Vermont's Senate resolution SR 21 condemns the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens (Renée Good and Alex Pretti) by federal agents during ICE's Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. It demands the President immediately suspend the operation, reset immigration enforcement to target only serious criminals, and prioritize constitutional rights. The resolution urges Vermont's congressional delegation to oppose further ICE funding unless reforms include ending militarized tactics, restoring due process, and creating fair pathways to legal status. It also affirms constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and lethal force without legal accountability. The resolution is a non-binding call for federal action, not a law.
This bill proposes adding a new constitutional guarantee to Vermont's Constitution, explicitly requiring the government to provide equal treatment under the law regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin. It directly affects all Vermont residents by codifying these protections into the state's foundational legal document. The key provision creates Article 23, which bans government actions that deny equal treatment based on these characteristics while allowing measures to address historical discrimination. This amendment aims to strengthen existing equality principles in Vermont's Constitution without limiting other constitutional rights.
H.864 prohibits Vermont public agencies from entering into agreements with federal immigration authorities to enforce immigration laws or house individuals facing civil immigration violations, requiring only the Governor (with the Attorney General) to authorize such agreements. It bans the collection or sharing of personally identifying information (including immigration status) with federal agencies for immigration enforcement purposes and invalidates any existing agreements conflicting with these rules. The bill does not prevent compliance with federal laws requiring disclosure of immigration information (like 8 U.S.C. § 1373), but state policies conflicting with such federal requirements are abolished. This directly affects all Vermont state and local government agencies, employees, and contractors.
Vermont's H.850 requires federal immigration authorities (like ICE) to obtain a judicial warrant naming a specific person before entering nonpublic areas of schools, hospitals, public libraries, or childcare centers. It prohibits employees of these sensitive locations from granting access without such a warrant, directing supervisors to review warrants before allowing entry. The bill also restricts the Department of Corrections from assisting federal immigration authorities beyond what federal law permits, effectively terminating existing cooperation agreements. This policy change directly affects Vermont's schools, healthcare facilities, libraries, childcare centers, and the state's corrections system regarding federal immigration interactions.
Vermont's H.742 would require the state to create a program providing free legal representation to people detained in Vermont during federal immigration proceedings. The program, managed by the Office of Defender General with two staff attorneys, would specifically assist "covered individuals" who are Vermont residents or detained in Vermont for immigration enforcement. It mandates funding for legal services including support staff, expert consultants, and social services to help immigrants navigate complex immigration court cases. This policy aims to address the current reality where most detained immigrants lack legal help, which significantly reduces their chances of winning release or relief from deportation.
This bill (H.595) expands eligibility for Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance Program to include families who do not reside in Vermont. It allows these families to participate if their child is enrolled in a Vermont child care program and the child’s parent or guardian is employed in Vermont. The change modifies Vermont Statutes § 3512(7) to explicitly permit non-resident participation under these conditions. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting non-resident working parents seeking subsidized child care for their children in Vermont.
This bill requires federal immigration authorities to obtain a judicial warrant before entering nonpublic areas of Vermont's schools, healthcare facilities, polling places, public libraries, or childcare centers. It also prohibits Vermont's Department of Corrections from assisting federal immigration enforcement beyond what federal law permits and limits civil arrests in government buildings. The Human Rights Commission must create a model policy for sensitive locations by April 2027, guiding institutions on refusing warrantless access requests. These provisions directly affect federal immigration agents, Vermont schools, healthcare providers, and other sensitive location operators.
This bill, S.301 ("Vermont Civil Rights Sovereignty and Equal Protection Act of 2026"), modernizes Vermont’s civil rights laws by expanding protections against discrimination in public accommodations and housing. It directly affects all Vermont residents by adding gender identity, immigration status, crime victim status, and other characteristics to protected classes, and redefines "harassment" to be unlawful regardless of severity. Key provisions include creating a state-funded Civil Rights Coordinating Council and Special Fund to enforce protections independently of federal policy, and requiring state agencies to combat housing segregation. The bill also updates definitions to clarify that discrimination includes barriers restricting access to housing or services based on protected characteristics.
S.227 requires all Vermont public and approved independent schools to adopt policies preventing the sharing of student information with federal immigration authorities without a judicial warrant. It prohibits schools from collecting immigration status data, designating such information as "directory information" under federal privacy law, or sharing student records with immigration agencies except as legally required. The bill mandates schools to provide immigration resources to staff and students, designate staff as immigration resource officers, and block federal agents from entering nonpublic school areas (like classrooms or cafeterias) without a warrant naming a specific individual. Schools are also barred from entering agreements that aid federal immigration enforcement, with the superintendent as the sole authority to approve any required federal agreements.
This is a symbolic House resolution (HR 12), not a policy bill. It expresses Vermont's support for Governor Philip B. Scott's statement criticizing federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. The resolution specifically endorses the governor's call for halting "Operation Metro Surge" (the federal deployment of ICE/CBP agents), condemning the fatal shooting of a protester, and demanding adherence to constitutional rights. As a resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it solely conveys legislative support for the governor's position.
