ADVOCACY

Now, more than ever, it is critical that REALTORS speak with one voice about the stability that the real estate market brings to our communities. Our elected officials make decisions that have an impact on the bottom line of REALTORS and their customers and clients. Working together, we can ensure that the dream of home ownership is preserved, and that the real estate industry continues to support a strong and vibrant economy.

The Vermont Association of REALTORS (VAR) serves more than 2100 members throughout Vermont who are building communities where they work, strengthening neighborhoods where they live, and ensuring economic vitality for all Vermonters by helping them to unleash the power of the American dream of home ownership. VAR is a recognized advocacy leader for its REALTOR members, and for home and property owners in Vermont.

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VAR 2026 Legislative Priorities

Click the tabs on the left to learn more about VAR’s core legislative priorities for 2026.

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VAR 2025 ADVOCACY WINS

Jenne Farm with barn at sunny autumn morning in Vermont, USAThe 2024 legislative session resulted in Act 181, an act related to land use. Through this legislation, VAR was appointed to participate as a stakeholder with the newly formed Land Use Review Board (LURB) to help update land use rules. VAR has served as a constructive voice for land use reform, participating in the Tier 3 workgroup, the appeals study workgroup, and the workgroup charged with developing rules to regulate forest blocks and connective habitats.

Going forward, we will:

  • Continue working with the LURB to encourage the development of reasonable rules for Tier 3 Environmentally Sensitive Areas that uphold private property rights
  • Support legislative efforts to reform Tier 1A rules to encourage cities to apply for Tier 1A status
  • Advocate for an extension of interim exemptions to Act 250 from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028
  • Encourage municipalities to apply for and qualify for Tier 1A (city) or Tier 1B (village) exempt status from Act 250 review
  • Advocate with the Legislature to consider changes to the “road rule” incorporated in Act 181

VAR will continue to work with the Housing committees in the House and Senate to provide additional incentives to create new housing with a focus on home ownership.

We will support efforts to encourage municipalities to develop administrative permitting and by-right zoning

VAR continues to support housing policies that create affordable rental housing to address our workforce housing needs.

  • We will continue to advocate for home ownership and the multigenerational wealth that home ownership creates for Vermont families.
  • We will advocate for elimination of land gains tax policy to encourage real estate development

Property tax policy in Vermont is driven largely by education spending. VAR will support efforts to reduce the impact of property taxes on property owners and will continue to oppose the creation of new taxes intended to “buy down” property tax rates.

Act 73, the Education Reform Bill, required the Department of Taxes to report on options for segregating second homes into a new tax classification. The legislation also directed the Department to calculate the feasibility of a second-home tax rate to support increased funding for public education.

VAR will advocate for fair tax policies for all Vermont property owners and oppose targeted taxation policies.

Support for public education is the single largest driver of property taxes in Vermont. This complex issue was addressed by the Legislature in Act 73, which created a stakeholder group tasked with identifying ways to reduce the number of school districts and control costs. The group was unable to reach consensus and will report back to the Legislature with limited progress.

VAR will advocate for decisive legislative action this year to address education funding and school district consolidation.

We will support efforts to consolidate administrative functions from the top down and encourage the Legislature to address student-to-adult ratios in schools.

VAR has participated in the Building Energy Labeling Workgroup (BELWG) and contributed to its report to the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. VAR supports policy proposals that do not add to the cost of construction.

  • Advocate for builder training and education
  • Support the development of education for Realtors® on Residential Building Energy Codes (RBES)
  • Encourage compliance through the Contractor Registry
  • Oppose the creation of a new bureaucracy within the Department of Fire Safety to inspect new construction for RBES

 

VAR will oppose new taxes that target real estate, including increases to the Property Transfer Tax, taxes on short-term rentals, and taxes on services such as real estate transactions.

VAR recognizes that the rising cost of health care impacts Vermont’s economy at all levels. Realtors® are independent contractors who are particularly challenged by the high cost of health insurance in the current market. We will support policies that expand access to affordable health care.

Addressing Vermont’s policy challenges requires building and expanding the state’s economy. VAR will continue to support efforts to increase residential housing production and expand the grand list. Grand list growth is critical to strengthening the property tax base that supports education funding. We will also advocate for programs that attract new businesses to Vermont and help existing businesses grow their operations and workforce.

VAR is seeing an increase in a practice in Vermont known as real estate wholesaling. This occurs when an individual or entity enters into a contract with a property owner at a below-market price, then assigns or conveys their contractual interest to another buyer for a higher price. The wholesaler profits from the difference without ever taking ownership of the property.

These transactions often lack transparency, can mislead sellers about the true value of their property, and may bypass consumer protections that apply to licensed real estate professionals.

VAR will advocate for licensure and disclosure requirements, when appropriate, to promote public protection.