Bill H.170 proposes several measures aimed at addressing housing issues related to the University of Vermont (UVM) and the City of Burlington. It establishes an enrollment cap for UVM when the city's housing vacancy rate falls below five percent, requiring the university to limit student enrollment to the number at the end of the fall semester following the vacancy report. Additionally, the bill mandates that all university-owned or affiliated housing must comply with municipal housing codes and rental health and safety standards. To ensure compliance, the UVM Housing Task Force will be created to monitor housing conditions and report annually to the General Assembly.

The bill includes specific provisions for the UVM Housing Task Force, which will consist of various stakeholders, including representatives from the state government, the university, and the city council. The Task Force is tasked with reviewing housing pressures, recommending actions to alleviate these pressures, and ensuring that housing agreements between the city and the university include commitments to build compliant housing and align with broader housing strategies. The act is set to take effect upon passage.