This bill would allow prosecutors to charge individuals with murder or manslaughter if their actions result in the death of a fetus, and it would also permit charges for drunk driving or grossly negligent driving that cause fetal death. The law explicitly excludes abortions and medical procedures performed according to standard practice, as well as actions taken by a pregnant person against their own fetus. It clarifies that these provisions do not change the legal status or rights of a fetus under Vermont law. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.
This bill requires Vermont courts to explicitly consider the number of charges a defendant faces and their recent history of pending charges when deciding on pretrial release conditions. It directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants appearing before a judicial officer by mandating these specific factors be evaluated alongside existing criteria like prior convictions and flight risk. The key provision adds these new considerations to the legal standards for determining whether a defendant can be released on personal recognizance or if additional conditions like supervision or travel restrictions are necessary. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to all criminal cases except those where a person is already held without bail.
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.
This Vermont bill aims to simplify bail and pretrial release procedures by narrowing the focus to ensuring defendants appear in court rather than considering other factors. It eliminates the requirement to set bail for most misdemeanor cases at initial appearances and limits bail for expungible misdemeanors to a maximum of $200. The legislation allows judges to impose release conditions such as supervision, travel restrictions, or treatment programs when necessary to mitigate flight risk or protect the public. Defendants charged with nonviolent offenses may be released on personal recognizance or unsecured bonds unless a judge determines stricter conditions are needed. The bill also clarifies that financial ability to post bail should be considered when setting conditions but does not mandate cash bail as the primary release method.
This bill requires sellers of residential real estate in Vermont to disclose whether a property has been tested for radon and provide any available testing reports to prospective buyers. The law applies to anyone offering to sell residential property and mandates that this information be included in the purchase or sale contract. If a residence has undergone radon testing, the seller must provide a copy of the testing report to the buyer. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not affect property title marketability if compliance requirements are not met.
This bill proposes term limits for Vermont's state legislators and executive officers, restricting how many consecutive terms individuals can serve in these positions. It would allow state senators to serve a maximum of five consecutive two-year terms and state representatives to serve five consecutive terms, while executive officials like the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state would be limited to four or five consecutive two-year terms depending on the office. The legislation includes a provision allowing individuals who reach their term limits to run for different offices where they have not yet met the limit, and it applies these restrictions retroactively to current officeholders, permitting them to finish their current terms but preventing them from seeking re-election to the same position. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2024, and was introduced by four state representatives who referred it to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs.
This bill proposes creating a student nurse apprenticeship program in Vermont to allow nursing students to practice approved skills at licensed healthcare facilities. The program would enable students to gain hands-on experience under supervision at participating healthcare facilities. It directly affects nursing students and healthcare facilities willing to host apprentices. The legislation establishes a framework for students to perform specific approved activities as part of their training.
This bill creates a temporary Data Trusts Study Committee to examine how data trusts could balance consumer privacy rights with the benefits of increased data sharing. The committee will be composed of state legislators, government officials, and experts from legal, business, and technology sectors, and will study whether data trusts could serve as an alternative to Vermont's existing personal information protection companies. The committee must submit its findings and any legislative recommendations by December 15, 2024, and will cease to exist on December 31, 2024.
This proposal seeks to amend the Vermont Constitution to establish a legal right for citizens to have a clean environment, including clean air and water. It would declare the state's natural resources as common property belonging to all people and require the government to conserve and maintain them for the benefit of everyone. The amendment would become part of the state constitution if approved by voters in November 2026, giving citizens a stronger legal foundation to protect environmental quality.
This bill prohibits the intentional release of five or more helium-filled balloons within a 24-hour period in Vermont, with exceptions for indoor releases and scientific or meteorological purposes. The law defines balloons as flexible bags made from materials like rubber or nylon that can be inflated with lighter-than-air gas and sealed at the neck. Violations result in a civil penalty of up to $250, and enforcement is handled through the Judicial Bureau by municipal attorneys, environmental officers, or other authorized law enforcement personnel. The bill also adds balloon release violations to the Judicial Bureau's jurisdiction and takes effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill requires the State of Vermont to replace impervious surfaces like pavement and roofs with permeable surfaces or green infrastructure when redeveloping or repaving State-owned land in floodplains. The law defines impervious surfaces as manmade areas where water cannot soak in, and it specifically applies to State agencies managing land in areas prone to flooding. State agencies must complete these replacements by July 1, 2039, ensuring that new construction or repaving projects in floodplains reduce stormwater runoff rather than increase it. The bill does not apply to routine road maintenance activities like crack sealing or resurfacing that do not substantially alter the existing impervious area.
This bill expands how courts handle bail and conditions of release for defendants in Vermont, particularly those who commit new offenses while out on pretrial release. It removes the $200 maximum bail limit for repeat offenders and allows judges to consider past compliance with court orders when setting release conditions. The legislation also creates a faster hearing process for violations of release conditions, bars repeat offenders from diversion programs, and requires annual reporting on restorative justice referrals.
