Activist toolkit
Resources and Tools to support our Vermont agrarian activist community
Navigating the Vermont State House
Heading to the State House? Before you go, take a quick peek at this short video and maps to find out what you need to know when visiting the state house for the first time: everything from where to enter the building (nope, not through the front doors!), to where to hang your coat, to locating the Senate and House Ag Committee rooms! This is a must-see for anyone navigating the Vermont State House for the first time - discover this great building with ease, comfort, and know-how!
State House Information & Maps
STATE HOUSE MAPS
Click here to see detailed maps of the three state house floors.
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Saturday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (September/October only - 11:00-2:00 September 14 & 28)
Cost
There is no charge to visit the Vermont State House, and most of the tours we provide are free.
Getting to the state house
Directions / Google map
Parking
There is on-street metered parking within the Capitol District. Paid parking is also available throughout downtown Montpelier, just a few blocks away.
When the Legislature is in session (January to May) parking spaces near the State House tend to fill up early in the day. Transportation from Chittenden County is available on Route #86 Montpelier LINK Express. Free parking is offered in a nearby lot at the Vermont Department of Labor (5 Green Mountain Drive). Service between Department of Labor Park and Ride and the Capitol District is available via MyRide by GMT (GMT strongly recommends pre booking your ride via the MyRide by GMT app (The MyRide by GMT app is available for download at the Apple Store and Google Play Store) or by calling 802-540-2468). For more information visit Green Mountain Transit.
Biking/Walking
It’s a short bike ride or walk from downtown Montpelier to the State House. Bike racks are located outside the eastern and western entrances to the building.
Accessibility
The State House is wheelchair accessible. The principal accessible entrance is on the west side of the building, adjacent to reserved accessible parking. On Saturdays, the eastern accessible entrance is used, with accessible parking available behind the building and accessed through the east parking gate and lot. Click here (PDF) to view the map indicating parking spots that are saved for vehicles with handicapped parking permits. An adjacent map also locates accessible restrooms as well as gender neutral restroom locations.
How a Bill Becomes Law
How does a bill becomes law in Vermont? Let us harken back to high school civics and refresh our memory - please use this helpful infographic to understand how a bill moves through the state legislature and eventually - or maybe - becomes law.
State House Lingo
The state house lexicon is filled with lesser known (and used) phrases and words.
Use this helpful guide to decode what you may hear in the committee rooms, chambers, and hallways of the Vermont State House.
Tips for Talking to Legislators, Giving Testimony, & Committee Room Etiquette
Small Farm Action Day
Over the past decade, Rural Vermont has offered Small Farm Action Day (SFAD), an annual single day or multiple day event held at the state house in the late winter or spring, that offers farmers and the broader agrarian community an accessible and comprehensive introduction to Vermont’s legislative process, helping hundreds of ordinary people build the necessary skills and confidence to be effective citizen advocates. One of the main goals of Small Farm Action Day is to demystify the law-making process and to build an actively engaged community fluent in the legislative language – growing the pool of citizen advocates willing and able to testify and hold our representatives accountable for decisions that (inevitably) impact us all. Below, offer a moving testimony and photos from 2024 Rural Vermont Communications Intern, Melissa MacDonald, as well as offer you a sneak peek into the 2025 Small Farm Action Day event/s.
Farmer & Citizen Activists
This is an interview series profiling some of our activists from around the state. These interviews illuminate the importance and impact of individual and collective activism on agriculture-related bills and issues in Vermont.
Listen/watch how the power of one becomes the power of many!
Champlain Valley Honey
Wood Frog Flowers & Rockbottom Dairy Farm
Tell Us More
We would love to hear from you! Do you have thoughts about enriching Small Farm Action Day? Do you think this toolkit could use more information about X? Would you like us to profile you or another Vermont farmer/citizen activist you find inspiring?
Please use the form below to submit your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions!