Sec. 4 – Effective date

    • The act would take effect on July 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

  • State facilities, lands, and occupants (excluding the State House and areas under exclusive Supreme Court jurisdiction).
  • The Supreme Court and the Sergeant at Arms (Capitol Complex) for coordination on security plans.
  • Department of Public Safety (via the new Buildings and Courthouses Police Department).
  • State employees, Judiciary employees, and courthouses that would come under the new security framework.
  • BGS staff, and contractors involved in security installations and upgrades.
  • Newly appointed Director of Safety and Security and staff.
  • Vermont State Employees’ Association (as a constituency for Board appointments).

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.
  • Board appointments occur on a two-year cycle with terms lasting six years; nominations and appointments occur in early February of odd-numbered years.
  • The bill contemplates ongoing development, updating, and coordination of security plans, with annual reporting on security incidents to legislative committees.
  • It creates a new MOU framework to formalize security planning and law-enforcement coordination within the Capitol Complex.

Overall impact

  • Aims to centralize and standardize security across most state facilities through the Vermont State Building Security Board and a dedicated security director, while preserving specific jurisdictional roles for the Supreme Court, the Sergeant at Arms, and Capitol Complex coordination.
  • Establishes a new state police department focused on security for state buildings and courthouses, with officers possessing Sheriffs-like authority and state-recognized training certifications.

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

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