BILL AS INTRODUCED H.194 2025 Page 1 of 3 VT LEG #379950 v.1 H.194 1 Introduced by Representatives Headrick of Burlington, Carris-Duncan of 2 Whitingham, Chapin of East Montpelier, Logan of Burlington, 3 McCann of Montpelier, and Minier of South Burlington 4 Referred to Committee on 5 Date: 6 Subject: Education; State aid for capital construction costs 7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require that 8 any nonemergency school construction project receiving State aid include the 9 creation of a high-capacity, gender-neutral restroom. 10 An act relating to high-capacity, gender-neutral restrooms in schools 11 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12 Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 3448 is amended to read: 13 § 3448. APPROVAL AND FUNDING OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION 14 PROJECTS; RENEWABLE ENERGY 15 (a) Construction aid. 16 * * * 17 (2) Approval of preliminary application. 18 (A) When reviewing a preliminary application for approval, the 19 Secretary shall consider: 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.194 2025 Page 2 of 3 VT LEG #379950 v.1 (i) regional educational opportunities and needs, including school 1 building capacities across school district boundaries, and available 2 infrastructure in neighboring communities; 3 (ii) economic efficiencies; 4 (iii) the suitability of an existing school building to continue to 5 meet educational needs; and 6 (iv) statewide educational initiatives and the strategic plan of the 7 State Board of Education. 8 (B) The Secretary may approve a preliminary application if: 9 (i) the project or part of the project fulfills a need occasioned by: 10 (I) conditions that threaten the health or safety of students or 11 employees; 12 (II) facilities that are inadequate to provide programs required 13 by State or federal law or regulation; 14 (III) excessive energy use resulting from the design of a 15 building or reliance on fossil fuels or electric space heat; or 16 (IV) deterioration of an existing building; 17 (ii) the need addressed by the project cannot reasonably be met by 18 another means; and 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.194 2025 Page 3 of 3 VT LEG #379950 v.1 (iii) the proposed type, kind, quality, size, and estimated cost of 1 the project are suitable for the proposed curriculum and meet all legal 2 standards; and 3 (iv) the project includes the creation of a high-capacity, all-gender 4 restroom with fully enclosed stalls. 5 * * * 6 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 7 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 8