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State Government

How Vermont's Legislature Works

6 min read · Last updated February 2026

State Government

The Vermont General Assembly

Vermont's legislature is called the General Assembly. It has two chambers: the House of Representatives (150 members) and the Senate (30 members). The legislature meets in Montpelier, the state capital, from January through May most years.

House of Representatives

  • 150 members
  • 2-year terms
  • Single-member and multi-member districts
  • Smallest legislative districts in the U.S.

Vermont Senate

  • 30 senators
  • 2-year terms
  • 13 senate districts
  • Multi-member districts (1–3 senators each)

members of the Vermont General Assembly

How a Bill Becomes Law

Click each step to follow a bill through the Vermont legislative process:

Step 1: Introduction

Any legislator can introduce a bill. Most bills start in the House of Representatives. A bill gets a number (H. or S.) and is formally read into the record.

residents per House district — your rep may be your neighbor

Vermont's Small Districts

"Vermont has the smallest legislative districts in the country. Your state representative may literally be your neighbor — many are reachable by email or even in-person at local events."

Vermont legislators are part-time and receive a modest stipend. Most hold regular jobs or run businesses alongside their legislative work.

How to Contact Your Legislators

Vermont legislators are very accessible. Most publish their personal email and phone number. The legislature also maintains a citizen portal at legislature.vermont.gov.