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1 H.889
2 An act relating to compensation for certain State employees (Pay Act)
3 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
4 * * * Collective Bargaining Agreements; Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026 * * *
5 Sec. 1. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS; FISCAL YEARS
6 2025 AND 2026
7 (a) Fiscal year 2025. This act fully funds the first year of the collective
8 bargaining agreements between the State and the Vermont State Employees’
9 Association and the State and the Vermont Troopers’ Association for the
10 period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The collective bargaining
11 agreements for most classified employees provide in fiscal year 2025 an
12 average 1.9 percent step increase and 4.5 percent across-the-board increase for
13 a total of a 6.4 percent increase.
14 (b) Fiscal year 2026. This act fully funds the second year of the collective
15 bargaining agreements between the State and the Vermont State Employees’
16 Association and the State and the Vermont Troopers’ Association for the
17 period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The collective bargaining
18 agreements for most classified employees provide in fiscal year 2026 an
19 average 1.9 percent step increase and 3.5 percent across-the-board increase for
20 a total of a 5.4 percent increase.
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1 * * * Exempt Employees; Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026 * * *
2 Sec. 2. EXEMPT EMPLOYEES; PERMITTED SALARY INCREASES;
3 FISCAL YEARS 2025 AND 2026
4 (a) Fiscal year 2025. The Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Branches
5 may extend the fiscal year 2025 provisions of the collective bargaining
6 agreements that are funded by this act to employees not covered by the
7 bargaining agreements as they determine to be appropriate and in accordance
8 with the appropriations provided to each branch.
9 (b) Fiscal year 2026. The Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Branches
10 may extend the fiscal year 2026 provisions of the collective bargaining
11 agreements that are funded by this act to employees not covered by the
12 bargaining agreements as they determine to be appropriate and in accordance
13 with the appropriations provided to each branch.
14 Sec. 3. EXECUTIVE BRANCH; EXEMPT AGENCY AND
15 DEPARTMENT HEADS, DEPUTIES, AND EXECUTIVE
16 ASSISTANTS; ANNUAL SALARY ADJUSTMENT AND SPECIAL
17 SALARY INCREASE OR BONUS
18 (a) Fiscal year 2025. For purposes of determining annual salary
19 adjustments, special salary increases, and bonuses under 32 V.S.A. §§ 1003(b)
20 and 1020(b), “the average rate of adjustment available to most classified VT LEG #376993 v.1
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1 employees under the collective bargaining agreement” shall be, in fiscal year
2 2025, 6.4 percent.
3 (b) Fiscal year 2026. For purposes of determining annual salary
4 adjustments, special salary increases, and bonuses under 32 V.S.A. §§ 1003(b)
5 and 1020(b), “the average rate of adjustment available to most classified
6 employees under the collective bargaining agreement” shall be, in fiscal year
7 2026, 5.4 percent.
8 * * * Executive Branch; Miscellaneous Statutory Salaries;
9 Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026 * * *
10 Sec. 4. 32 V.S.A. § 1003 is amended to read:
11 § 1003. STATE OFFICERS
12 (a) Each elective officer of the Executive Department is entitled to an
13 annual salary as follows:
14 Annual Annual Annual Annual
15 Salary Salary Salary Salary
16 as of as of as of as of
17 July 3, July 2, July 14, July 13,
18 2022 2023 2024 2025
19 (1) Governor $201,150 $208,995 $222,371 $234,379
20 (2) Lieutenant Governor $85,384 $88,714 $94,392 $99,489
21 (3) Secretary of State $127,548 $132,522 $141,003 $148,617
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1 (4) State Treasurer $127,548 $132,522 $141,003 $148,617
2 (5) Auditor of Accounts $127,548 $132,522 $141,003 $148,617
3 (6) Attorney General $152,725 $158,681 $168,837 $177,954
4 (b) The Governor may appoint each officer of the Executive Branch listed
5 in this subsection at a starting salary ranging from the base salary stated for
6 that position to a salary that does not exceed the maximum salary unless
7 otherwise authorized by this subsection. The maximum salary for each
8 appointive officer shall be 50 percent above the base salary. Annually, the
9 Governor may grant to each of those officers an annual salary adjustment
10 subject to the maximum salary. The annual salary adjustment granted to
11 officers under this subsection shall not exceed the average rate of adjustment
12 available to most classified employees under the collective bargaining
13 agreement then in effect. In addition to the annual salary adjustment specified
14 in this subsection, the Governor may grant a special salary increase subject to
15 the maximum salary, or a bonus, to any officer listed in this subsection whose
16 job duties have significantly increased, or whose contributions to the State in
17 the preceding year are deemed especially significant. Special salary increases
18 or bonuses granted to any individual shall not exceed the average rate of
19 adjustment available to most classified employees under the collective
20 bargaining agreement then in effect.
21 (1) Heads of the following Departments and Agencies:
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1 Base Base Base Base
2 Salary Salary Salary Salary
3 as of as of as of as of
4 July 3, July 2, July 14, July 13,
5 2022 2023 2024 2025
6 (A) Administration $121,634 $126,378 $134,466 $141,727
7 (B) Agriculture,
8 Food and
9 Markets $121,634 $126,378 $134,466 $141,727
10 (C) Financial
11 Regulation $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
12 (D) Buildings and
13 General Services $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
14 (E) Children and
15 Families $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
16 (F) Commerce and
17 Community
18 Development $121,634 $126,378 $134,466 $141,727
19 (G) Corrections $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
20 (H) Defender
21 General $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
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1 (I) Disabilities,
2 Aging, and
3 Independent
4 Living $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
5 (J) Economic
6 Development $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
7 (K) Education $121,634 $126,378 $134,466 $141,727
8 (L) Environmental
9 Conservation $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
10 (M) Finance and
11 Management $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
12 (N) Fish and
13 Wildlife $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
14 (O) Forests, Parks
15 and Recreation $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
16 (P) Health $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
17 (Q) Housing and
18 Community
19 Development $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
20 (R) Human
21 Resources $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
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1 (S) Human Services $121,634 $126,378 $134,466 $141,727
2 (T) Digital Services $121,634 $126,378 $134,466 $141,727
3 (U) Labor $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
4 (V) Libraries $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
5 (W) Liquor and
6 Lottery $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
7 (X) [Repealed.]
8 (Y) Mental Health $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
9 (Z) Military $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
10 (AA) Motor
11 Vehicles $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
12 (BB) Natural
13 Resources $121,634 $126,378 $134,466 $141,727
14 (CC) Natural
15 Resources
16 Board Chair $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
17 (DD) Public Safety $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
18 (EE) Public Service $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
19 (FF) Taxes $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
20 (GG) Tourism and
21 Marketing $103,149 $107,172 $114,031 $120,189
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1 (HH) Transportation $121,634 $126,378 $134,466 $141,727
2 (II) Vermont Health
3 Access $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
4 (JJ) Veterans’ Home $113,710 $118,145 $125,706 $132,494
5 (2) [Repealed.]
6 (3) If the Chair of the Natural Resources Board is employed on less than
7 a full-time basis, the hiring and salary maximums for that position shall be
8 reduced proportionately.
9 (4) When a permanent employee is appointed to an exempt position, the
10 Governor may authorize such employee to retain the present salary even
11 though it is in excess of any salary maximum provided in statute.
12 ***
13 (d) Notwithstanding the maximum salary established in subsection (b) of
14 this section, the Defender General shall not receive compensation in excess of
15 the compensation established for the Attorney General in this section.
16 (e) Notwithstanding the maximum salary established in subsection (b) of
17 this section, the maximum salary for the Commissioner of Health shall not
18 exceed 100 percent above the base salary for this position.
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1 * * * Judicial Branch; Statutory Salaries; Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026 * * *
2 Sec. 5. 32 V.S.A. § 1003(c) is amended to read:
3 (c) The officers of the Judicial Branch named in this subsection shall be
4 entitled to annual salaries as follows:
5 Annual Annual Annual Annual
6 Salary Salary Salary Salary
7 as of as of as of as of
8 July 3, July 2, July 14, July 13,
9 2022 2023 2024 2025
10 (1) Chief Justice of
11 Supreme Court $193,600 $201,150 $214,024 $225,581
12 (2) Each Associate
13 Justice $184,771 $191,977 $204,264 $215,294
14 (3) Administrative
15 Judge $184,771 $191,977 $204,264 $215,294
16 (4) Each Superior
17 Judge $175,654 $182,505 $194,185 $204,671
18 (5) [Repealed.]
19 (6) Each
20 Magistrate $132,441 $137,606 $146,413 $154,319
21 (7) Each Judicial VT LEG #376993 v.1
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1 Bureau hearing
2 officer $132,441 $137,606 $146,413 $154,319
3 Sec. 6. 32 V.S.A. § 1141 is amended to read:
4 § 1141. ASSISTANT JUDGES
5 (a)(1) Each assistant judge of the Superior Court shall be entitled to receive
6 compensation in the amount of $203.05 $224.47 a day as of July 3, 2022 July
7 14, 2024 and $210.97 $236.59 a day as of July 2, 2023 July 13, 2025 for time
8 spent in the performance of official duties and necessary expenses as allowed
9 to classified State employees. Compensation under this section shall be based
10 on a two-hour minimum and hourly thereafter.
11 (2)(A) The compensation paid to an assistant judge pursuant to this
12 section shall be paid by the State except as provided in subdivision (B) of this
13 subdivision (2).
14 (B) The compensation paid to an assistant judge pursuant to this
15 section shall be paid by the county at the State rate established in subdivision
16 (a)(1) of this section when an assistant judge is sitting with a presiding
17 Superior judge in the Civil or Family Division of the Superior Court.
18 (b) Assistant judges of the Superior Court shall be entitled to receive pay
19 for such days as they attend court when it is in actual session or during a court
20 recess when engaged in the special performance of official duties.
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1 Sec. 7. 32 V.S.A. § 1142 is amended to read:
2 § 1142. PROBATE JUDGES
3 (a) The Probate judges in the several Probate Districts shall be entitled to
4 receive the following annual salaries, which shall be paid by the State in lieu of
5 all fees or other compensation:
6 Annual Annual Annual Annual
7 Salary Salary Salary Salary
8 as of as of as of as of
9 July 3, July 2, July 14, July 13,
10 2022 2023 2024 2025
11 (1) Addison $69,249 $71,950 $76,555 $80,689
12 (2) Bennington $87,541 $90,955 $96,776 $102,002
13 (3) Caledonia $61,412 $63,807 $67,891 $71,557
14 (4) Chittenden $146,093 $151,791 $161,506 $170,227
15 (5) Essex $17,156 $17,825 $18,966 $19,990
16 (6) Franklin $69,249 $71,950 $76,555 $80,689
17 (7) Grand Isle $17,156 $17,825 $18,966 $19,990
18 (8) Lamoille $48,343 $50,228 $53,443 $56,329
19 (9) Orange $57,489 $59,731 $63,554 $66,986
20 (10) Orleans $56,183 $58,374 $62,110 $65,464
21 (11) Rutland $124,126 $128,967 $137,221 $144,631
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1 (12) Washington $95,379 $99,099 $105,441 $111,135
2 (13) Windham $77,089 $80,095 $85,221 $89,823
3 (14) Windsor $104,527 $108,604 $115,555 $121,795
4 (b) Probate judges shall be entitled to be paid by the State for their actual
5 and necessary expenses under the rules pertaining to classified State
6 employees. The compensation for the Probate judge of the Chittenden District
7 shall be for full-time service.
8 (c) All Probate judges, regardless of the number of hours worked annually,
9 shall be eligible to participate in all employee benefits that are available to
10 exempt employees of the Judicial Department.
11 * * * Sheriffs; Statutory Salaries; Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026 * * *