The bill H.276, titled the Vermont Climate Resilience and State Wildlands Act, aims to designate specific lands in Vermont as State wildlands and establish a framework for future designations. The bill emphasizes the importance of conserving intact ecosystems to combat climate change and biodiversity loss, highlighting the role of old forests in maintaining ecological balance and water quality. It outlines the purpose of the new chapter on State wildlands, which includes definitions and management guidelines to ensure these areas are protected from conversion and managed to allow natural processes to prevail.

Key provisions of the bill include the designation of various State parks and forests as wildlands, the prohibition of vegetation management and alterations to water bodies within these areas, and the establishment of a process for future wildland designations based on public input. The bill also specifies exclusions for certain lands that do not meet the wildlands criteria and mandates the Agency of Natural Resources to manage newly acquired parcels in accordance with the wildlands designation unless substantial evidence suggests otherwise. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.