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VermontH.12025-2026 SessionHouse

An act relating to accepting and referring complaints by the State Ethics Commission

Sponsored By: Martin J LaLonde (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New steps for reviewing ethics complaints

Beginning September 1, 2025, Vermont’s Ethics Commission director refers complaints to all relevant entities, but not the Commission itself. The director must identify any likely unethical conduct. Receiving entities must consult the Commission in writing within 60 days and before their final decision. They must explain how the State Code of Ethics applies and recommend an action; municipal ethics complaints are exempt. Commission advice is confidential, and receiving entities do not have to follow it.

More privacy, less public ethics access

Beginning September 1, 2025, complaints and related documents held by Vermont’s Ethics Commission must remain confidential. The law removes the stated exception for releasing records under the Commission’s public-records rules. This protects people named in complaints but limits public access. Beginning September 1, 2027, consultations are no longer expressly listed as records potentially open to public inspection. That change covers consultations supporting warnings, reprimands, recommendations, or summaries of signed resolution agreements; it does not automatically bar every release.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Martin J LaLonde

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Brian J Cina

    Democrat/Progressive • House

  • Carol Ode

    Democratic • House

  • Laura H Sibilia

    Independent • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor allowed to become law without signature on June 5, 2025

    6/9/2025House

  2. Allowed to become law without the signature of the Governor on June 5, 2025

    6/5/2025House

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 30, 2025

    5/30/2025House

  4. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment

    5/23/2025House

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/22/2025House

  6. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/22/2025House

  7. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/21/2025House

  8. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/20/2025Senate

  9. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/16/2025Senate

  10. New Business/Third Reading

    5/16/2025Senate

  11. 3rd reading ordered

    5/15/2025Senate

  12. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations agreed to

    5/15/2025Senate

  13. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Collamore for Committee on Government Operations

    5/15/2025Senate

  14. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

    5/15/2025Senate

  15. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

    5/15/2025Senate

  16. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

    5/14/2025Senate

  17. New Business/Second Reading

    5/14/2025Senate

  18. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

    5/13/2025Senate

  19. Second Reading

    5/13/2025Senate

  20. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/13/2025Senate

  21. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations

    3/19/2025Senate

  22. Read third time and passed

    3/14/2025House

  23. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    3/14/2025House

  24. Third Reading ordered

    3/13/2025House

  25. Report of Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs agreed to

    3/13/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 44)Opens in a new window

    6/11/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/30/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/30/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/22/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    3/18/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    3/18/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    12/30/2024

    PDF

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