H 887 Vermont House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to crime victim status under the Fair Employment Practices Act

This bill (H.887) adds survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking to the definition of "crime victim" under Vermont's Fair Employment Practices Act. It directly affects these survivors by expanding their legal protections against employment discrimination. The key provision modifies the Act's definition to explicitly include these survivors, ensuring they are covered by existing anti-discrimination safeguards in the workplace. This change clarifies that employers cannot discriminate against individuals based on their status as survivors of these specific crimes. The bill focuses on updating definitions to align with current protections, not creating new employment rules.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As IntroducedOpens in a new window → As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · 4 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was expanded from a short-form introduction to full text as passed by the House, adding a detailed definition of 'crime victim' under Vermont's Fair Employment Practices Act (21 V.S.A. section 495d). The definition covers five categories of individuals, most notably including survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who can qualify through self-attestation alone without requiring corroboration. This broadens employment discrimination protections for a wider group of crime victims.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a short-form statement of purpose to full operative text defining who qualifies as a 'crime victim' under the Fair Employment Practices Act. The most significant expansion is category (E), which extends protections to survivors who may not have obtained any court order and can self-attest to their status.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition of 'crime victim' (subsection 15) with five subcategories: (A) holders of relief from abuse orders, (B) holders of orders against stalking or sexual assault, (C) holders of orders against abuse of vulnerable adults, (D) victims identified in law enforcement affidavits under 13 V.S.A. section 5301 including certain family members living with the victim, and (E) survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking with supporting documentation.

Added definitions for 'domestic violence' (subsection 18, cross-referencing 15 V.S.A. section 1151 and 15 V.S.A. section 1101), 'sexual assault' (subsection 19, cross-referencing 12 V.S.A. section 5131), and 'stalking' (subsection 20, cross-referencing 12 V.S.A. section 5131).

ELIGIBILITY

Category (E) allows a person to qualify as a crime victim through self-attestation describing their circumstances, with no further corroboration required unless otherwise mandated by law. This is the most significant expansion, as it removes the requirement for a court order or third-party documentation.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of July 1, 2026.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 24, 2026

Introduced

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report of Committee on General and Housing agreed to

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rep. Krasnow of South Burlington reported for the Committee on General and Housing

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced

Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Introduced

Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Introduced

Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors