S 109 Vermont Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures

This bill amends multiple Vermont statutes to adjust court procedures and criminal justice policies. It creates an adult court diversion program allowing prosecutors to refer eligible defendants (post-charge, with court probable cause) to restorative options instead of prosecution, while expanding the definition of "victim" to include family members and certain professionals. Key provisions include restricting public internet access to court records (allowing limited access for attorneys and law enforcement), adding a $100 surcharge for criminal cases to fund investigative units, and establishing automatic expungement for certain switchblade knife convictions prior to July 2025. These changes directly affect courts, prosecutors, defendants, victims, and law enforcement agencies. The bill is now law after being signed by the governor on June 12, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Signed Jun 13, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
50
Key actions
14
Committee
11
Amendments
14
Jun 13, 2025
Signed into law
Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 12, 2025
executive
Jun 13, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor on June 12, 2025
executive
May 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
As passed by Senate and House
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Senate proposal of amendment to House proposal of amendment concurred in
lower
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment thereto
lower
May 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment as moved by Senator(s) Hashim
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment; text
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Hashim
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
New Business/House Proposal of Amendment
upper
May 23, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment; text
upper
May 23, 2025
Introduced
New Business/House Proposal of Amendment
upper
May 22, 2025
Introduced
House proposal of amendment
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
upper
May 20, 2025
Introduced
Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
lower
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report of Committee on Judiciary, as amended, agreed to
lower
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Rachelson of Burlington moved to amend the report of the Committee on Judiciary, which was agreed to
lower
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Squirrell of Underhill recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
lower
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Burkhardt of South Burlington recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
lower
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Rachelson of Burlington reported for the Committee on Judiciary
lower
May 16, 2025
Introduced
Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
May 15, 2025
Introduced
Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
lower
May 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
lower
May 6, 2025
Introduced
Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Mattos for Committee on Judiciary
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced
Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Nader Hashim
Nader Hashim
DDemocratic
VT
Windham