H 551

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.551
 2026  Page 1 of 2
1H.551
2 Introduced by Representative Casey of Montpelier
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Labor; employment practices; minimum wages; overtime; firefighters
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require
7 overtime pay for firefighters for hours worked in excess of 42 hours a week.
8    An act relating to overtime pay for firefighters
9 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
10 Sec. 1. 21 V.S.A. chapter 5, subchapter 3 is redesignated to read:
11Subchapter 3. Minimum Wages and Overtime Pay
12 Sec. 2. 21 V.S.A. § 388 is added to read:
13 § 388. OVERTIME PAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS
14    (a) No State, municipal, or county fire department shall employ any full-
15 time firefighter, as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 3151(4), excluding civilian
16 employees, for an average workweek longer than 42 hours unless the
17 firefighter is compensated at the rate of one and one-half times the firefighter’s
18 regular wage rate for all hours worked in excess of 42 hours based upon an
19 average workweek.
                                                                    VT LEG #385668 v.1
BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.551
2026  Page 2 of 2
1   (b) An average workweek shall be calculated using the prior eight-week
2 period, based upon a seven-day workweek.
3   (c) For the purposes of this section, “hours worked” includes all paid leave.
4 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
5   This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
                                                                VT LEG #385668 v.1