VermontH.6262025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET

An act relating to sexual extortion, voyeurism, and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent

Sponsored By: Angela Arsenault (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Tougher rules on sharing sexual images

It is a crime to knowingly share a nude or sexual image of an identifiable person without consent, with intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce, when a reasonable person would suffer harm. Consent to be recorded is not consent to share. Penalties are up to 2 years in jail or a $2,000 fine, or up to 5 years or $10,000 if done for financial profit. Victims can sue, ask a court to stop the sharing, use a pseudonym, and rely on a trauma diagnosis as proof of injury. Civil claims cover disclosures on or after July 1, 2015. Websites and apps cannot charge to remove or not post such images at the depicted person’s request, with narrow exceptions for public/commercial nudity, matters of public concern, lawful official or medical uses, and platforms that host content solely posted by someone else. These rules take effect July 1, 2026.

Much longer time to charge privacy crimes

Prosecutors can start cases up to 40 years after the offense for voyeurism (recording and sharing), nonconsensual sexual image disclosure, and sexual extortion. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

New crime for sexual extortion and help

The law makes it a crime to threaten to share a nude or sexual image to force someone to send images, have sex, act against their will, or give money or value. It also bans threats to accuse a crime, cause injury, shame someone publicly, or report immigration status when used to compel sexual images or acts. Penalties are up to 3 years or $3,000 when the victim is an adult, up to 10 years or $10,000 when the victim is under 18, and up to 15 years or $15,000 if serious injury or death results. If you report in good faith and quickly that you are a victim, you cannot be cited, arrested, or prosecuted for certain indecent‑material‑to‑minor offenses based on evidence from your report; this protection does not cover evidence found independently. These rules take effect July 1, 2026.

Stronger rules against hidden recording and sharing

The law makes it a crime to intentionally view, record, or photograph someone’s intimate areas without their knowledge and consent when they expect privacy. It also bans secret surveillance or recording inside a home and bans showing or sharing images that were recorded illegally. These rules apply even if done for a business security or theft‑prevention program. Official law enforcement and corrections work done lawfully is exempt. A bona fide private investigator or security guard has a defense only if any violation was unintentional and incidental, and not if they shared images. Penalties increase when the victim is a minor, and sharing images can mean up to 5 years in jail or a $5,000 fine. Victims can sue for harmful sharing of illegally recorded images, ask for court orders, keep their name confidential, and use a trauma diagnosis as proof of injury. Civil claims cover disclosures on or after July 1, 2005. These changes apply beginning July 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Angela Arsenault
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Alicia Malay
Republican • House
Edye Graning
Democratic • House
Emilie Krasnow
Democratic • House
Leanne Harple
Democratic • House
Mary-Katherine A Stone
Democratic • House
Sarah "Sarita" C Austin
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

House message: Governor approved bill on April 28, 2026
4/30/2026Senate
Signed by Governor on April 28, 2026
4/28/2026House
House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment
4/23/2026Senate
Delivered to the Governor on April 22, 2026
4/22/2026House
Senate proposal of amendment concurred in
4/21/2026House
Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
4/21/2026House
Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
4/17/2026House
Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
4/16/2026House
Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
4/15/2026Senate
New Business/Third Reading
4/15/2026Senate
3rd reading ordered
4/14/2026Senate
Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to
4/14/2026Senate
Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on Judiciary
4/14/2026Senate
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
4/14/2026Senate
Second Reading
4/14/2026Senate
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
4/10/2026Senate
Second Reading
4/10/2026Senate
Entered on Notice Calendar
4/10/2026Senate
Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary
2/6/2026Senate
Read third time and passed
2/5/2026House
Remaining instances of amendment agreed to
2/5/2026House
Rep. Donahue of Northfield asked and was granted leave to withdraw 1st instance of amendment
2/5/2026House
Rep. Donahue of Northfield asked that the question be divided
2/5/2026House
Rep. Donahue of Northfield moved to amend the bill
2/5/2026House
Action Calendar: Third Reading
2/5/2026House

Bill Text

As Enacted (ACT 89)
5/8/2026
PDF
As Passed by Both Chambers
4/22/2026
PDF
As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)
4/22/2026
PDF
Senate Proposal of Amendment
4/17/2026
PDF
Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)
4/17/2026
PDF
As Passed by the House
2/6/2026
PDF
As Passed by the House (Unofficial)
2/6/2026
PDF
As Introduced
1/8/2026
PDF

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