Criminal Justice

passed · Vermont · Senate May 13, 2026

S 329: An act relating to criminal procedures involving firearms

This bill strengthens Vermont's firearm laws by increasing penalties for theft and possession. It classifies stealing any firearm as a serious felony and raises prison sentences for individuals with prior convictions who possess guns again. The legislation also bans firearm ownership for people with certain mental health court findings, prohibits machine guns, and restricts carrying weapons on licensed alcohol premises.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens firearm laws, increases penalties for theft/possession, and restricts ownership for those with mental health findings, thereby enhancing public safety and criminal justice enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Firearms

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introduced · Vermont · House Mar 11, 2026

H 926: An act relating to taking account of a defendant’s ability to pay for purposes of criminal fines, fees, and surcharges

This bill would prevent courts in Vermont from charging interest on unpaid criminal fines, fees, and surcharges while a defendant is in prison and for 90 days after their release. It also gives judges the authority to reduce or eliminate these surcharges when a defendant shows they cannot afford to pay them. The legislation aims to align financial penalties with a defendant's actual ability to pay during and shortly after incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces financial barriers to justice by eliminating interest on fines during incarceration and allowing fee reductions based on ability to pay, supporting criminal justice reform and protecting civil rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 937: An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures

This bill amends Vermont's judicial procedures to clarify how courts handle profits obtained from crimes and strengthens protections for victims seeking financial recovery. It expands the legal definition of "profits from crimes" to include income generated from selling illicit goods, assets obtained through unique criminal knowledge, and property whose value increased due to the notoriety of a conviction. The legislation requires businesses that pay profits from crimes to notify the Attorney General, who must then inform all known victims. It also establishes a three-year window for victims to sue for damages up to the value of the profits and allows the state to recover certain incarceration costs if victims do not claim the full amount. Additionally, the bill updates penalties for minors under 21 who misrepresent their age to purchase alcohol, possess alcohol or cannabis, or drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or higher.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens victim protections and clarifies recovery of illicit profits, advancing criminal justice reform by ensuring victims can seek financial restitution.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

signed · Vermont · House Apr 29, 2026

H 849: An act relating to a civil action for damages for deprivation of federal constitutional rights by any government official

This bill (H.849) would allow any individual to file a civil lawsuit seeking monetary damages against federal, state, or local government officials who interfere with or violate their State or federal constitutional rights. It directly affects people whose constitutional rights - such as free speech, due process, or equal protection - are allegedly violated by officials acting in their government capacity. The key provision creates a legal pathway for victims to pursue compensation through the court system rather than relying solely on other remedies. The bill focuses on clarifying and enabling this specific civil action process without altering constitutional rights themselves.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables lawsuits against officials violating constitutional rights (free speech, due process), directly enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights - core support indicators for criminal justice reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Tags Civil Liberties

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 3, 2026

H 866: An act relating to bail and conditions of pretrial release

This bill (H.866) changes Vermont's pretrial release rules by removing current bail limits and expanding mandatory detention requirements. It eliminates the $200 bail cap for certain misdemeanors eligible for sealing, requires courts to hold without bail or set mandatory minimum bail for defendants with multiple missed court appearances, prior convictions (including 3+ misdemeanors in 3 years), or pending charges while on release for other cases. Courts must provide written justification if not holding someone without bail, and law enforcement officers' detention recommendations must be followed in specified situations. The bill directly affects defendants facing misdemeanor or felony charges, particularly those with prior offenses or failure to appear.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill eliminates bail caps and mandates detention for repeat offenders, reducing defendant rights and increasing pretrial detention per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Sentencing

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passed · Vermont · House Mar 24, 2026

H 887: 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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands employment protections for crime victims (domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking) under Fair Employment Practices Act, strengthening victim safeguards in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands anti-discrimination protections under Fair Employment Practices Act to cover survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, strengthening worker rights and workplace safeguards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Domestic Violence Victims' Rights Employment Discrimination

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 872: An act relating to enhancing criminal sentences for violent offenders

H.872 mandates minimum prison sentences for repeat violent offenders in Vermont. It requires a minimum sentence of half the maximum term (up to life) for anyone convicted of a third violent felony - defined as a felony with violence against a person - after two prior such convictions. The bill prohibits suspended sentences, probation, parole, or early release for the first three years of this mandatory term. It also amends sentencing rules to ban suspended sentences for all violent felony convictions, not just repeat offenders. This bill directly affects individuals with multiple violent felony convictions, changing their sentencing outcomes under Vermont law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates minimum sentences for repeat violent offenders and prohibits probation/parole, increasing punitive measures. This aligns with indicators of opposing criminal justice reform by restricting defendant rights and expanding mandatory inca...95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2026

H 919: An act relating to classifying incarcerated individuals as temporary State employees

H.919 would classify incarcerated individuals working under the Vermont Department of Corrections as temporary state employees for labor-related rights. This applies to anyone performing work "for, at the direction of, or under the supervision of" the Department. The bill grants these individuals access to wage and hour protections, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and collective bargaining rights during their labor. It directly affects incarcerated people working in Vermont correctional facilities, changing their legal status for employment benefits without altering prison operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClassifies incarcerated workers as temporary employees with labor rights, advancing civil rights and rehabilitation in corrections per reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClassifies incarcerated workers as temporary employees, granting wage protections, workers' comp, unemployment insurance, and collective bargaining rights - directly advancing labor protections for this group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Unemployment

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 875: An act relating to the possession and promotion of child sexual abuse materials to include computer-generated images

This bill (H.875) amends Vermont law to criminalize the possession and promotion of computer-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real child sexual abuse material. It specifically targets AI-created images depicting minors engaging in sexual conduct if an ordinary person would believe they show actual children. The law includes limited exceptions for medical, academic, law enforcement, and AI safety testing (e.g., developers testing systems to prevent such content). It explicitly excludes paintings, drawings, and nonvisual descriptions from the ban. The bill directly affects individuals creating, sharing, or possessing such AI-generated images that meet the "indistinguishable" standard.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by criminalizing possession/promotion of AI-generated child sexual abuse images, fitting 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI-generated CSAM by criminalizing possession/promotion of images indistinguishable from real child abuse material, directly limiting a specific technology application.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Artificial Intelligence

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 10, 2026

H 895: An act relating to secondary enforcement of certain motor vehicle violations

H 895 would restrict enforcement of 13 specific minor traffic violations (such as obscured license plates, improper lane changes, or loud mufflers) to situations where an officer has already stopped a driver for a different, primary violation. It prohibits officers from using these minor infractions as the sole reason to stop a vehicle or to request consent for a vehicle search. The bill directly affects drivers who might otherwise be stopped solely for these technical traffic issues. This policy change aims to limit traffic stops based on minor violations and prevent secondary searches after such stops.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts police stops for minor traffic violations, reducing potential civil rights violations and aligning with criminal justice reform by limiting discretionary stops.85% confidence

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