No. 133 Page 1 of 26 2022

VT LEG #363612 v.1 No. 133. An act relating to miscellaneous changes to the Reach Up Program. (H.464) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. 33 V.S.A. § 1101 is amended to read: § 1101. DEFINITIONS As used in this chapter: * * * (10) “Dependent child” means a child who is a resident of this State and: (A) is under 18 years of age; or (B) is 18 years of age or older who is a full-time student in a secondary school, or attending an equivalent level of vocational or technical training, and is reasonably expected to complete the educational program before reaching 19 22 years of age or is not expected to complete the educational program before reaching 19 22 years of age solely due to a documented disability. * * * Sec. 2. 33 V.S.A. § 1103 is amended to read: § 1103. ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFIT LEVELS * * * (c) The Commissioner shall adopt rules for the determination of eligibility for the Reach Up program and benefit levels for all participating families that include the following provisions:

No. 133 Page 2 of 26 2022

VT LEG #363612 v.1 (1) No Not less than the first $250.00 $350.00 per month of earnings from an unsubsidized or subsidized job and 25 percent of the remaining unsubsidized earnings shall be disregarded in determining the amount of the family’s financial assistance grant. The family shall receive the difference between countable income and the Reach Up payment standard in a partial financial assistance grant. (2) No less than the first $90.00 per month of earnings from a subsidized job shall be disregarded in determining the amount of the family’s financial assistance grant. The family shall receive the difference between countable income and the Reach Up payment standard in a partial financial assistance grant. Earnings from subsidized jobs shall qualify for federal and State earned income credit if the family is otherwise eligible for such credit. [Repealed.] * * * (f) The Commissioner shall disregard no not less than $50.00 $100.00 per month of child support payments in determining eligibility and benefit levels for participating families. * * * Sec. 3. 33 V.S.A. § 1105 is amended to read: § 1105. CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS (a) A financial assistance case shall not be closed until child support payments, minus the first $50.00 $100.00 per month in such payments received on behalf of the family, in combination with other countable income, have

No. 138 Page 1 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 No. 138. An act relating to tax reductions and other aid for Vermonters. (H.510) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: * * * Child Tax Credit * * * Sec. 1. 32 V.S.A. § 5830f is added to read: § 5830f. VERMONT CHILD TAX CREDIT (a) A resident individual or part-year resident individual who is entitled to a child tax credit under the laws of the United States shall be entitled to a refundable credit against the tax imposed by section 5822 of this title for the taxable year. The total credit per taxable year shall be in the amount of $1,000.00 per qualifying child, as defined under 26 U.S.C. § 152(c), who is five years of age or younger as of the close of the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins. For a part-year resident individual, the amount of the credit shall be multiplied by the percentage that the individual’s income that is earned or received during the period of the individual’s residency in this State bears to the individual’s total income. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the amount of the credit per child under this section shall be reduced, but not below zero, by $20.00 for each $1,000.00, or fraction thereof, by which the individual’s adjusted gross income exceeds $125,000.00, irrespective of the individual’s filing status. For purposes of this subsection, spouses filing jointly shall be considered an individual.

No. 138 Page 2 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 (c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the refundable credit and its payment authorized under this section shall be treated in the same manner as the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and shall not be considered as assets, income, or resources to the same extent the credit and its payment would be disregarded pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6409 and the general welfare doctrine for purposes of determining eligibility for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of those benefits or assistance, under any State or local program, including programs established under 33 V.S.A. § 3512 and chapters 11, 17, 19, 21, 25, and 26. This subsection shall only apply to the extent that it does not conflict with federal law relating to the benefit or assistance program and that any required federal approval or waiver is first obtained for that program. * * * Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit * * * Sec. 2. 32 V.S.A. § 5822(d) is amended to read: (d)(1) A taxpayer shall be entitled to a credit against the tax imposed under this section of 24 percent of each of the credits allowed against the taxpayer’s federal income tax for the taxable year as follows: the credit for people who are elderly or permanently totally disabled, and the investment tax credit attributable to the Vermont-property portion of the investment, and child care and dependent care credits. * * *

No. 138 Page 3 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 Sec. 3. 32 V.S.A. § 5828c is amended to read: § 5828c. LOW-INCOME CHILD AND DEPENDENT CARE CREDIT A resident of this State with federal adjusted gross income less than $30,000.00 (or $40,000.00 for married, filing jointly) shall be eligible for a refundable credit against the tax imposed under section 5822 of this title. The credit shall be equal to 50 72 percent of the federal child and dependent care credit allowed to the taxpayer for the taxable year for child or dependent care services provided in this State in a registered home or licensed facility certified by the Agency of Human Services as meeting national accreditation or national credential standards endorsed by the Agency. A credit under this section shall be in lieu of any child and dependent care credit available under subsection 5822(d) of this title. * * * Earned Income Tax Credit * * * Sec. 4. 32 V.S.A. § 5828b(a) is amended to read: (a) A resident individual or part-year resident individual who is entitled to an earned income tax credit granted under the laws of the United States shall be entitled to a credit against the tax imposed for each year by section 5822 of this title. The credit shall be 36 38 percent of the earned income tax credit granted to the individual under the laws of the United States, multiplied by the percentage that the individual’s earned income that is earned or received during the period of the individual’s residency in this State bears to the individual’s total earned income.

No. 138 Page 4 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 * * * Student Loan Interest Deduction * * * Sec. 5. 32 V.S.A. § 5811 is amended to read: § 5811. DEFINITIONS The following definitions shall apply throughout As used in this chapter unless the context requires otherwise: * * * (21) “Taxable income” means, in the case of an individual, federal adjusted gross income determined without regard to 26 U.S.C. § 168(k) and: * * * (B) decreased by the following items of income (to the extent such income is included in federal adjusted gross income): * * * (iv) the portion of federally taxable benefits received under the federal Social Security Act that is required to be excluded under section 5830e of this chapter; and * * * (vi) the amount of interest paid by a qualified resident taxpayer during the taxable year on a qualified education loan for the costs of attendance at an eligible educational institution; and * * *

No. 138 Page 5 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 (29) As used in subdivision (21)(B)(vi) of this section: (A) “Qualified education loan” and “eligible educational institution” shall have the same meanings as under 26 U.S.C. § 221(d). (B) “Qualified resident taxpayer” means an individual qualifying for residency as defined under subdivision (11) of this section and whose adjusted gross income is equal to or less than: (i) $120,000.00 if the individual’s filing status is single, head of household, or married filing separately; or (ii) $200,000.00 if the individual’s filing status is married filing jointly. * * * Retirement Income Exclusions * * * Sec. 6. 32 V.S.A. § 5811(21)(B)(iv) is amended to read: (iv) the portion of certain retirement income and federally taxable benefits received under the federal Social Security Act that is required to be excluded under section 5830e of this chapter; and Sec. 7. 32 V.S.A. § 5830e is amended to read: § 5830e. RETIREMENT INCOME; SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME (a) Social Security income. The portion of federally taxable Social Security benefits excluded from taxable income under subdivision 5811(21)(B)(iv) of this chapter shall be as follows: (1) For taxpayers whose filing status is single, married filing separately, head of household, or qualifying widow or widower surviving spouse:

No. 138 Page 6 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 (A) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is less than or equal to $45,000.00 $50,000.00, all federally taxable benefits received under the federal Social Security Act shall be excluded. (B) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is greater than $45,000.00 $50,000.00 but less than $55,000.00 $60,000.00, the percentage of federally taxable benefits received under the Social Security Act to be excluded shall be proportional to the amount of the taxpayer’s federal adjusted gross income over $45,000.00 $50,000.00, determined by: (i) subtracting the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer from $55,000.00 $60,000.00; (ii) dividing the value under subdivision (i) of this subdivision (B) by $10,000.00; and (iii) multiplying the value under subdivision (ii) of this subdivision (B) by the federally taxable benefits received under the Social Security Act. (C) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is equal to or greater than $55,000.00 $60,000.00, no amount of the federally taxable benefits received under the Social Security Act shall be excluded under this section.

No. 138 Page 7 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 (2) For taxpayers whose filing status is married filing jointly: (A) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is less than or equal to $60,000.00 $65,000.00, all federally taxable benefits received under the Social Security Act shall be excluded. (B) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is greater than $60,000.00 $65,000.00 but less than $70,000.00 $75,000.00, the percentage of federally taxable benefits received under the Social Security Act to be excluded shall be proportional to the amount of the taxpayer’s federal adjusted gross income over $60,000.00 $65,000.00, determined by: (i) subtracting the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer from $70,000.00 $75,000.00; (ii) dividing the value under subdivision (i) of this subdivision (B) by $10,000.00; and (iii) multiplying the value under subdivision (ii) of this subdivision (B) by the federally taxable benefits received under the Social Security Act. (C) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is equal to or greater than $70,000.00 $75,000.00, no amount of the federally taxable benefits received under the Social Security Act shall be excluded under this section. (b) Civil Service Retirement System income. The portion of income received from the Civil Service Retirement System excluded from taxable

No. 138 Page 8 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 income under subdivision 5811(21)(B)(iv) of this title shall be subject to the limitations under subsection (e) of this section and shall be determined as follows: (1) For taxpayers whose filing status is single, married filing separately, head of household, or surviving spouse: (A) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is less than or equal to $50,000.00, the first $10,000.00 of income received from the Civil Service Retirement System shall be excluded. (B) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is greater than $50,000.00 but less than $60,000.00, the percentage of the first $10,000.00 of income received from the Civil Service Retirement System to be excluded shall be proportional to the amount of the taxpayer’s federal adjusted gross income over $50,000.00, determined by: (i) subtracting the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer from $60,000.00; (ii) dividing the value under subdivision (i) of this subdivision (B) by $10,000.00; and (iii) multiplying the value under subdivision (ii) of this subdivision (B) by the income received from the Civil Service Retirement System.

No. 138 Page 9 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 (C) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is equal to or greater than $60,000.00, no amount of the income received from the Civil Service Retirement System shall be excluded under this section. (2) For taxpayers whose filing status is married filing jointly: (A) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is less than or equal to $65,000.00, the first $10,000.00 of income received from the Civil Service Retirement System shall be excluded. (B) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is greater than $65,000.00 but less than $75,000.00, the percentage of the first $10,000.00 of income received from the Civil Service Retirement System to be excluded shall be proportional to the amount of the taxpayer’s federal adjusted gross income over $65,000.00, determined by: (i) subtracting the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer from $75,000.00; (ii) dividing the value under subdivision (i) of this subdivision (B) by $10,000.00; and (iii) multiplying the value under subdivision (ii) of this subdivision (B) by the income received from the Civil Service Retirement System. (C) If the federal adjusted gross income of the taxpayer is equal to or greater than $75,000.00, no amount of the income received from the Civil Service Retirement System shall be excluded under this section.

No. 138 Page 10 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 (c) Other contributory retirement systems; earnings not covered by Social Security. Other retirement income, except U.S. military retirement income pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, received by a taxpayer of this State shall be excluded pursuant to subsection (b) of this section as though the income were received from the Civil Service Retirement System and shall be subject to the limitations under subsection (e) of this section, provided that: (1) the income is received from a contributory annuity, pension, endowment, or retirement system of: (A) the U.S. government or a political subdivision or instrumentality of the U.S. government; (B) this State or a political subdivision or instrumentality of this State; or (C) another state or a political subdivision or instrumentality of another state; and (2) the contributory system from which the income is received was based on earnings that were not covered by the Social Security Act. (d) U.S. military retirement income. U.S. military retirement income received by a taxpayer of this State shall be excluded pursuant to subsection (b) of this section as though the income were received from the Civil Service Retirement System and shall be subject to the limitations under subsection (e) of this section.

No. 138 Page 11 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 (e) Requirement to elect one exclusion. A taxpayer of this State who is eligible during the taxable year for the Social Security income exclusion under subsection (a) of this section and any of the exclusions under subsections (b)– (d) of this section shall elect either one of the exclusions for which the taxpayer is eligible under subsections (b)–(d) of this section or the Social Security income exclusion under subsection (a) of this section, but not both, for the taxable year. A taxpayer of this State who is eligible during the taxable year for more than one of the exclusions under subsections (b)–(d) of this section shall elect only one of the exclusions for which the taxpayer is eligible for the taxable year. * * * Statutory Purposes for Tax Expenditures * * * Sec. 8. 32 V.S.A. § 5813 is amended to read: § 5813. STATUTORY PURPOSES * * * (c) The statutory purpose of the Vermont credit for child and dependent care in subsection 5822(d) of this title is to provide financial assistance to employees who must incur dependent care expenses to stay in the workforce in the absence of prekindergarten programming. [Repealed.] * * * (r) The statutory purpose of the Vermont low-income child and dependent care tax credit in section 5828c of this title is to provide cash relief to lower-

No. 138 Page 12 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 income employees who incur dependent care expenses in certified centers to enable them to remain in the workforce. * * * (w) The statutory purpose of the partial exemption of federally taxable benefits under the Social Security Act and certain retirement income in section 5830e of this title is to lessen the tax burden on Vermonters with low to moderate income who derive part of their income from Social Security benefits and certain retirement income. * * * (y) The statutory purpose of the Vermont child tax credit in section 5830f of this title is to provide financial support to families with young children. (z) The statutory purpose of the exclusion from income of student loan interest paid in subdivision 5811(21)(B)(vi) of this title is to lessen the financial impact of higher education debt on Vermonters. * * * Affordable Housing Tax Credit; Manufactured Homes * * * Sec. 9. 32 V.S.A. § 5930u(g) is amended to read: (g)(1) In any fiscal year, the allocating agency may award up to: (A) $400,000.00 in total first-year credit allocations to all applicants for rental housing projects, for an aggregate limit of $2,000,000.00 over any given five-year period that credits are available under this subdivision (A);. (B) $425,000.00 $675,000.00 in total first-year credit allocations for loans or grants for owner-occupied unit financing or down payment loans as

No. 138 Page 13 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 provided in subdivision (b)(2) of this section consistent with the allocation plan, including for new construction and manufactured housing, for an aggregate limit of $2,125,000.00 $3,375,000.00 over any given five-year period that credits are available under this subdivision (B). Of the total first- year credit allocations made under this subdivision (B), $250,000.00 shall be used each fiscal year for manufactured home purchase and replacement. (2) If the full amount of first-year credits authorized by an award are not allocated to a taxpayer, the Agency may reclaim the amount not allocated and re-award such allocations to other applicants, and such re-awards shall not be subject to the limits set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection. * * * Appropriations * * * Sec. 10. APPROPRIATION; AID FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (a) In fiscal year 2023, in addition to other funds provided to the Department for Children and Families, a total of $750,000.00 in Global Commitment funds is appropriated to increase the payments to eligible individuals in the Aid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled program. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this increase should be incorporated into the annual budget funding for the Aid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled program in fiscal year 2024 and after.

No. 138 Page 14 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 (b) In fiscal year 2023, to fund the Global Commitment investment authorized under subsection (a) of this section, there is appropriated to the Secretary’s Office of the Agency of Human Services: (1) the sum of $330,000.00 from the General Fund; and (2) the sum of $420,000.00 from federal funds. (c) To the extent permitted under federal law, any increase in payments provided under subsection (a) of this section is intended to be retained by recipients in residential care settings by increasing the individuals’ personal needs allowance. Sec. 11. FY 2023 APPROPRIATION; CHILD CARE WORKER RETENTION GRANT PROGRAM In fiscal year 2023, the sum of $1,000,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department for Children and Families for the early childhood staff and home-based provider retention grant program established in 2021 Acts and Resolves No. 74, Sec. G.300(a)(30), as added by 2022 Acts and Resolves No. 83, Sec. 68 and as may be further amended by the fiscal year 2023 budget act. * * * Fees * * * Sec. 12. 9 V.S.A. § 5302(f) is amended to read: (f) Investment companies subject to 15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq. shall pay to the Commissioner an initial notice filing fee of $2,000.00 and an annual

No. 138 Page 15 of 15 2022

VT LEG #363634 v.1 renewal fee of $1,500.00 $1,650.00 for each portfolio or class of investment company securities for which a notice filing is submitted. * * * Effective Dates * * * Sec. 13. EFFECTIVE DATES (a) This section shall take effect on passage. (b) Notwithstanding 1 V.S.A. § 214, Secs. 1–8 (income tax credits, deduction and exclusions) shall take effect retroactively on January 1, 2022 and shall apply to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2022. (c) Secs. 9–12 (affordable housing tax credit, appropriations, and fees) shall take effect on July 1, 2022. Date Governor signed bill: May 27, 2022