Vermont State Legislature
| Vermont State Legislature | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| Session start: | January 6, 2026 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | John Rodgers (Vermont) (R) |
| House Speaker: | Jill Krowinski (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate:Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D) House:Lori Houghton (D) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate:Scott Beck (R) House:Patricia McCoy (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 30 (Senate), 150 (House) |
| Length of term: | 2 years (Senate),2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Section 7 of the Legislative Department of the Vermont Constitution |
| Salary: | $897.29/week during session + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Redistricting: | Vermont Legislature has control |
TheVermont General Assembly is thestate legislature ofVermont. The legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the title "legislature" is commonly used by both the body itself and by those outside of it.[1] The legislature is abicameral assembly, consisting of the 150-memberVermont House of Representatives and the 30-memberVermont State Senate.
The Vermont General Assembly meets at the State House in Montpelier.
Vermont has a divided government where neither party holds atrifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.
Senate
TheVermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts and one six-member district.
As of the 2020 Census, Vermont state senators represented an average of21,450 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented21,011 residents.
There is nolimit to the number of terms that a senator may serve.
Like other upper houses of state legislatures and the federalU.S. Senate, the Vermont Senate performs special functions such as confirming or rejecting gubernatorial appointments to executive departments, the state cabinet, commissions, boards, and electing members to the Vermont Supreme Court.
Senators are elected from a total of 13 Senate districts. The districts more or less correspond to the boundaries of the state's 14 counties (with adjustments to ensure equality of representation). Two small counties, Essex and Orleans, are combined into one district. Each district elects between one and six senators depending on its population.
Additionally, Vermont is one of 14 states in which members of the upper legislative house serve two-year terms rather than four-year terms.
Partisan composition
| As of February 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| Democratic | 16 | |
| Republican | 13 | |
| Other | 1 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the Vermont State Senate in 1996. In2024, they won a 16-13-1 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Vermont Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Vermont State Senate election results: 1992-2024
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 | '24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 16 |
| Republicans | 16 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 13 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is thelower house of the Vermont General Assembly, comprising 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 58 single-member districts and 46 two-member constituencies.
As of the 2020 Census, Vermont state representatives represented an average of4,290 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented4,202 residents.
Representatives are elected to two-year terms and are not subject toterm limits.
Partisan composition
| As of February 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| Democratic | 87 | |
| Republican | 55 | |
| Other | 7 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 150 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the Vermont House of Representatives in 2004. In2024, they won an 87-55 majority with four minor party legislators, three independents, and one vacancy.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Vermont House following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Vermont House of Representatives election results: 1992-2024
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 | '24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 87 | 86 | 88 | 77 | 62 | 70 | 83 | 93 | 95 | 94 | 98 | 85 | 83 | 95 | 92 | 109 | 87 |
| Republicans | 57 | 61 | 58 | 66 | 83 | 73 | 60 | 49 | 48 | 48 | 43 | 53 | 53 | 43 | 46 | 38 | 55 |
| Other | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 7 |
Elections
2026
Elections for theVermont State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The primary isAugust 11, 2026. The filing deadline isMay 28, 2026.
Elections for theVermont House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The primary isAugust 11, 2026. The filing deadline isMay 28, 2026.
2024
Elections for theVermont State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasAugust 13, 2024. The filing deadline wasMay 30, 2024.
Elections for theVermont House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasAugust 13, 2024. The filing deadline wasMay 30, 2024.
2022
Elections for theVermont State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2022. The filing deadline was May 26, 2022.
Elections for theVermont House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2022. The filing deadline was May 26, 2022.
2020
Elections for the office ofVermont State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was May 28, 2020.
Elections for the office ofVermont House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was May 28, 2020.
2018
Elections for theVermont State Senate took place in 2018. Anopen primary election took place on August 14, 2018.[2] The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline wasMay 31, 2018.[3]
Elections for theVermont House of Representatives took place in 2018. Anopen primary election took place on August 14, 2018.[4] The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline wasMay 31, 2018.[5]
2016
Elections for theVermont State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 26, 2016.
Elections for theVermont House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 26, 2016.
2014
Elections for theVermont State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 12, 2014.
Elections for theVermont House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 12, 2014.
2012
Elections for the office of Vermont State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on August 28, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 14, 2012.
Elections for the office of Vermont House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on August 28, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 14, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Vermont State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on August 24, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was July 19, 2010.
Elections for the office of Vermont House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on August 24, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was July 19, 2010.
Sessions
TheVermont State Legislature meets for biennial sessions starting in odd-numbered years on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January, in keeping withSection 7 of the Legislative Department of the Vermont Constitution. The opening date for even-numbered years is established by the sitting legislature during the year prior.
2025
In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2025, and adjourn on June 17, 2025.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2024In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on May 10, 2024. 2023In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2023, and adjourn on May 12, 2023. 2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2022, and adjourn on May 12, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2021, and adjourn on May 21, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 7, 2020, and adjourn on August 30, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. TheVermont State Legislature suspended its session, effective March 13, 2020, through March 24, 2020. On April 8, 2020, the Vermont State Senate approved a measure to allow remote voting in the chamber. Prior to this, a quorum of senators physically present in the chamber had been required in order to pass legislation. The Vermont House of Representatives was expected to consider a similar measure.[6][7] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2019, through May 29, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2018, through May 13, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, clickhere. 2017In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 4, 2017, through May 18, 2017. The legislature held a veto session on June 21. 2016In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 5 through May 6. The legislature held a one-day veto session on June 9, 2016. Major issues in 2016Major issues for the 2016 legislative session included economic development, marijuana legalization, consumer protection, closing the budget gap of $58.5 million, the state's opiate problem, and carbon taxes.[8][9] 2015In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 7 through May 16. Major issues in 2015Major issues for the 2015 legislative session included the budget, the clean-up of Lake Champlain, energy concerns, education reform to stem the growth of property taxes, and reforms to the state's child welfare system.[10] 2014In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 7 through May 10. Major issues in 2014Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included improvements to the integration of environmental regulation, affordable healthcare, tourism funding, workforce training, a tax policy that would not increase taxes on businesses, and a labor policy to not increase costs to employers.[11] 2013In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 9 to May 14. Major issues in 2013Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included physician-assisted death, marijuana decriminalization, and plans to address a projected budget shortfall of $50-$70 million. 2012In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 3 through May 5. 2011In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 5 through mid-May.[12] 2010In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 5 to May 12.[13] |
Elections
Legislative elections are held in November of every even-numbered year. Representatives and senators serve two-year terms. One must be a resident of the state for the two years (and of the legislative district for the one year) immediately preceding the election in order to qualify for either chamber.
Leadership
The House is headed by the speaker of the House, while the Senate is headed by the state's lieutenant governor as the Senate president. The Senate president only casts a vote in the case of a tie. More often, the Senate is presided over by the presidentpro tempore, or temporary president.
Functions
The legislature is empowered to make law, subject to the governor's power to veto a bill. However, the veto may be overridden by the legislature if there is a two-thirds majority in favor of overriding in each chamber.
The legislature has the sole power to proposeamendments to theVermont Constitution. An amendment must originate in the Senate, where it must receive a two-thirds vote. After passing the Senate, it must also receive a majority vote in the House. Any amendment that passes both houses must be re-passed by majority votes after a newly elected legislature is seated—again, first in the Senate, then in the House. The proposed amendment must then be passed by a majority of the state's voters as areferendum. Only every other Senate session may initiate the amendment process. Thus, Senates elected in off-year (i.e., non-presidential) elections may initiate amendments, but not Senates elected during presidential elections.(See theVermont Constitution, Chapter 2, Section 72.)
The role of minor parties
The General Assembly is notable for being the only state legislature in the United States with a significant minor-party presence. As of February 2021, seven members of the House and two members of the Senate belonged to theVermont Progressive Party. Several other parties have won legislative seats, including the Green Party and the Liberty Union Party (based largely on the philosophy of Eugene V. Debs). Some members of the minor partiescaucus with members of the Vermont Democratic Party.
Role in state budget
- See also:Vermont state budget and finances
Vermonton |
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[14]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies inAugust or September of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
- Agencies submit their budget requests to thegovernor inOctober.
- Agency hearings are held inOctober and November.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature inJanuary.
- The legislature typically passes a budget inMay. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year beginsJuly 1.
In Vermont, the governor cannot exercise veto authority over the budget.[14]
The governor is not legally required to submit—and the legislature is not legally required to pass—a balanced budget.[14]
District maps
State Senate
State House
Veto overrides
- See also:Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Vermont are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 100 of the 150 members in theVermont House of Representatives and 20 of the 30 members in theVermont State Senate. Vermont is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| In 1995, the Legislature began setting a date to consider veto overrides in its annual adjournment resolution. This allows the legislature to hold sessions where it can override vetoes that occurred following adjournment.[15] |
Authority:Legislative Department, Section 11 of theVermont Constitution.
| "Every bill which shall have passed the Senate and House of Representatives shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor; if the Governor approve, the Governor shall sign it; if not, the Governor shall return it, with objections in writing, to the House in which it shall have originated; which shall proceed to reconsider it. If, upon such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present of that House shall pass the bill, it shall, together with the objections, be sent to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of the members present of that House, it shall become a law." |
Redistricting
- See also:Redistricting in Vermont
Because Vermont has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature draws state legislative district lines with the assistance of an advisory commission. This advisory commission consists of the following members:[16]
- Thegovernor appoints one member each from the state's political parties. To qualify for consideration in this context, a political party must have had "at least three state legislators for six of the previous 10 years."
- The chairs of the aforementioned political parties each appoint an additional member.
- The chief justice of theVermont Supreme Court appoints the commission's chair.
Commissioners cannot be legislators, nor can they be employed by the legislature. The commission may make recommendations to the legislature, but these recommendations are non-binding.[16]
State law requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact and that they "adhere to county and other political subdivision boundaries, except where necessary to comply with other legal requirements." In addition, state statutes specify that districts should account for "patterns of geography, social interaction, trade, political ties, and common interests."[16]
2020
Vermont Gov.Phil Scott (R) signed H722 on April 6, 2022, enacting new legislative districts for the state House and Senate.[17] TheVermont House of Representatives voted 129-13 to advance the state legislative redistricting bill on March 16.[18] On March 25, theVermont State Senate unanimously approved H722, sending it to Scott.[19] These maps took effect for Vermont's 2022 legislative elections.
2010
Vermont received its 2010 census data on February 10, 2011. The state grew by 2.8 percent. The most populous cities showed mixed growth results: Burlington grew by 9.1 percent, Essex grew by 5.2 percent, South Burlington grew by 13.2 percent, Colchester grew by 0.5 percent, and Rutland decreased by 4.6 percent.[20]
The 2011 redistricting process was notable for a push to eliminate nearly all of the state'smulti-member districts. Though a preliminary plan that achieved this end was passed by the board, its final plan from August 11, 2011, only reduced the number of two-member districts from 42 to 29.
The legislature took up redistricting in January 2012. Despite disagreements over deviation from ideal district size (18.2 percent for the Senate and 24 percent for the House), the Senate passed and the House concurred with a final plan, H. 789. The plan added a new seat in Burlington and paired incumbentsDennis Devereux (R) andEldred French (D). GovernorPeter Shumlin (D) signed the maps into law on May 1, 2012.[21]
Legislators
Salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2025[22] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $897.29/week during session | Members can receive $74/day for meals and $167/night for lodging |
Pension
Vermont does not provide pensions for legislators.[23]
When sworn in
Vermont legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.[24]
Standing committees
- See also:Public policy in Vermont
The Vermont State Legislature has 13 joint standing committees:
- Government Accountability
- Health Reform Oversight
- Judicial Retention
- Energy
- Fiscal
- Child Protection Oversight
- Justice Oversight
- Rules
- Transportation Oversight
- Administrative Rules
- Judicial Rules
- Legislative Council
- Information Technology
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
- See also:Who Runs the States andWho Runs the States, Vermont
Vermont Senate: From 1992 to 2013, Democrats held a majority in the Senate for 18 years while Republicans held a majority for four years. The Vermont State Senate was one of 16 state senates that were Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992 and 2013. Vermont was under Democratictrifectas for the final three years of the study.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Vermont House: From 1992 to 2013, Democrats held a majority in the House of Representatives for 17 years while Republicans held a majority for five years. Vermont was under Democratictrifectas for the final three years of the study.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states—the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of theOffice of the Governor of Vermont, theVermont State Senate and theVermont House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on theState Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, clickhere.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Vermont state government and the state's State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1 to 50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the course of the study, Vermont had Democratic trifectas from 1997 to 2000 and from 2011 to 2013. Its lowest ranking, finishing 33rd, occurred in 2008 during a divided government. Its highest ranking, finishing 15th, also occurred during a divided government from 2003 to 2004.
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process forreferring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states,initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are alsomany other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Vermont Constitution can be amended:
Section 72 of the Vermont Constitution lays out the procedure governing changes to theVermont Constitution. Vermont does not feature the power ofinitiative for eitherinitiated state statutes orinitiated constitutional amendments.
Legislature
Atwo-thirds (66.67%) vote is required in theVermont State Senate and a simple majority vote is required in theVermont House of Representatives in the first legislative session. A simple majority vote is required in both chambers in the second legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 20 votes in theVermont State Senate and 76 votes in theVermont House of Representatives in the first session and 16 votes in the state senate and 76 votes in the state house in the second session, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Convention
The Vermont Constitution, like that ofseveral other states, does not provide forconstitutional conventions. Perhaps as a result, Vermont's current constitution is one of the oldest in the country, having been adopted in 1793. TheMassachusetts Constitution is the only older constitution.
Although there are no provisions in the state's constitution governing the calling of a constitutional convention, in 1969, theVermont State Legislature referred an advisory measure to the ballot which asked "Shall a Vermont Constitutional Convention be convened at the state house in Montpelier on October 6, 1969 to consider the following topics which shall receive a majority of the votes cast upon it in this election, and no others?" The question was rejected by the voters.
See also
| Elections | Vermont State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑Vermont State Legislature, "Home page," accessed February 4, 2021
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed May 29, 2017
- ↑Vermont Secretary of State, "Candidates," accessed September 14, 2017
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed May 29, 2017
- ↑Vermont Secretary of State, "Candidates," accessed September 14, 2017
- ↑Burlington Free Press, "Vermont Legislature to shut down for a week due to coronavirus concerns," March 13, 2020
- ↑VT Digger, "Senate returns to Montpelier to approve remote voting measure," April 8, 2020
- ↑Manchester-Journal, "Vermont economy to be legislative focus," accessed January 7, 2016
- ↑WAMC, "Vermont Legislature Begins Second Half Of Biennium," accessed January 7, 2016
- ↑Wilson Ring,The Washington Times, "Budget likely to top 2015 Vermont Legislature," January 4, 2015
- ↑Vermont Chamber of Commerce, "Legislative Priorities 2014," accessed January 11, 2014
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," December 19, 2011
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," December 8, 2010
- ↑14.014.114.2National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2015," accessed February 9, 2023
- ↑Vermont Secretary of State, "Pocket Veto," accessed July 3, 2017
- ↑16.016.116.2All About Redistricting, "Vermont," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑VTDigger, "Scott signs new legislative maps into law, solidifying Vermont’s political playing field for next decade," April 6, 2022
- ↑VTDigger, "House advances redistricting bill by a wide margin," March 16, 2022
- ↑VTDigger, "Senate unanimously approves new district maps with little debate," March 25, 2022
- ↑U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Vermont's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 10, 2011
- ↑VT DIGGER, "Final Apportionment Board plan increases number of single-seat districts," August 12, 2011
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
- ↑USA Today, "State-by-state: Benefits available to state legislators," September 23, 2011
- ↑Vermont Constitution, "Chapter II, Section 46," accessed February 8, 2023
