An act relating to the State Employees Labor Relations Act

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Emilie Krasnow

H.290 would add Assistant Attorneys General to the list of “State employees” eligible to organize and bargain collectively under Vermont’s State Employees Labor Relations Act.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing

Overview

H.290, introduced in the Vermont House by Rep. Emilie Krasnow, proposes a statutory change to the State Employees Labor Relations Act to authorize Assistant Attorneys General to organize and bargain collectively. The bill defines who counts as a “State employee” for purposes of the act and sets an effective date.

Purpose and intent

Main objective: Allow Assistant Attorneys General to participate in collective bargaining and organizing under the State Employees Labor Relations framework.

Framed as expanding the scope of collective bargaining rights to a specific category of state employees (Assistant Attorneys General), aligning their status with other state employees covered by the act.

Key provisions

Sec. 1 – Definitional change (3 V.S.A. § 902):

Amends the definitions to include Assistant Attorneys General within the category of “State employee” for the purposes of the State Employees Labor Relations Act.
Clarifies inclusion of certain categories (e.g., employees in the Defender General’s office and related legal staff) within the broader “State employee” definition, while explicitly listing exemptions and inclusions.
Final language: Assistant Attorneys General are included within “State employee” for purposes of the act, alongside other state employees such as State’s Attorneys’ offices staff and full-time deputy sheriffs paid by the State.

Sec. 2 – Effective date:

The act takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

Primary beneficiaries: Assistant Attorneys General, who would gain the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining under the State Employees Labor Relations Act.

Broader impact group: Other state employee categories currently covered by the act may experience indirect effects through extended bargaining rights within the state legal apparatus.

Exclusions/nuances: The bill preserves existing distinctions in the broader “State employee” definition, specifying inclusions and exclusions, including certain Defender General staff and related attorneys, but ensuring Assistant Attorneys General are included.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and sponsor: H.290 introduced by Rep. Krasnow (South Burlington) and assigned to the General and Housing Committee.

First reading: February 20, 2025 (referred to the Committee on General and Housing).

Committee status: No further formal action yet recorded in the provided materials (no meetings listed for Regular Session 2025-2026).

Effective date: July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Summary

H.290 seeks to broaden collective bargaining rights within Vermont’s State Employees Labor Relations Act by explicitly including Assistant Attorneys General as “State employees” eligible to organize and bargain collectively. The bill makes a definitional adjustment to 3 V.S.A. § 902 and establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025.