Vermont House adopts constitutional amendment to enshrine collective-bargaining rights

The Vermont House of Representatives on the floor adopted in concurrence a proposed constitutional amendment that would add a right to collectively bargain to the state constitution. The body approved the measure 129–8 after sustained debate and a roll-call vote.

Representative Lebowski, who presented the amendment on behalf of the House General and Housing Committee, said the proposal "would amend the constitution of the state of Vermont to provide that citizens of the state have a right to collectively bargain," and described the committee's 11–1 recommendation in favor. The reading added a new Article 23 guaranteeing employees the right to organize, bargain through an exclusive representative of their choosing, and prohibited laws that would "interfere with, negate, or diminish" those rights. The amendment sets an effective date contingent on the amendment passing both chambers in successive biennia and on voter ratification; the text directs that it would become part of the constitution on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026 if ratified.

Supporters on the floor said enshrining collective bargaining would protect workers’ ability to negotiate wages, hours and workplace safety. "The hands of organized labor built this country," one backer said, recounting labor struggles and arguing the amendment preserves dignity and bargaining power for future workers.

Opponents and some undecided members focused on language near the end of the amendment referencing agreements "that require membership in the labor organization as a condition of employment." Member from Northfield said he supported the amendment's general purpose but could not back the version as written because of that final clause, stating, "Without the ability to do that, I can't support it as currently worded." Member from Waterbury and other colleagues sought and received clarifications on how the provision read and whether it would permit closed-shop rules; the sponsor and committee members said the intention was not to force closed-shop membership outside of agreed terms and that existing statutory frameworks would remain in force.

The committee cited testimony from other states, including an Illinois amendment adopted in 2022, and reported no constitutional concerns from a Vermont constitutional law professor. The committee also reported it took testimony from a range of labor organizations and worker advocates.

When the clerk called the roll, the House recorded 129 votes in favor and 8 opposed. The chamber’s formal action “adopted in concurrence” means the constitutional proposal will next need to be approved again by the legislature in the next biennium and then submitted to Vermont voters for ratification; if ratified, the amendment would take effect after the 2026 general election.

The House adjourned after completing its calendar.