The bill H.951, known as the BIG BILL Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations Act, provides the necessary funding for the operations of the State government for the fiscal year 2027. It stipulates that state agencies and departments can only engage in activities that are funded by the appropriations in this act or other acts passed before June 30, 2026. The bill includes detailed appropriations for various state functions, with significant allocations for personal services, operating expenses, and grants across multiple departments, including the Department of Human Services, which receives over $2.27 billion for global commitment grants. Notable insertions include funding for the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration review board, the Ethics Commission, and various grants for the Tax Department, among others. The total budget for general government is set at $370,906,767, with a focus on maintaining authorized state positions and allowing the Governor to accept federal funds.

Additionally, the bill introduces several amendments to existing laws, including changes to the process for unreserving funds from the Human Services Caseload Reserve and the establishment of new transition grants for school districts. It also specifies salary adjustments for state officials and employees, with increases scheduled for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, reflecting a comprehensive approach to ensuring fair compensation. The bill emphasizes the importance of community resilience, disaster relief, and support for vulnerable populations, with significant funding directed towards education, health services, and public safety initiatives. Overall, H.951 aims to enhance state infrastructure and services while ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance with federal requirements.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3-118, 3-3306, 32-307(b), 32-307, 3-922, 3-1225, 30-202d, 33-1900, 33-1904a, 16-2959a, 33-2605, 16-51, 16-2885, 3-2807, 19-11, 19-11a
As Passed By the House -- Official: 3-118, 3-3306, 32-307(b), 32-307, 3-922, 3-1225, 30-202d, 33-1900, 33-1904a, 16-2959a, 33-2605, 16-51, 16-4011(f), 16-4011, 16-4021(b), 16-4021, 16-2885, 3-2807, 19-11, 19-11a, 32-1003, 32-1003(c), 32-1141, 32-1142, 32-1182, 32-1183
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 3-118, 3-3306, 32-307(b), 32-307, 3-922, 3-1225, 30-202d, 33-1900, 33-1904a, 16-2959a, 33-2605, 16-51, 16-4011(f), 16-4011, 16-4021(b), 16-4021, 16-2885, 3-2807, 19-11, 19-11a, 32-1003, 32-1003(c), 32-1141, 32-1142, 32-1182, 32-1183