Criminal Justice (Drug Policy)

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.

H.780 establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat retail theft and specific drug trafficking offenses. For retail theft, it requires at least six months of consecutive prison time for fourth or subsequent offenses (over $250 value) and 12 months for fourth or subsequent offenses (over $900 value), with no suspension allowed. For drug trafficking (cannabis, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, or methamphetamine), it mandates at least 12 months of consecutive prison time for trafficking offenses, increasing to 24 months if the trafficking causes death or serious injury. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these specific repeat or serious offenses, removing judicial discretion to reduce the minimum prison time for these cases.

This bill prohibits consuming cannabis (including smoking or vaping) in public places where tobacco use is already banned, such as streets, parks, sidewalks, and public buildings. It aligns cannabis consumption rules with existing tobacco restrictions, applying to all individuals regardless of age. The law defines "public prohibited places" as areas where tobacco use is prohibited under state law, and violations would be punished under existing cannabis possession penalties. It does not affect current laws about driving under the influence, school policies, or local ordinances on cannabis use. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.