This bill establishes "neurological rights" in Vermont, protecting individuals from unauthorized use of neural data (like brain activity measurements) and preventing AI from bypassing conscious decisions without consent. It requires written consent before collecting or sharing neural data from brain-computer interfaces, bans "consciousness bypass" (using tech to manipulate brain activity without awareness), and regulates AI in mental health chatbots and patient communications. The law directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and AI developers in Vermont's health/human services sector. It also extends the AI Advisory Council's mandate and mandates reports on ethical AI use in healthcare, education, and human services.
This bill establishes liability standards for developers and deployers of high-impact artificial intelligence systems in Vermont. It directly affects companies (excluding small businesses with <20 employees or <10,000 users) that create or operate AI systems making consequential decisions - such as in criminal justice, housing, employment, healthcare, or critical infrastructure. Key provisions require developers to ensure systems are safe for foreseeable use and deployers to guarantee systems don’t harm individual rights, with specific definitions for "high-impact AI" and "harm" (including physical, financial, reputational, or psychological injury). The law applies only to systems meeting the defined high-impact criteria, not general AI tools.
This Vermont bill (S.241) prohibits mental health professionals and organizations from offering, providing, or advertising mental health services delivered by artificial intelligence systems, such as chatbots for therapy. It directly affects mental health service providers, AI developers, and companies marketing AI-driven mental health tools. The bill creates a $10,000 civil penalty per violation under consumer protection law and defines "mental health services" to include therapy, counseling, treatment plans, and emotional support. The legislation stems from research showing AI systems have given dangerous advice (including suicide plans) and failed to recognize mental health crises, aiming to ensure services are delivered by licensed professionals.
H 804 requires operators of companion chatbots (AI systems designed to provide social interaction) to clearly disclose to users that they are interacting with artificial intelligence, not humans. It mandates safety protocols to prevent chatbots from generating suicidal content or ignoring users expressing self-harm, and requires operators to provide crisis resources when such content is detected. For minors (users under 18), the bill adds specific requirements: immediate AI disclosure, 30-minute reminders to take breaks, and protocols blocking sexually explicit content. The bill applies to operators of platforms offering these companion chatbots, excluding standard customer service, gaming, or basic voice assistant tools. Operators must annually report safety protocol usage to Vermont's Attorney General without sharing user data.
Vermont's S.259 allows the classroom portion of driver education to be completed through approved online courses. It directly affects Vermont students aged 15+ enrolled in public or independent high schools. The bill requires online courses to meet specific standards: using rotating exams, verifying student identity, tracking study time, ensuring data security, and providing technical support. Courses must align with the state's Novice Teen Driver Education standards and will be approved by the Agency of Education and DMV. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
H.714 requires Vermont state agencies to publicly disclose any automated tools (like AI or algorithms) used for employment decisions affecting wages, hiring, promotion, or discipline. Agencies must post details about these tools on their websites, including their purpose and when they began using them. The bill explicitly protects unionized state employees by ensuring these tools cannot reduce job security, benefits, or collective bargaining rights. It also creates a study committee to examine the impact on state employees and explore extending these requirements to municipal workers, teachers, and public college staff.
This bill imposes a temporary moratorium on the construction and site preparation of AI data centers in Vermont until July 1, 2030. It directly affects developers or operators of new AI data centers requiring over 100 megawatts of dedicated power for AI workloads. The moratorium allows the Public Utility Commission to study impacts - including energy use, water consumption, environmental effects, grid reliability, and economic impacts - before developing future regulations. The Commission must submit a report by January 2027 detailing findings and recommendations to the legislature.
This bill (H.560) amends Vermont's Cybersecurity Advisory Council membership by adding three new positions: the Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Institutions, and a representative from the Judiciary appointed by the Chief Justice. The Council advises the state on cybersecurity infrastructure, best practices, communications protocols, and safeguards. These changes aim to strengthen legislative and judicial input into cybersecurity planning. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Vermont's S.310 requires businesses offering subscriptions with indefinite renewal terms to send consumers an annual notification about their right to cancel. This applies to services like streaming or software subscriptions (excluding financial institutions and insurance) and mandates clear notices stating renewal dates, automatic renewal terms, and simple cancellation methods (phone, email, or online). Businesses must provide this notice 30-60 days before renewal dates and ensure cancellation is easy without extra steps. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
This bill would classify cloud computing services as public utilities in Vermont, bringing them under the regulatory oversight of the Public Utility Commission and Department of Public Service. It directly affects cloud service providers meeting specific revenue or customer thresholds (set by the Commission) and their consumers, who would benefit from regulated fair practices. Key provisions require providers to avoid unfair tactics like vendor lock-in or opaque pricing, while the Commission monitors the market to ensure reliability and security. The law aims to protect Vermont residents and businesses by applying utility-style regulations to cloud services, which the bill states are now essential to the state's economic welfare.
