Criminal Justice

signed · Vermont · House Jun 9, 2025

H 105: An act relating to expanding the Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program

H 105 expands Vermont's Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program to address underage alcohol and cannabis offenses for individuals aged 16 to 21. The bill requires first-time offenders to complete this program instead of facing immediate fines or license suspensions for violations like possessing alcohol, consuming cannabis, or driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or higher. Successful program completion avoids penalties, while failure results in civil fines ($300 for first offense) and license suspensions (30 days for first offense, 180 days for impaired driving). The program is administered by the Department of Health’s Division of Substance Use Programs and focuses on treatment needs rather than criminal penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces fines/suspensions with rehabilitation program for youth offenders, reducing punitive measures and aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 27, 2025

S 94: An act relating to the duty of the Attorney General to enforce certain criminal offenses

This bill designates Vermont's Attorney General as the primary enforcement authority for specific criminal cases, directly affecting how these cases are handled by state prosecutors. It requires the Attorney General to lead prosecutions in 13 defined categories, including cases involving law enforcement excessive force, crimes by elected officials, multi-county offenses, human trafficking, public assistance fraud, and certain wildlife violations. State's Attorneys may still handle these cases if they stipulate with the Attorney General, but without such agreement, the Attorney General takes primary responsibility. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDesignates AG as primary enforcer for excessive force, crimes by officials, and human trafficking cases, enhancing police accountability and oversight in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 25: An act relating to imposing Impaired Driver Rehabilitation Program fees based on a person’s ability to pay

H 25 amends Vermont law to replace fixed fees for the Impaired Driver Rehabilitation Program with an income-based fee structure. It requires the Department of Health to set fees based on an individual’s gross income relative to the federal poverty level: people earning 175% or less of the federal poverty level pay no fees, while those earning up to 575% qualify for discounted fees. Participants must disclose income confidentially for fee assessment, and collected fees will fund the program’s operations. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, with implementing rules due by January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncome-based fees increase accessibility to rehabilitation program, reducing financial barriers for low-income participants and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of equitable access.95% confidence

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2025

H 133: An act relating to repealing the statutes that authorize the State Lottery and sports wagering

H 133 would repeal Vermont's current laws authorizing the state lottery (31 V.S.A. Chapter 14) and sports wagering (31 V.S.A. Chapter 25). This bill directly affects current lottery operators, sports betting providers, and participants in Vermont who rely on these legally sanctioned activities. The key mechanism is removing the specific authorizations, making any lottery or sports wagering subject to Vermont's general gambling laws (13 V.S.A. Chapter 51), which treat such activities as criminal offenses. The bill does not create new rules but eliminates the existing legal framework for these specific gambling activities.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepealing lottery/sports wagering laws eliminates a state revenue source, directly defunding budget-related income streams as these activities generate tax revenue.95% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill repeals legal gambling authorizations, making lottery/sports wagering criminal under general gambling laws, expanding criminalization per topic indicators.95% confidence

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 14, 2025

H 221: An act relating to the Firearm Surrender Order Compliance Working Group

H 221 creates a temporary working group to develop a uniform process for ensuring compliance with court orders requiring individuals to surrender firearms, primarily affecting domestic violence victims and safety systems. The group, composed of officials from law enforcement, courts, domestic violence advocates, and firearm storage entities, will study current challenges and recommend legislative or policy changes by November 2025. It will focus on creating statewide accountability for firearm surrender orders in both family and criminal courts, assessing resource needs for courts and law enforcement, and consulting with existing domestic violence programs. The working group will disband on January 15, 2026, after submitting its recommendations to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates working group to improve firearm surrender compliance in domestic violence cases, enhancing victim safety and system accountability - aligns with criminal justice reform and victim protection indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 264: An act relating to safe storage of firearms

H 264 requires Vermont firearm owners to store guns securely - locked and separate from ammunition - when children or prohibited persons (e.g., those banned by law from owning guns) might access them. It directly affects all gun owners in homes or premises under their control. Key provisions include fines up to $1,000 or jail time for negligence leading to a crime, and up to $5,000 or five years in jail if access causes death or serious injury. Dealers must post mandatory safety signs about risks like accidental child access or suicide. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents gun access by children/prohibited persons, reducing firearm-related crimes - a public safety measure within criminal justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms

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signed · Vermont · Senate May 16, 2025

S 36: An act relating to the delivery and payment of certain services provided through the Agency of Human Services, services for persons who are incapacitated, and Human Services Board proceedings

Bill S 36 amends existing law by replacing the term "public inebriates" with "persons who are incapacitated." It requires the Departments of Health and Mental Health to prioritize expanding services for incapacitated individuals in Chittenden County and report on these efforts by February 2026. The Department of Corrections must also report on efforts to connect incapacitated persons in correctional facilities with substance use recovery providers. Additionally, the bill mandates reports from the Agency of Human Services and the Human Services Board by December 2025. These reports will propose improvements to the Human Services Board's appeal processes, focusing on attorney training, data collection, and making the process more accessible and consistent for appellants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates connecting incapacitated persons in correctional facilities with substance use recovery providers, advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates expansion of health services for incapacitated individuals, prioritizes mental health/substance use recovery connections, and requires departmental reporting on service improvements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health Substance Abuse

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 346: An act relating to charges for towing and storage of motor vehicles belonging to crime victims

This bill sets maximum fees for towing and storing abandoned vehicles in Vermont, capping towing at $130 or $4.50 per mile (whichever is greater) and storage at $35 per day. It directly affects crime victims by exempting them from paying towing and storage fees if they reported their stolen vehicle to law enforcement before it was towed, including fees accrued prior to seven days after a second notice to the owner. The bill also creates a working group of state officials to study funding mechanisms for reimbursing towing services when they cannot collect fees for stolen vehicles. The group must report by November 15, 2025, with recommendations for legislative action.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts crime victims from towing/storage fees when reporting theft to police, reducing financial burden and supporting victim rights in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 258: An act relating to law enforcement interrogation policies

H 258 prohibits law enforcement from using deception, threats, or physical harm during custodial interrogations of individuals under 22 years old. It requires notifying and contacting a juvenile’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian before any such interrogation. The bill also mandates the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to create statewide interrogation standards, including requiring electronic recording of most custodial interrogations in detention (with limited exceptions like emergencies). These changes aim to prevent false confessions and improve community trust in law enforcement practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits coercion in juvenile interrogations, mandates parent notification, and requires electronic recording - aligning with civil rights protection and police accountability in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 20, 2025

H 299: An act relating to prohibiting the transfer of Family Court cases to criminal court when the offender is a victim of human trafficking

Vermont's H 299 prevents Family Court cases from being transferred to criminal court when the person involved is a child or youth victim of human trafficking. The bill requires Family Court to retain jurisdiction over such cases if the court finds clear evidence the child was a victim of human trafficking, sexual assault, or related crimes defined in state law. Key provisions mandate that courts hold hearings to verify victim status and explicitly prohibit transferring cases involving these specific offenses. This directly affects minors in Family Court proceedings who are identified as trafficking victims, keeping their cases in the juvenile justice system. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents criminal court transfer for trafficking victims, keeping cases in Family Court for victim-centered handling, aligning with criminal justice reform by avoiding punitive measures against victims.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice

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