S 183 Vermont Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud

This bill makes it a crime for contractors or landscapers to defraud homeowners or property owners through deceptive practices related to home or land improvement contracts. It specifically targets actions like failing to complete work after receiving payment, misrepresenting contract terms, using unfair tactics to secure contracts, or charging excessive prices during emergencies. Offenders face fines up to $10,000 or prison terms up to five years, depending on the loss amount (e.g., $1,500+ per victim or $2,500+ total). Convicted individuals must notify the Attorney General and be added to a public fraud registry, restricting future work unless they comply with strict conditions. The law directly affects contractors/landscapers engaging in such fraud and protects homeowners who enter into improvement agreements.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Vetoed Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by Both House and Senate (OfficialOpens in a new window) → As Passed by Both House and Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · 2 edits

MINOR

This diff reflects only formatting and presentation changes between the official and unofficial versions of S.183 as passed. The 'as introduced' header information (sponsor, committee referral, date, subject line, and statement of purpose) was removed and replaced with the standard short-title format used in final enacted bills. No substantive policy language was altered.

TECHNICAL

Removed introductory metadata including sponsor name (Senator Norris), committee referral (Judiciary), introduction date (January 6, 2026), subject line, and statement of purpose. Replaced with standard short title 'An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud' and enactment language.

Page count reduced from 8 to 7 pages due to removal of introductory text. Added internal tracking number (VT LEG #388723 v.1) in page headers.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 28, 2026

Committee

Recommitted to Committee on Judiciary on motion of Senator Baruth

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Vetoed

Governor vetoed bill

upper

Apr 24, 2026

Vetoed

Governor vetoed bill

upper

Apr 23, 2026

Vetoed

Governor vetoed bill on April 22, 2026

upper

Apr 23, 2026

Vetoed

Senate Message: Vetoed by Governor April 22, 2026

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor & placed on notice calendar for April 24, 2026

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

As passed by Senate and House

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

House message: House passed bill in concurrence

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rep. LaLonde of South Burlington reported for the Committee on Judiciary

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Norris for Committee on Judiciary

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

upper

Jan 6, 2026

Introduced

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors