An act relating to amending the prohibitions against discrimination

This bill amends Vermont's state laws to strengthen protections against employment and public accommodation discrimination by expanding the definition of harassment and removing the requirement that such behavior be severe or pervasive to be unlawful. It directly affects employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and individuals by prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, place of birth, age, crime victim status, and physical or mental conditions. Key provisions include clarifying that a single incident can constitute harassment, allowing claims without needing to compare treatment to another individual, and preventing settlement agreements from restricting an employee's ability to continue working for the employer. The bill also updates wage discrimination rules to ensure equal pay for equal work regardless of protected characteristics and clarifies that harassment can occur outside the workplace.