The bill H.479 establishes the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program, which provides grants and forgivable loans for the rehabilitation and creation of rental housing units. Key provisions include exemptions for program entities from certain lending regulations and an increase in funding for accessibility improvements. The bill modifies tenant eligibility requirements for landlords receiving funding, focusing on support for households exiting homelessness, those involved with immigrant or refugee programs, and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting by the Department of Housing and Community Development on the program's outcomes.

The bill also introduces the Vermont Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program, aimed at enhancing manufactured homes and parks, and creates the Vermont Infrastructure Sustainability Fund to expand water and sewer services for housing development. A Residential Universal Design Study Committee is established to explore universal design standards for residential buildings, with a report due by November 1, 2025. The bill amends existing laws to improve housing appeals processes and the brownfield property cleanup program, including prioritizing housing-related remediation. It also includes provisions for a report on challenges in redeveloping contaminated properties and appropriates $2,500,000 for brownfield assessments and cleanup. Certain landlord certificate provisions are repealed, and new reporting requirements for rental property owners are introduced, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 10-699, 24-119, 32-5404, 32-5930u, 10-8502, 10-8504, 24-4465, 24-4441, 10-6641, 32-6069
As Passed By the House -- Official: 10-699, 24-119, 32-5404, 32-5930u, 10-8502, 10-8504, 24-4465, 24-4441, 10-6641, 32-6069
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 10-699, 24-119, 32-5404, 10-8502, 10-8504, 24-4465, 24-4441, 10-6641, 32-6069