Technology

passed both · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

JRH 12: Joint resolution authorizing remote joint committee voting through the remainder of calendar year 2026 and the application of the ADA thereto

This bill allows members of Vermont's joint legislative committees to vote remotely for up to three days through the end of 2026. To use this option, a member must inform the committee chair and clerk, and the clerk will record the vote and track the usage. Additionally, the bill ensures that members with disabilities who cannot access a meeting room due to physical barriers can vote remotely without using one of their allotted remote days, provided the meeting cannot be moved to an accessible location.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables remote voting via technology, enhancing digital access and inclusion for legislative members.75% confidence

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introduced · Vermont · House Apr 29, 2026

JRH 11: House joint resolution strongly urging Congress to enact H.R. 5356, The "National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025"

This Vermont House joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 5356, a bill establishing a National Infrastructure Bank to fund critical public projects. The proposed bank would provide up to $5 trillion in direct loans and financing for initiatives such as repairing roads and bridges, upgrading water systems, expanding broadband, and building affordable housing. Modeled after historical federal financing institutions, the bank is designed to support projects that pay prevailing wages, prioritize American-made materials, and offer financial assistance to minority and women-owned businesses. While the resolution highlights Vermont's specific infrastructure challenges and rising homelessness as context, its primary function is to formally request federal action rather than create new state laws. The measure directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to the Governor, the President, and Vermont's congressional representatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill urges funding $5T for infrastructure, directly advancing public budget allocation and government spending.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly funds affordable housing as part of a $5T infrastructure initiative.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds expanding broadband access, a core technology infrastructure component.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly urges funding for road and bridge repairs, directly advancing transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homelessness Broadband Access

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 875: An act relating to the possession and promotion of child sexual abuse materials to include computer-generated images

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by criminalizing possession/promotion of AI-generated child sexual abuse images, fitting 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI-generated CSAM by criminalizing possession/promotion of images indistinguishable from real child abuse material, directly limiting a specific technology application.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Artificial Intelligence

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passed · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2026

H 898: An act relating to copper-based to fiber-based telecommunications network transitions and consumer protections

H.898 requires Vermont telecommunications carriers transitioning from copper-based phone networks to fiber-based VoIP service to provide clear, timely notice to customers. Specifically, carriers must mail and email written notices 120, 60, and 30 days before the transition, detailing service changes, backup power options (including battery systems for power outages), and emergency service impacts. The bill also mandates annual reports from VoIP providers to the state about customer adoption of backup power systems and any E-911 service interruptions due to power loss. This directly affects residential customers, particularly vulnerable groups like elderly or medically dependent users who rely on consistent emergency call access during outages. The law aims to ensure reliable service continuity during network modernization by strengthening consumer disclosures and state oversight.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates clear consumer notices and backup power options during telecom network transitions, ensuring service continuity and emergency access - regulating tech providers for consumer protection during infrastructure changes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 3, 2026

H 855: An act relating to defenses in civil actions based on harm caused by artificial intelligence

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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prevents AI developers from claiming autonomous systems caused harm, holding them accountable for injuries, advancing consumer protection in AI liability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 11, 2026

H 897: An act relating to prohibiting the use of social media by children

H.897 requires social media platforms to block Vermont residents under 18 from creating accounts. It directly affects minors under 18 living in Vermont who would be unable to sign up for new social media profiles. The key provision mandates platforms to prohibit account creation for this age group, rather than restricting usage of existing accounts. The bill focuses on preventing new account creation for underage users, not on content moderation or parental controls. This is a direct restriction on platform access for minors under 18 within Vermont.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts minors' access to social media platforms, directly limiting technology use for a demographic per bill's core provision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 27, 2026

H 783: An act relating to chatbot disclosure requirements

Vermont's H.783 requires businesses to clearly disclose when consumers interact with a chatbot during commercial transactions, preventing reasonable confusion about speaking with a human. It directly affects companies using AI chatbots for customer service, sales, or other commercial interactions. The law mandates a "clear and conspicuous" notice before or during the conversation, defining chatbots broadly to include AI agents, avatars, and automated systems simulating human dialogue. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under existing consumer protection law, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates chatbot disclosure to prevent consumer deception, aligning with consumer protection regulations for AI transparency.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2026

H 822: An act relating to the regulation of generative artificial intelligence systems

This Vermont bill (H.822) requires providers of generative AI systems (like chatbots or image generators) to give consumers a tool to detect if content was created or altered by AI, and to offer users an option to add a watermark to AI-generated media. It directly affects AI companies and their users within Vermont. The key provisions are mandatory content detection tools and optional watermarks to identify AI-generated content, aiming to increase transparency for consumers.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI transparency tools and watermarks for consumer protection, aligning with regulatory oversight of tech companies to enhance digital transparency and consumer rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2026

H 630: An act relating to adopting minimum security standards for connected devices

H.630 requires businesses selling connected devices (like smart home gadgets or wearables) in Vermont to meet specific security standards. Key provisions include mandating encrypted communications, automatic security updates enabled by default, strong password requirements with no default passwords, vulnerability management systems, and clear privacy policies with consumer data deletion options. The bill directly affects device manufacturers and sellers operating in Vermont, prohibiting sales of non-compliant products. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under Vermont law, with the requirements taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates encrypted communications, automatic updates, strong passwords, and vulnerability management for connected devices, directly enhancing cybersecurity and consumer data privacy protections.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

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signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 639: An act relating to genetic data privacy

This bill, H.639 (Genetic Information Privacy Act), requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to protect the genetic data of Vermont residents. It mandates that companies obtain clear "express consent" from consumers before collecting or sharing their genetic data (defined as information from DNA analysis, including SNPs and inferred data), prohibits using "dark patterns" to manipulate consent, and limits data sharing without permission. Consumers gain the right to access their own genetic data and must actively authorize its use. The law applies specifically to companies offering genetic testing directly to Vermont residents, excluding deidentified data and research conducted under federal human subjects protections.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates express consent for genetic data collection and limits sharing without permission, directly protecting consumer data privacy in technology sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy