An act relating to review of orders placing the Vermont National Guard in federal active duty status

This bill, titled the Vermont Defend the Guard Act, would require the Governor of Vermont to review every federal order placing the Vermont National Guard on active duty for combat to ensure it complies with the U.S. Constitution. The law specifically mandates that deployment only occur if Congress has declared war or explicitly called the Guard for specific purposes like repelling invasions, suppressing insurrections, or executing constitutional laws. If the Governor determines an order does not meet these requirements, the bill authorizes the Governor to take action to prevent deployment and requires a written report to state legislative committees within 30 days. The Attorney General would also be authorized to represent the state in legal challenges to prevent unconstitutional federal deployment orders. This measure directly affects the Vermont National Guard and the state's executive and legal branches by establishing new review procedures for federal military orders.