This Vermont bill establishes statewide standards for law enforcement interrogations to prevent false confessions and wrongful convictions. It requires the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to create a model policy that prohibits law enforcement from using threats, physical harm, or deception during interrogations of all individuals, with specific protections for people under 20 and those with disabilities or low literacy. The bill also bans training officers in deceptive interrogation techniques like the Reid Technique and ties compliance with these standards to eligibility for state training services and financial grants. Law enforcement agencies must adopt and follow the model policy by April 1, 2025, with the Council reviewing and updating the policy every odd-numbered year thereafter.
This Senate concurrent resolution formally congratulates Jules Rabin of Marshfield on reaching his 100th birthday. The document recognizes his contributions as an educator, baker, peace activist, and writer, highlighting his long residence in Vermont and his various life achievements including teaching, baking sourdough bread, and organizing peace vigils. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to Rabin as an official acknowledgment of the General Assembly's congratulations.
This bill directs the Vermont legislature to adjourn on Friday, March 29, 2024, and reconvene no later than Tuesday, April 2, 2024. It affects state legislators by setting specific dates for the end of a legislative session and the start of the next. The resolution establishes a weekend break between the Friday adjournment and the Tuesday reconvening. This procedural measure ensures a structured schedule for legislative business without altering substantive laws or policies.
This bill is a commemorative resolution honoring the memory of Rutland City Police Officer Jessica Marie Ebbighausen, who was killed in the line of duty in July 2023. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's condolences to her family and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to her family and the Rutland City Police Department. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of her service and sacrifice.
This bill designates March 28, 2024, as Alzheimer's Awareness Day at the Vermont State House to raise public awareness about the disease. It directly affects state legislators, staff, and the Alzheimer's Association chapter in Vermont by formally recognizing the day through a ceremonial reading. The resolution includes background information on the impact of Alzheimer's in Vermont, including statistics on affected populations and caregiving costs, but does not create new laws or funding. The Secretary of State is instructed to send a copy of the resolution to the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
This bill makes permanent the ability to use remote and electronic methods for signing advance directives, which were previously only allowed through March 31, 2024. It allows witnesses and neutral explainers to participate via live video or telephone, and permits all parties to use digital signatures. The law also expands remote witnessing options for a special clause called a Ulysses clause, which lets a named agent make medical decisions even against the principal's wishes if they lose capacity. These changes affect individuals creating advance directives, their witnesses, and healthcare providers in Vermont. The bill takes effect on April 1, 2024.
This bill restructures Vermont's fish and wildlife management by creating a 16-member Fish and Wildlife Board that advises the Department of Fish and Wildlife on rules and policies. The board includes representatives from each county, two at-large members, and requires members to have expertise in wildlife biology and consider climate change impacts. Proposed regulations must be reviewed by the board before public hearings, and the board can recommend revisions with written explanations if the department does not adopt its suggestions. The bill also establishes a process for determining antlerless deer hunting seasons based on scientific studies and public testimony, with specific permit allocation rules for landowners and hunters.
This House concurrent resolution honors the memory of Reuben Jackson, a jazz archivist, radio host, and poet who passed away in February 2024. The bill expresses the Vermont General Assembly's condolences to his family and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to his partner, Vermont Public, WPFW Radio, and the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives at the University of the District of Columbia. Jackson was recognized for his significant contributions to jazz preservation, including his work curating the Duke Ellington Collection at the Smithsonian Institution and hosting Vermont Public's Friday Night Jazz program. The resolution serves as a formal acknowledgment of his life's achievements and legacy in music and literature.
This bill requires sellers and landlords in Vermont to disclose flood risk information to buyers and tenants, including whether properties are in mapped flood hazard areas and if they have experienced past flooding. It also establishes accessibility standards for state-funded residential construction and updates definitions and disclosure requirements for mobile homes and mobile home parks. The legislation creates legal consequences for sellers who fail to provide required flood information, allowing buyers to terminate contracts or seek damages. Additionally, the bill mandates that mobile home sales include written disclosures about flooding history and requires appraisal reports to separate the value of the mobile home from its location.
This bill designates November as Vermont Month of the Veteran to honor military service members who have contributed to national security. It adds a new section to Vermont law stating that November of each year is officially recognized as this commemorative month. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to all state government activities during November.
This bill modifies Vermont's automobile insurance laws to clarify how underinsured motorist coverage works and how insurers handle payments for medical costs. It defines a vehicle as underinsured when the at-fault driver's liability coverage is lower than the injured party's uninsured motorist limits, or when liability payments to other crash victims reduce available coverage below those limits. The legislation also prevents insurers from using subrogation rights to recover medical payments they have already made to their own insureds. These changes apply to all auto insurance policies offered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025.
This bill designates March 26, 2024, as Robert Frost Day in Vermont to honor the state's first Poet Laureate on the 150th anniversary of his birth. The resolution recognizes Frost's literary achievements, including four Pulitzer Prizes, his deep connection to Vermont landscapes, and his contributions to education at institutions like Bread Loaf School of English. The General Assembly formally acknowledges Frost's legacy by naming this specific date in his honor. The Secretary of State will send copies of the resolution to the Robert Frost Stone House in Shaftsbury and the Bread Loaf School of English in Ripton.
