H 230 Vermont House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to the management of fish and wildlife

H 230 updates Vermont's fish and wildlife management laws, making it easier for some to fish by establishing "free fishing days" and a "free mentored fishing weekend" while also requiring permits and fees for fishing tournaments. The bill increases fines and potential imprisonment for serious violations, such as big game offenses and those involving threatened or endangered species. Additionally, it introduces new regulations prohibiting the intentional taking of most reptiles and amphibians and restricts the import, possession, and sale of pond slider turtles, with an exception for those legally acquired as pets before July 1, 2025.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Last action Jan 6, 2026

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What changed between versions

As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) → As Passed By the House (OfficialOpens in a new window) · 7 edits · May 9, 2025

MODERATE

The official version of H.230 makes several substantive changes from the unofficial version: it increases penalties for big game violations, rewrites the criteria for classifying minor fish and wildlife violations to be more discretionary, replaces the specific reptile and amphibian taking rules with broader Commissioner rule-making authority (removing the separate pond slider turtle section), adds a new location disclosure limitation for threatened and endangered species, and removes the delayed effective date that had applied to the reptile/amphibian taking provision.

ENFORCEMENT

Big game violation penalties increased: first offense fine raised from $400-$1,000 to $500-$2,000; second offense fine raised from $2,000-$4,000 to $2,000-$5,000; second offense imprisonment raised from 60 days to 180 days.

The criteria for charging a fish and wildlife violation as a minor violation were rewritten. The old version used objective factors (no evidence seized, no criminal warrant used). The new version uses more subjective and discretionary factors including whether the offender was cooperative, whether there are mitigating circumstances, and whether the totality of circumstances would lead a reasonable person to believe the offense is minor in nature.

SCOPE

Section 6 (10 V.S.A. 4085) was rewritten from specific rule categories for reptile and amphibian taking into a broader grant of authority for the Commissioner to adopt rules related to protection, conservation, and taking. The separate Section 7 specifically addressing pond slider turtles (Trachemys scripta) import, possession, and sale was removed entirely.

REQUIREMENT

A new subsection (f) was added to 10 V.S.A. 4709 prohibiting a person from taking, collecting, or possessing any reptile or amphibian, or parts thereof, dead or alive, for personal use unless authorized by Commissioner rules or a permit.

A new subsection (c) was added to 10 V.S.A. 5410 requiring that when the Secretary issues a permit to take a threatened or endangered species or designates critical habitat, only the municipality and general location shall be disclosed, and the municipality must be notified.

TIMELINE

The effective date provision was simplified. The unofficial version had a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027 for the reptile and amphibian taking provision (Section 6). The official version applies a uniform July 1, 2025 effective date to the entire act.

TECHNICAL

In Section 4 (10 V.S.A. 4552), the jurisdiction exception reference was changed from section 4572 to section 4152.

As IntroducedOpens in a new window → As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · 6 edits · May 9, 2025

MODERATE

The House passed H.230 with several substantive changes from the introduced version: increased penalties for big game violations, made minor violation charging mandatory rather than discretionary for unlisted fish and wildlife offenses, substantially restructured the reptile and amphibian regulatory framework, added a new prohibition on pond slider turtles, and delayed the effective date of the reptile/amphibian taking provisions to January 1, 2027.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded with the addition of a specific prohibition on pond slider turtles and a hunting license endorsement requirement for reptile/amphibian taking. The scope of the reptile and amphibian regulatory authority was narrowed compared to the introduced version, focusing on four specific rulemaking areas rather than the broader nine categories originally proposed.

ENFORCEMENT

Big game violation penalties were increased: first offense fine raised from $400-$1,000 to $500-$2,000; second and subsequent offense fine raised from $2,000-$4,000 to $2,000-$5,000; and maximum imprisonment for repeat offenses increased from 60 days to 180 days.

The rule for charging unlisted fish and wildlife violations as minor violations was changed from discretionary (a warden 'may determine') to mandatory ('shall be charged as a minor violation'). The criteria were also narrowed: the introduced version allowed factors like cooperation, mitigating circumstances, and totality of circumstances; the passed version requires that no evidence was seized, no criminal warrant was used, there is no possibility of forfeiture, and the offender has no prior history.

SCOPE

The reptile and amphibian section (new 10 V.S.A. 4085) was substantially rewritten. The introduced version gave the Commissioner broad rulemaking authority across nine categories including open seasons, daily limits, territorial limits, and Wildlife Management Units. The passed version is narrower, prohibiting intentional taking unless authorized by rules, and limits rulemaking to four specific areas: commercial use/export/sale, S5 ranked species with stable or increasing populations, species requiring population reduction, and scientific/educational/cultural purposes.

REQUIREMENT

A new section (Sec. 7) was added prohibiting the import, possession, or sale of pond slider turtles (Trachemys scripta) unless legally acquired as a pet before July 1, 2025, and prohibiting their release to the wild. This prohibition is automatically repealed when the Commissioner adopts a rule under section 4085 regulating pond slider turtles. The new section also requires a hunting license endorsement for taking reptiles or amphibians authorized by hunting.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from a uniform July 1, 2025 to a split schedule: most provisions take effect July 1, 2025, but the prohibition on taking reptiles and amphibians under section 4085(a) is delayed until January 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

A cross-reference in the Judicial Bureau enforcement section was corrected from section 4152 to section 4572. The word 'statute' was added as an authorization source in section 4709(e) for commercial taking of wild birds and animals.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 6, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy per Temporary Senate Rule 44A

upper

May 13, 2025

Introduced

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Rules

upper

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report of Committee on Environment agreed to

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Rep. Squirrell of Underhill recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Rep. Masland of Thetford recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Rep. Satcowitz of Randolph reported for the Committee on Environment

lower

May 8, 2025

Introduced

Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

May 7, 2025

Introduced

Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

May 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)

lower

May 6, 2025

Introduced

Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

May 1, 2025

Committee

Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Introduced

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors