An act relating to bail and conditions of pretrial release

This bill (H.866) changes Vermont's pretrial release rules by removing current bail limits and expanding mandatory detention requirements. It eliminates the $200 bail cap for certain misdemeanors eligible for sealing, requires courts to hold without bail or set mandatory minimum bail for defendants with multiple missed court appearances, prior convictions (including 3+ misdemeanors in 3 years), or pending charges while on release for other cases. Courts must provide written justification if not holding someone without bail, and law enforcement officers' detention recommendations must be followed in specified situations. The bill directly affects defendants facing misdemeanor or felony charges, particularly those with prior offenses or failure to appear.