This bill prohibits discrimination based on criminal history in employment and housing across Vermont. It adds "criminal history" to Vermont's existing anti-discrimination laws, meaning employers cannot refuse to hire or landlords cannot deny housing solely due to an individual's criminal record. The law includes exceptions for jobs where federal or state law mandates disqualification (e.g., for certain crimes in childcare roles) or for positions substantially related to the offense. It also defines "criminal history" broadly to cover all contact with the criminal justice system, including arrests and court dispositions.
This bill updates Vermont's impaired driving laws to clarify penalties and procedures. It sets a 0.04% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for commercial drivers (down from 0.08%), increases penalties for repeat offenses with BAC of 0.16% or higher, and requires the Family Division court to forward motor vehicle conviction records to the Motor Vehicle Commissioner. The bill directly affects drivers charged with impaired driving, particularly commercial drivers, and streamlines how courts handle these cases by specifying jurisdiction and evidence standards. It also adds that evidence from standardized field sobriety tests is presumptively admissible in court.
H 251 establishes a legal process to help criminal defendants found incompetent to stand trial regain competency through mental health treatment. The bill requires courts to provide structured treatment services for defendants unable to understand trial proceedings due to mental health conditions, while including community safety safeguards. It directly affects Vermont defendants in criminal cases who are deemed incompetent to stand trial. The process aims to restore competency for fair trials or appropriate resolution, with specific court procedures outlined in the bill.
This bill requires Vermont prosecutors to inform victims of certain crimes when a defendant appeals or seeks postconviction relief, explaining the process and providing hearing details. It mandates that courts at these hearings ask victims if they wish to speak about the case and consider their statements. Victims who cannot attend must have their written or oral views considered by the court. The law applies to victims of specified crimes and takes effect July 1, 2025. This changes how victims participate in legal proceedings after a conviction.
H 176 requires Vermont's Department of Corrections to reinstate its community work program (called "work crew") by July 1, 2025, after it was discontinued in 2023. The bill mandates reinstating prior policies and sets minimum requirements: offenders must be assigned at least 20 work crew days per court order, or 60 days total across multiple orders. This directly affects individuals sentenced to community restitution and the Department of Corrections, which must implement the program by the deadline. The law takes effect upon passage.
Vermont's S.116 would define an unborn child as a "person" under criminal law when bodily injury or death results from a crime, allowing prosecutors to charge perpetrators without proving they knew about the pregnancy or intended harm to the fetus. This directly affects individuals who commit crimes (like assault or homicide) causing fetal harm, while explicitly protecting pregnant women from prosecution for their own actions and legal medical procedures like abortions with consent. The bill adds a new section to Vermont law clarifying that an unborn child is deemed a person for criminal offenses involving injury or death, but excludes abortion and medical treatments from prosecution. It aims to resolve inconsistencies in past court rulings about fetal personhood under criminal statutes.
H 64 creates a process for victims of sexual assault to obtain emergency protective orders outside regular court hours, weekends, and holidays. It requires the Court Administrator to establish procedures where an authorized person can receive requests (including electronically), administer a sworn statement over the phone, and relay the case to a judicial officer for a decision. This directly affects individuals seeking immediate protection from sexual assault when courts are closed. The judicial officer decides solely based on the submitted information, and if approved, the order is delivered to law enforcement for service. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.
H.5 amends Vermont's evidence rules to allow statements made by children aged 12-15 who are victims of specific abuse crimes (like sexual assault, cruelty, or exploitation) to be used as evidence in court. The bill requires courts to verify that such statements are trustworthy, made before legal proceedings began, and not prepared for trial. It directly affects child victims in criminal, civil, or juvenile cases involving listed abuse offenses under Vermont law. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies only to cases where the child’s statements relate to the alleged abuse.
H 200 prohibits Vermont residents found by a court to pose a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness from possessing firearms. This new rule applies to individuals under specific court orders for mental health treatment or hospitalization, aligning Vermont law with federal standards. The bill also increases penalties for second or subsequent offenses of firearm possession by prohibited persons, raising the maximum penalty to three years in jail or a $5,000 fine. It does not change existing prohibitions for other reasons, such as violent crime convictions.
H 379 creates a "second look" sentencing process in Vermont for incarcerated individuals serving 15+ years. It allows people who have served at least 15 years to petition their original sentencing court for a sentence reduction, directly affecting those currently serving long sentences (including life sentences or 50+ year terms). Key mechanisms include mandatory notice to the court, prosecutor, and public defender after 15 years of incarceration, a structured petition process with required documentation, and expedited hearings for those with serious health conditions or who are 60+ years old after 25 years served. The bill aims to reduce Vermont's high rate of life-sentence inmates (20% of the incarcerated population) and lower annual incarceration costs ($134,218 per person).
