H 681

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.681
 2026  Page 1 of 3
1H.681
2 Introduced by Representatives Olson of Starksboro, Yacovone of Morristown,
3Boyden of Cambridge, Burrows of West Windsor, Greer of
4Bennington, Harple of Glover, Headrick of Burlington,
5Mrowicki of Putney, and O’Brien of Tunbridge
6 Referred to Committee on
7 Date:
8 Subject: Education; school district board; school closure; power of electorate
9 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require a
10 school district to obtain the affirmative vote of the town within which a school
11 is located before closing the school.
12    An act relating to voter approval prior to school closure
13 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
14 Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 564 is added to read:
15 § 564. SCHOOL CLOSURE
16    (a) Before closing a school that operates grades prekindergarten through
17 grade 12, or any subset of such grades, or before closing or relocating one or
18 more individual grades, a school district shall obtain the affirmative vote of the
19 town in which the school or grades facing closure are located.
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 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.681
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1    (b) As used in this section, “school board” and “school district” have the
2 same meanings as in subdivisions 11(a)(9) and (10) of this title.
3    (c) The provisions of this section shall supersede any educational charter
4 provision or school district articles of agreement to the contrary.
5 Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 563 is amended to read:
6 § 563. POWERS OF SCHOOL BOARDS; FORM OF VOTE
7    The school board of a school district, in addition to other duties and
8 authority specifically assigned by law:
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10(7) May relocate or discontinue use of a schoolhouse or facility, subject
11 to the provisions of sections 564, 821, and 822 of this title.
12***
13 Sec. 3. 16 V.S.A. § 562 is amended to read:
14 § 562. POWERS OF ELECTORATE
15    At a school district meeting, the electorate:
16***
17(7) May authorize the school board to enter into leases of real property
18 for more than three years, to purchase buildings or sites for school purposes, to
19 locate and erect schoolhouses, and to sell, or otherwise dispose of,
20 schoolhouses or sites for same, subject to the provisions of section 564 of this
21 chapter.
                                                                       VT LEG #385429 v.5
BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.681
2026  Page 3 of 3
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2 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
3   This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
                                                VT LEG #385429 v.5