This Vermont House resolution (HR 9) urges all state agencies to protect the privacy and medical confidentiality of Vermonters diagnosed with autism, specifically in response to federal plans for an autism research database. It directly affects autistic Vermonters by seeking to prevent their personal health data - like medical records, insurance claims, and wearable device information - from being collected or shared without informed consent. The resolution emphasizes that autism is a neurological difference, not a disease, and highlights concerns about federal data collection practices that lack explicit privacy safeguards. As a non-binding resolution, it directs state officials to uphold privacy rights and has been formally adopted by the House.
This bill establishes safety standards and oversight for developers and deployers of inherently dangerous artificial intelligence systems in Vermont. It requires these entities to submit safety and impact assessments to a new Division of Artificial Intelligence within the Agency of Digital Services. The Attorney General can enforce the law by taking legal action against noncompliant developers or deployers, including seeking court orders to stop violations. The bill specifically targets high-risk AI systems, dual-use foundational models, and generative AI systems that pose serious risks to public safety, economic security, or individual rights.
This bill (H 223) clarifies that using tracking technology without consent to follow someone’s movements - such as via GPS in a vehicle - counts as stalking under Vermont law. It prohibits installing or using tracking devices in vehicles without the operator’s and all occupants’ consent, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, parents monitoring minors, and vehicle dealers. The bill also allows courts to grant abuse survivors temporary vehicle possession for safety and creates a process for survivors to quickly disable an abuser’s access to a vehicle’s connected tracking services, even if the abuser owns the account. It directly affects domestic violence survivors, victims of stalking, and individuals using vehicles in abusive situations.
H 301 requires social media platforms to verify a user's age before granting membership and access. If the user is a minor, the platform must obtain parental or guardian consent before allowing access. The bill directly affects social media companies operating in Vermont and minors under 18 seeking to use these platforms. It aims to protect minors by implementing age verification and parental consent mechanisms for social media membership.
S 23 prohibits the distribution of deceptive synthetic media (AI-generated content falsely representing political candidates) within 90 days of Vermont elections without clear disclosure. It requires visible or audible disclaimers stating the media was "created or manipulated by digital technology," with specific formatting rules for different formats. The law exempts news media during bona fide reporting, satire, and platforms under Section 230 of federal law. Violations carry fines up to $15,000 (with higher penalties for repeat offenses or intent to cause harm), and candidates can seek court injunctions to stop distribution.
This bill, S 69 (Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act), requires online services popular with minors to redesign their platforms to protect children’s privacy and safety. It directly affects businesses that generate most revenue from online services likely accessed by Vermont minors under 18 and collect their personal data. Key provisions mandate age-assurance methods to identify minors, set default privacy settings to the most protective level, ban features causing "compulsive use" (like addictive content algorithms), and restrict data collection for minors. The law also defines strict rules for handling biometric, genetic, and derived data of minors, ensuring data processing aligns with their developmental needs. It applies broadly to digital products like apps and websites, excluding physical products and basic internet services.
This bill requires online businesses likely to be accessed by children to avoid using design features that are harmful or overly invasive of children's privacy. It defines "covered businesses" as those with online services reasonably likely to be used by minors and mandates that these businesses set privacy settings to the most protective default for children. Key provisions prohibit design features causing compulsive use (like endless scrolling) and require businesses to handle children's personal data with heightened safeguards. The law applies to Vermont-based businesses offering online products or services to minors, aiming to protect children's privacy through proactive design standards.
H 332 creates Vermont's Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange, providing grants and professional support to eligible small and mid-sized Vermont businesses. The program offers up to $5,000 per business for services like business operations, digital strategy, manufacturing upgrades, and legal consulting, administered by regional development corporations. To qualify, businesses must be for-profit, Vermont-based, with at least $5,000 annual revenue, and higher-income owners must provide a 50% match. The Exchange prioritizes outreach to rural businesses and historically marginalized groups, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Vermonters, New Americans, and others. Annual reports on program performance are required, with funding of $1.25 million appropriated for fiscal year 2026.
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This bill (H 211) requires data brokers in Vermont to notify consumers if their personal information is involved in a security breach, certify that data is used for legitimate purposes, and provide an accessible way for consumers to request deletion of their information. It directly affects Vermont residents whose personal data is collected and sold by businesses without a direct customer relationship (e.g., companies selling addresses, phone numbers, or biometric data). Key provisions define "data brokers" narrowly to exclude businesses with direct customer ties (like retailers or employers) and clarify that publicly available business information isn’t covered. The bill aims to strengthen protections for consumer data by adding specific obligations for brokers handling sensitive information like Social Security numbers or biometric identifiers.
This bill requires Vermont internet service providers to offer affordable broadband service to low-income households starting October 2025. It defines "affordable" as 25 Mbps for $15/month (including fees) or 200 Mbps for $20/month, targeting households qualifying for federal Lifeline or Vermont's Home Heating Fuel Assistance Program. Providers must report on service availability, customer eligibility verification, and pricing annually, while the Public Utility Commission will adjust prices for inflation and review speed standards every five years. Small providers serving under 20,000 customers may be exempt if compliance would cause financial hardship.
