The House moved S202 to third reading after committee amendments. The bill sets technical and safety standards for plug‑in photovoltaic devices, limits combined inverter capacity per meter, clarifies landlord/tenant notice and consent, and exempts compliant devices from certificate‑of‑public‑good and interconnection requirements.

Committee staff told the Ways & Means committee that a Senate amendment would raise the renter credit rate from 10% to 12.5% and increase the statutory cap from $2,500 to $3,250 for one claim year; analysts estimated the expansion will cost about $4 million and reduce the one‑time pool available to lower property taxes.

Members discussed slicing a small share of a proposed $104 million property-tax buy-down to fund an expanded renter tax credit, reviewed program history and administrative risks, and asked the Joint Fiscal Office to model options (staff estimates $3.75M–$4.0M for proposed changes).

After hours of floor debate, the Vermont House amended and ordered third reading of H.772, a broad package updating rental agreements, limiting security deposits to two months in most cases, expanding tenant defenses tied to serious health and safety code violations and creating a positive rental‑payment credit pilot administered by the treasurer’s office.

The committee reviewed an amendment to clarify that landlords may not broadly ban non‑impactful cannabis possession or use inside rental premises—members debated whether protections should be limited to a tenant’s dwelling unit or extend across premises and flagged vaping/odor and a $105,000 appropriation contingency.

Senate proposals require landlords to allow EV charging installations at renter-owned properties.

Renters face instability with month-to-month leases amid housing shortages, prompting calls for better solutions.

Landlords now directly submit certificates to streamline renter credit claims and simplify filing.

Renters face rising evictions and habitability issues amid soaring rent increases and housing instability.