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VermontH.1182025-2026 SessionHouse

An act relating to expanding the scope of hate-motivated crimes

Sponsored By: Angela Arsenault (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stronger penalties for hate crimes

Beginning July 1, 2025, Vermont applies hate-crime rules when someone commits, causes, or tries to commit a crime partly or wholly because of a person’s or group’s actual or perceived protected trait. Bias does not have to be the main or only reason. Protected traits include race or color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, age, U.S. military service, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. If the underlying crime’s maximum is one year or less, the penalty is up to two years in prison, a fine up to $2,000, or both. If it is more than one year but less than five years, the penalty is up to five years, a fine up to $10,000, or both. If it is five years or more, the original penalty applies, and the court must weigh bias at sentencing.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Angela Arsenault

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Martin J LaLonde

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on April 29, 2025

    4/30/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on April 29, 2025

    4/29/2025House

  3. Delivered to the Governor on April 23, 2025

    4/23/2025House

  4. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence

    4/18/2025House

  5. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence

    4/17/2025Senate

  6. New Business/Third Reading

    4/17/2025Senate

  7. Reported favorably by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on Judiciary, read 2nd time and 3rd reading ordered

    4/16/2025Senate

  8. Favorable report by Committee on Judiciary

    4/16/2025Senate

  9. New Business/Second Reading

    4/16/2025Senate

  10. Favorable report by Committee on Judiciary

    4/15/2025Senate

  11. Second Reading

    4/15/2025Senate

  12. Entered on Notice Calendar

    4/15/2025Senate

  13. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary

    2/13/2025Senate

  14. Read third time and passed

    2/11/2025House

  15. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    2/11/2025House

  16. Third Reading ordered

    2/7/2025House

  17. Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to

    2/7/2025House

  18. Rep. Arsenault of Williston reported for the Committee on Judiciary

    2/7/2025House

  19. Read second time

    2/7/2025House

  20. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    2/7/2025House

  21. On Notice Calendar

    2/6/2025House

  22. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary

    1/29/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 8)

    5/6/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    2/12/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    2/12/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    1/28/2025

    PDF

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