An act relating to repealing the Affordable Heat Act
S.68 would repeal Vermont’s Affordable Heat Act by repealing 30 V.S.A. chapter 94, which is the statutory basis for the Clean Heat Standard. The bill is framed as a full rollback of the state’s clean heating-fuel policy, rather than a modification of it. In addition to repealing the chapter, the bill removes related statutory language that authorizes the disclosure of certain fuel-tax records to the Public Utility Commission and the Department of Public Service for Clean Heat Standard compliance auditing.
The bill also eliminates, as of January 1, 2026, positions created in 2023 that support the Clean Heat Standard program at the Public Utility Commission and the Department of Public Service. Taken together, the measure would substantially unwind the administrative and enforcement infrastructure associated with the state’s clean heat policy and end the program’s implementation framework.
The general sentiment reflected in the voting history is that the bill faced significant opposition and did not advance. Two roll-call votes on February 25, 2025 both failed, with 12–18 and 13–17 outcomes, indicating that a majority of senators were not prepared to support repeal. The lack of committee transcript material limits insight into detailed debate, but the votes suggest the proposal was controversial and did not command broad support.
The main point of contention is the Affordable Heat Act itself and the Clean Heat Standard it created. Supporters of repeal appear to view the program as burdensome or undesirable policy, while opponents likely favor retaining the state’s clean-heating framework and associated enforcement tools. The bill’s repeal of tax-record disclosure authority and elimination of program positions also suggests concern over regulatory reach, administrative costs, and compliance burdens on heating-fuel businesses.
If enacted, S.68 would repeal 30 V.S.A. chapter 94 and remove the legal foundation for Vermont’s Clean Heat Standard and Affordable Heat Act. It would also strike a related tax-record disclosure provision in 32 V.S.A. § 3102 and terminate Clean Heat Standard support positions at the Public Utility Commission and Department of Public Service, significantly reducing state administrative authority and staffing tied to the program. Heating-fuel sellers, the Public Utility Commission, the Department of Public Service, and taxpayers whose records could be disclosed for compliance auditing would be directly affected.
The available voting record shows the bill was unpopular in the Senate and failed twice on roll-call votes, suggesting the chamber was generally opposed to repealing the Affordable Heat Act. With no committee transcripts provided, there is no detailed public discussion to quote, but the vote margins indicate the proposal did not have enough support to move forward. Overall, the sentiment appears divided on the underlying policy, but the legislative outcome reflects stronger support for keeping the Clean Heat Standard than for repealing it.
The central controversy is whether Vermont should keep or repeal the Affordable Heat Act and its Clean Heat Standard. Supporters of S.68 likely argue that the program imposes costs, compliance obligations, and administrative burdens on heating-fuel businesses and state agencies, while opponents likely see the program as an important climate and energy policy tool. A secondary point of contention is the bill’s removal of fuel-tax information sharing for compliance auditing, which raises privacy, enforcement, and regulatory oversight concerns. The failed votes show that these disagreements were substantial enough to prevent passage.