An act relating to the types of evidence permitted in weight of the evidence hearings

This bill modifies Vermont's bail procedures by allowing sworn oral or recorded statements as evidence during "weight of the evidence" hearings, which are used to deny bail in violent felony cases. The change directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants facing charges involving violence against others by expanding the types of evidence they can present beyond live testimony. The legislation permits courts to consider information that would not normally meet standard court admissibility rules while maintaining the existing standard for determining whether evidence of guilt is great. Effective July 1, 2024, this adjustment aims to streamline the process for these specific hearings without altering the substantive legal standards for denying bail.