The bill H.400 proposes significant changes to the process of handling housing appeals within the Environmental Division of the Superior Court in Vermont. It mandates that the court must hear appeals related to housing within 30 days of filing and issue a decision within 120 days after the hearing. Additionally, the bill aims to enhance the court's capacity by creating one new Superior Court Judge position and one new law clerk position, with an appropriation of $300,000 allocated for these roles in fiscal year 2026.

To implement these changes, the bill amends current law by removing the previous goal of timely hearings and decisions and replacing it with a definitive requirement for the court to act within specified timeframes. The bill also establishes the new positions within the court system to ensure that the increased workload from expedited housing appeals can be managed effectively. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 10-8504