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VermontH.412025-2026 SessionHouse

An act relating to abuse of the dead body of a person

Sponsored By: Thomas B Burditt (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New criminal penalties for abusing dead bodies

Beginning July 1, 2025, Vermont makes knowingly and intentionally burning, mutilating, disfiguring, dismembering, or destroying a dead body illegal without legal authorization. Penalties are up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. Doing these acts to hide a crime or avoid arrest, prosecution, or conviction carries higher penalties. Sexual conduct upon a dead body also carries higher penalties. These offenses carry up to 15 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. Sexual conduct includes specified genital and oral contact, touching or penetration for sexual arousal or gratification, masturbation, and bestiality. Cremated remains are excluded from the definition of a dead body.

Burial permit violations become civil offenses

Beginning July 1, 2025, Vermont replaces criminal penalties for burial-transit permit violations with a civil penalty capped at $1,000. This applies to burying, entombing, transporting, or removing a dead body without the required permit. It also applies when someone breaks the permit's rules for manner, time, or place. Violators no longer face imprisonment under this permit rule, but they remain subject to a financial penalty.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Thomas B Burditt

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Allen "Penny" R Demar

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on May 22, 2025

    5/22/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor on May 22, 2025

    5/22/2025House

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 16, 2025

    5/16/2025House

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

    5/16/2025House

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/14/2025House

  6. Action Calendar: Action postponed until 5/14/2025

    5/14/2025House

  7. Rep. LaLonde of South Burlington moved to postpone action until 5/14/2025, which was agreed to

    5/13/2025House

  8. Action Calendar: Action postponed until 5/13/2025

    5/13/2025House

  9. Action Calendar: Action postponed until May 13, 2025

    5/12/2025House

  10. Rep. Burditt of West Rutland moved to postpone action until 5/13/25, which was agreed to

    5/9/2025House

  11. Action Calendar: Action postponed until 5/9/2025

    5/9/2025House

  12. Rep. LaLonde of South Burlington moved to postpone action until 5/9/2025, which was agreed to

    5/8/2025House

  13. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/8/2025House

  14. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/7/2025House

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

    5/6/2025Senate

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

    5/2/2025Senate

  17. New Business/Third Reading

    5/2/2025Senate

  18. 3rd reading ordered

    5/1/2025Senate

  19. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to

    5/1/2025Senate

  20. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Hashim for Committee on Judiciary

    5/1/2025Senate

  21. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

    5/1/2025Senate

  22. New Business/Second Reading

    5/1/2025Senate

  23. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

    4/30/2025Senate

  24. Entered on Notice Calendar

    4/30/2025Senate

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

    2/14/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 30)Opens in a new window

    5/28/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/16/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/16/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/6/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/6/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    2/14/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    2/14/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    1/16/2025

    PDF

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