An act relating to landowner liability for unmarked and improperly marked access control devices

This bill modifies Vermont's landowner liability laws by establishing that landowners can be held responsible for injuries or property damage caused by unmarked access control devices like gates, chains, or fences on their recreational land. The legislation defines access control devices as any traffic control equipment and requires them to be marked with signs, flags, or reflective tape to promote visibility, which would otherwise constitute willful or wanton misconduct under current liability protections. Additionally, the bill mandates the Department of Motor Vehicles to launch a public outreach campaign by September 2024 in collaboration with outdoor recreation groups to inform landowners about these liability risks and proper marking methods. The liability changes take effect on January 1, 2025, while the outreach campaign begins immediately upon passage.