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VermontH.442025-2026 SessionHouse

An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing impaired driving

Sponsored By: Martin J LaLonde (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Harsher repeat DUI penalties and bans

Beginning July 1, 2025, repeat DUI penalties get tougher. If your second or later DUI proves a 0.16 BAC or higher, you face a three-year rule. During those three years, you cannot drive with a BAC of 0.02 or higher. A violation then counts as a third or later offense with heavier penalties. If you cause serious injury or death and have two or more prior DUIs, the court must order at least five years in prison. For death cases, you are not eligible for probation, parole, or early release during those five years. A judge can give a lesser or noncustodial sentence only with written findings that it serves justice and public safety.

Stronger DUI testing and evidence rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, DUI testing and courtroom rules tighten. The BAC limit is 0.08 for most drivers, 0.02 for school buses, and 0.04 for commercial vehicles. A test taken within two hours is presumed to show your level when you drove. Courts presume certain field tests and Drug Recognition Expert exams are admissible. Police can get a warrant to take blood or saliva for evidence. If an officer reasonably believes drug impairment, you are treated as consenting to an evidentiary saliva sample. Saliva tests may detect drugs only and cannot be used to get DNA.

Faster juvenile cases and DMV reporting

Beginning July 1, 2025, juvenile driving cases move faster and are tracked with the DMV. The Family Division handles juvenile cases, except certain cases that involve commercial drivers or commercial-vehicle offenses. It can also hear misdemeanor motor-vehicle cases filed or pending on or after July 1, 2016. After a delinquency finding, the Department must file a plan at least seven business days before the hearing. The hearing must happen within 35 days, and the court must send the adjudication to the DMV within 10 days. The Family Division must also send traffic convictions (not parking) to the DMV. If a youth is adjudicated for certain driving offenses, the DMV can require proof of financial responsibility, like an SR-22, which can raise insurance costs.

Refusal limits and fast lawyer access

Beginning July 1, 2025, refusing DUI tests gets harder, but quick legal help is guaranteed. If you have a prior DUI, you must take an evidentiary test when an officer reasonably asks. If you survive a crash that causes serious injury or death, you must take a test when the officer has reasonable grounds to think you had alcohol or drugs. You can call a lawyer before deciding, but you must decide within 30 minutes from your first call. The Defender General provides 24/7 coverage so a lawyer is available.

Task force to speed DUI processing

Beginning July 1, 2025, Vermont creates a task force to speed DUI processing and protect rights. The Public Safety Commissioner calls the first meeting by August 1, 2025. It can meet up to six times and must send a report with proposed laws by November 15, 2025. The task force ends on February 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Martin J LaLonde

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Thomas B Burditt

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on June 2, 2025

    6/3/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on June 2, 2025

    6/2/2025House

  3. Delivered to the Governor on May 27, 2025

    5/27/2025House

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

    5/23/2025Senate

  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

    5/20/2025House

  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 Judiciary agreed to

    5/15/2025Senate

  13. Reported favorably by Senator Norris for Committee on Appropriations

    5/15/2025Senate

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

    5/15/2025Senate

  15. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    5/15/2025Senate

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

    5/15/2025Senate

  17. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

    5/15/2025Senate

  18. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    5/14/2025Senate

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

    5/14/2025Senate

  20. New Business/Second Reading

    5/14/2025Senate

  21. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    5/13/2025Senate

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

    5/13/2025Senate

  23. Second Reading

    5/13/2025Senate

  24. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/13/2025Senate

  25. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

    5/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 41)

    6/4/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/27/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/27/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/20/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/20/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    3/11/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    3/11/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    1/17/2025

    PDF

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