Vermont 2026 Biennium Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 3 D · 1 R cosponsors

H.578 — An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Last action — House message: Governor approved bill on June 8, 2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on May 29, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill updates penalties and procedures for addressing animal cruelty offenses.

This legislation modifies the penalties and legal processes related to animal cruelty offenses. It aims to improve the handling of such cases and may influence how offenders are prosecuted.

Summary

An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read H.578 on the official Vermont source →

Action History

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on June 8, 2026

  2. Signed by Governor on June 8, 2026

  3. Delivered to Governor on June 2, 2026

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

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

  6. Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

  7. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

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

  9. Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth

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

  11. New Business/Third Reading

  12. 3rd reading ordered

  13. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary, as amended, agreed to

  14. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary amended as recommended by Committee on Finance

  15. Reported favorably by Senator Watson for Committee on Appropriations

  16. Reported favorably by Senator Mattos for Committee on Finance with proposal of amendment

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

  18. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

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

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

  21. New Business/Second Reading

  22. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

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

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

  25. Second Reading

  26. Entered on Notice Calendar

  27. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

  28. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Finance

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

  30. Second Reading

  31. Entered on Notice Calendar

  32. Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31

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

  34. Second Reading

  35. Entered on Notice Calendar

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

  37. Read third time and passed

  38. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  39. Third Reading ordered

  40. Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to

  41. Rep. Feltus of Lyndon recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

  42. Rep. Masland of Thetford recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means

  43. Rep. Rachelson of Burlington reported for the Committee on Judiciary

  44. Read second time

  45. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  46. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  47. Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)

  48. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)

  49. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 186 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (186)

186 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 186 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does H.578 do?
An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses
Who sponsors H.578?
H.578 is sponsored by Emilie Krasnow (Democrat), Ian Goodnow (Democrat), Kenneth W Goslant (Republican), and Barbara Rachelson (Democrat).
What is the current status of H.578?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track H.578?
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Last checked for changes 14 days ago · updated continuously

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