H.880 would repeal Vermont's current exception allowing clergy to avoid reporting child abuse or neglect when disclosed confidentially during spiritual counseling. This change directly affects clergy members (like priests, ministers, or religious advisors) who currently may withhold reports under specific conditions. The bill removes the four-part exception (confidential communication during counseling, intended as confidential, for contrition/conscience, and required by religious law) and also repeals a related provision requiring reporting if abuse is learned outside that confidential context. As enacted, clergy would have the same reporting obligations as other mandated reporters under Vermont law, effective July 1, 2026.
This bill clarifies that in stalking cases, a "course of conduct" can include multiple acts occurring within a single day, rather than requiring separate calendar days. It amends Vermont's criminal and civil stalking definitions (12 V.S.A. §5131 and 13 V.S.A. §1061) to explicitly state that two or more acts establishing a course of conduct do not need to happen on different days. The change directly affects victims of stalking, prosecutors, and courts by making it easier to prove stalking cases involving repeated incidents within a single timeframe. This update simplifies the legal standard without altering penalties or expanding the definition of stalking itself.
This bill allows Vermont municipalities to acquire abandoned residential and commercial properties in designated downtown or village areas through purchase, foreclosure, or fines, then use them for public purposes like medical housing or youth facilities. It also empowers municipalities to enforce housing habitability standards and limit annual rent increases, while restructuring state housing funding to prioritize individual property repairs, first-time homebuyers needing repairs, and senior housing developments with specific features (like housing for medical staff). Additionally, all state-funded housing developments must incorporate universal design, include ADA-compliant units, and give priority to people exiting homelessness for designated units. The bill directly affects local governments, property owners in designated zones, renters, and housing developers seeking state funding.
This bill (H.875) amends Vermont law to criminalize the possession and promotion of computer-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real child sexual abuse material. It specifically targets AI-created images depicting minors engaging in sexual conduct if an ordinary person would believe they show actual children. The law includes limited exceptions for medical, academic, law enforcement, and AI safety testing (e.g., developers testing systems to prevent such content). It explicitly excludes paintings, drawings, and nonvisual descriptions from the ban. The bill directly affects individuals creating, sharing, or possessing such AI-generated images that meet the "indistinguishable" standard.
This Vermont House resolution (H.R. 13) is a symbolic statement, not a binding law. It calls for a global ceasefire, truth and reconciliation processes, and an end to apartheid, specifically referencing concerns about Israeli conduct in Gaza as noted in a future-dated UN report (2025). The resolution directs Vermont’s House Clerk to send copies to U.S. President Trump, Israeli President Herzog, Palestinian Authority President Abbas, UN Secretary-General Guterres, and Vermont’s congressional delegation. It does not create new legal obligations but expresses Vermont’s support for conflict resolution between Palestinians and Israelis. The resolution cites Vermont’s historical opposition to apartheid (e.g., divestment from South Africa in 1986) as context for its position.
H 847 adds a voluntary checkoff box to Vermont's individual income tax returns, allowing taxpayers to direct a portion of their tax refund or overpayment to Hunger Free Vermont, Inc. The bill requires the Commissioner of Taxes to deduct designated funds from refunds/overpayments and deposit them into a dedicated account for Hunger Free Vermont. It mandates that taxpayers receive clear information about the program and annual financial reports from the organization. The checkoff is entirely optional, with funds only deducted if a taxpayer chooses to contribute, and applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2025.
H 865 requires Vermont public servants to disclose travel costs and details to the Ethics Commission for any travel related to their official duties or public role. This includes the purpose, destination, all costs (transportation, lodging, meals), and who paid for each expense (state, personal, or outside sources like lobbyists). Public servants must submit these disclosures within 30 days of travel start (or weekly for trips over 30 days), excluding regular commuting. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, aiming to increase transparency in public travel spending.
H.858 creates a new statewide collective bargaining unit for sworn law enforcement officers and full-time state firefighters in Vermont. It specifically covers officers from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Liquor and Lottery, and Department of Motor Vehicles (all certified under 20 V.S.A. chapter 151), plus all full-time state firefighters, and any other certified law enforcement officers not already covered by existing contracts. The bill excludes managers/supervisors and employees already represented by three existing bargaining units (State Police, Supervisory, and State Deputy Sheriffs). This new unit, called the "State Law Enforcement and Firefighters Bargaining Unit," will apply to negotiations starting July 1, 2026.
H.863 imposes a $0.30 fee on retail deliveries (like online orders shipped to Vermont) that are subject to sales tax, collected by vendors and listed separately on receipts. It permits municipalities to levy a local tax on gasoline and diesel fuel sales and allocates funds to transportation programs including electric vehicle incentives, public transit coordination, and creating pollinator habitats along roads. The bill also requires public EV charging stations to accept credit cards and provide real-time availability, and mandates a study on electric bicycle safety. These provisions aim to fund infrastructure improvements, support clean energy transitions, and enhance transportation equity.
H.851 proposes three pilot programs: (1) Incentivizing existing gas stations to install EV charging stations and add amenities like food, rest areas, and showers for travelers; (2) Creating incentives for public transit riders (e.g., discounts or prizes) and exploring autonomous vehicles to expand service frequency and hours; and (3) Establishing a state-operated rideshare service for on-demand transportation across Vermont, funded by its own revenues to support existing transit agencies. The bill directly affects gas station operators, EV drivers, public transit users, and Vermont’s transit agencies. Key provisions include station upgrades, rider rewards, autonomous vehicle trials, and a new state rideshare program. All changes are structured as temporary pilot programs within the Agency of Transportation.
Vermont's H 855 prohibits defendants in civil lawsuits from claiming that autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) independently caused harm to a plaintiff. It directly affects companies or individuals who develop, modify, or use AI systems that result in injury. The bill bans this specific defense while allowing other legal arguments, such as negligence or foreseeability. It defines AI broadly as systems that generate outputs to influence environments based on input, without altering other defenses under the law.
H.869 requires Vermont union school districts to fill vacancies on school boards where seats are tied to specific towns by appointing an eligible person chosen by that town's selectboard. The district must notify the selectboard within five days of a vacancy, and the selectboard has 30 days to select a replacement to serve until the next election. This applies to districts using proportional representation (based on town population) or a modified at-large system for town-specific seats. The bill standardizes the vacancy-filling process for these districts, replacing prior unspecified procedures.
