Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 15, 2026

S 256: An act relating to voyeurism and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent

This Vermont bill (S.256) criminalizes threatening to disclose intimate images without consent to coerce someone into producing more images, engaging in sexual conduct, or providing something of value. It also expands existing voyeurism laws to cover non-consensual disclosure of images showing a person nude or engaged in sexual conduct, extending criminal statute of limitations for such acts and eliminating it for civil lawsuits. Victims can now seek damages for harm caused by intentional disclosure of their intimate images, including recovery for trauma-related disorders. The law directly affects individuals whose private images are exploited and those who threaten or disclose such images without consent.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 691: An act relating to breastfeeding education and support

H.691 requires health insurance plans to cover breastfeeding equipment, education, and counseling (including lactation support) without cost-sharing like deductibles or copays. It also mandates hospitals with maternity units to adopt infant-feeding policies promoting breastfeeding, aligned with the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and to communicate these policies to staff and patients. The bill directly affects mothers and newborns by improving access to breastfeeding support through insurance and hospital practices. Key provisions include eliminating out-of-pocket costs for breastfeeding services and requiring hospitals to implement evidence-based feeding policies. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 703: An act relating to expanding the Bill of Rights for Sexual Assault Survivors

This bill expands Vermont's Bill of Rights for Sexual Assault Survivors by guaranteeing specific protections during medical exams and criminal investigations. It directly affects survivors who report sexual assault to law enforcement, hospitals, or victim advocates, granting them the right to have a chosen support person present during exams and interviews, retain private counsel throughout proceedings, shower immediately after medical evaluations, and request a same-gender law enforcement officer for interviews. The bill also prohibits using evidence from medical exams to prosecute survivors for minor offenses like drug crimes or misdemeanors. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to all sexual assault cases reported under Vermont law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 15, 2026

S 258: An act relating to intelligent speed assistance devices

This bill requires individuals with license suspensions or revocations due to serious speeding violations (such as driving 100+ mph or multiple excess-speed offenses) to obtain a restricted license or certificate. To operate a vehicle during their suspension/revocation period, they must install and maintain an approved aftermarket GPS-based speed-limiting device on their vehicle and pay a $125 application fee. The device must actively prevent speeding above posted limits, and the holder must cover all costs for installation, maintenance, and data retrieval. This applies only to non-commercial vehicles and creates a new "intelligent speed assistance restricted operator’s license" (ROL) with annual renewal requirements.

Topics ✓ Transportation

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 697: An act relating to first responders’ buffers during ongoing public safety emergencies

This bill requires members of the public to maintain a 25-foot distance from first responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) during active public safety emergencies. It applies when a first responder has verbally identified themselves or issued a warning to avoid approaching. The law prohibits intentionally coming within 25 feet to obstruct duties, threaten harm, or harass responders. Violations carry penalties of up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 700: An act relating to eliminating tetrahydrocannabinol limits for cannabis flower and cannabis products sold by licensed cannabis retailers

This bill eliminates Vermont's current limits on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency for cannabis products sold by licensed retailers. It removes the 30% THC cap for cannabis flower and increases the maximum THC per serving in edibles from 5 milligrams to 10 milligrams. The changes aim to align Vermont's regulations with other legal cannabis states and address concerns that current limits restrict consumer choice and encourage underreporting of potency. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting licensed cannabis retailers and consumers purchasing these products.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 704: An act relating to the Tenant Representation Pilot Program

H.704 extends and expands Vermont's Tenant Representation Pilot Program, providing free legal representation to eligible tenants facing eviction in Lamoille and Windsor counties. It targets tenants with household income at or below 120% of the state median, rent consuming 30% or more of income, or expenses exceeding income. The program offers full legal representation specifically for eviction cases (not counterclaims) and requires Vermont Legal Aid to report on outcomes, including resolutions through rental assistance programs. Implementation depends on state funding approval for fiscal year 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

HR 11: House resolution authorizing limited remote committee voting through the remainder of calendar year 2026

This Vermont House resolution (HR 11) allows members of House committees to vote remotely for up to three days total during 2026. Committee members must notify the chair and clerk before voting remotely, and their votes will count toward meeting quorum requirements. The committee clerk must track all remote votes and the number of days each member uses this option. The resolution applies only to House committee voting procedures and expires at the end of 2026.

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 689: An act relating to financial aid exceptions for individuals with a disability

This bill (H.689) requires service providers to adjust financial aid applications for housing, hospital, and surgical care so that only the income of an individual with a disability - not their entire household - is used to determine eligibility and benefit levels. It directly affects Vermont residents with disabilities who apply for these specific types of financial assistance. The key change is modifying how income is calculated during the application process, focusing solely on the applicant's earnings rather than household income. This aims to ensure fairer access to aid by accounting for the individual's personal financial situation.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 698: An act relating to various changes to 2025 Acts and Resolves No. 73

This bill (H.698) revises Vermont's 2025 education funding and policy framework. It removes provisions requiring schools to maintain minimum class sizes, eliminates a rule allowing receiving districts to charge sending districts extra fees for high school students, and reverts unused funds from a school district voting group back to the state General Fund. The bill also updates the state's education funding formula to add a "secondary student weight" for high school students and removes recent changes to property tax classifications affecting schools. These changes directly impact school districts, state education funding calculations, and the administration of public school tuition payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education

in committee · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 334: An act relating to limiting employer restrictions on individuals separating from employment

This Vermont bill (H 334) bans most noncompete agreements and "stay-or-pay" provisions that require employees to repay employers upon leaving a job. It prohibits agreements restricting work for competitors after separation, with limited exceptions for business sales or dissolution. Employers must notify affected employees about void agreements and cannot retaliate against workers who refuse such terms. The law applies to all Vermont employers and covers existing contracts that violate these restrictions.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 393: An act relating to the prohibition of requiring face masks in schools

This bill prohibits Vermont public schools, colleges, independent schools, and other educational programs from requiring students, staff, or visitors to wear face masks to prevent illness spread. It creates a legal right for individuals harmed by such mandates to sue for damages, including attorney fees. The law also requires the Governor’s emergency health orders to comply with this mask ban. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is currently under review by the Education Committee.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

Bill results