May 11, 2022 Patrick Titterton, Fiscal Analyst
S.210 – An act relating to rental housing health and safety –
Committee of Conference Report
URL for bill:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/WorkGroups/House%20General/Bills/S.210/Comm
ittee%20of%20Conference/S.210~David%20Hall~Draft%202.1,%205-10-2022,%204-30PM~5-10-
2022.pdf
Bill Summary
T his bill includes numerous provisions relating to rental housing.1 The bill would authorize five (5.0)
new full-time classified positions within the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to perform rental
housing inspections. The bill contains FY 2022 ARPA SFR appropriations of $400,000 to DPS to
cover initial costs for the new inspector positions.
The bill would also require DHCD to establish a VT Rental Housing Investment Program (VRHIP) to provide
funding to landlords in order to rehabilitate and weatherize eligible rental housing. This program is funded
with $20.0 million in FY 2022 in ARPA SFR funds.
Fiscal Summary
The bill contains appropriations of ARPA SFR dollars totaling $20,400,000 in FY 2022.
Appropriations included in S.210
Appropriation Detail Source of FY22
recipient funds
DFS (sec. 15) For one time startup funding for inspector ARPA SFR $400,000
positions
DHCD VRHIP For the establishment of the VT Rental ARPA SFR $20,000,000
(sec. 15) Housing Investment Program (VRHIP)
Total $20,400,000
Appropriations
Fiscal Provisions
1
This bill summary describes provisions that are estimated to have an impact on the revenues and/or expenditures of the
state but is not meant to be a full summary of all provisions in the bill.
VT LEG #363293 v.1
 Fiscal Note – S.210 – Committee of Conference Report 2
Department of Public Safety Appropriations
The Division of Fire Safety (DFS), a part of the Dept. of Public Safety (DPS), would gain authority to inspect
“rental housing” as defined in 9 V.S.A. §4451 and “short-term rental housing” as defined in 18 V.S.A. §4301.
Five new full-time positions would be authorized to perform inspections. The bill would appropriate
$400,000 of funding from the ARPA SFR funds in FY 2022 to fund initial hiring of some of the new positions
at DPS. The bill would authorize DPS to hire additional positions as funds are made available. DPS has
estimated that the full annualized cost for all five new positions would be approximately $550,000.
VT Rental Housing Investment Program
The bill would direct DHCD to establish a rental housing investment program. In FY22, $20,000,000 is
appropriated to DHCD to implement this program using ARPA funds. Funds would go to statewide or
regional non-profit housing organizations to be passed on as grants or forgivable loans to owners of eligible
rental units for rehabilitation and weatherization expenses. Grants or loans shall not exceed $50,000 per
unit, and landlords shall contribute matching funds or in-kind services that are at least equal to 20 percent
of the loan or grant. The bill authorizes DHCD to use up to $1,000,000 to facilitate a statewide education
and navigation system to assist homeowners with designing, financing, permitting, and constructing
accessory dwelling units.
VT LEG #363293 v.1


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 20-2678(b)(7), 20-2678, 20-2678(b), 20-18, 18-11
As Passed By the Senate -- Official: 20-2678(b)(7)2678(b)(8), 20-2678, 20-2678(b), 18-11
As Passed By the Senate -- Unofficial: 20-2678(b)(8), 20-2678, 20-2678(b), 18-11
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 20-2678(b)(7)2678(b)(8), 20-2678, 20-2678(b), 18-11
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 18-11
As Enacted: 18-11