Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 R cosponsors

S 183 — An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud

Last action — Recommitted to Committee on Judiciary on motion of Senator Baruth

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 06, 2026. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on April 28, 2026.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Prognosis

Advancing 44% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

174 added · 148 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill S.183 now includes clearer definitions around home improvement and land improvement fraud, specifically outlining that a violation occurs when someone fails to fulfill a contract worth $1,000 or more, or multiple contracts totaling $2,500. Additionally, it specifies actions that can lead to consequences, like not performing the agreed work or not providing refunds when requested. These changes are important because they enhance protections for consumers against fraudulent practices in home improvement projects, aiming to reduce scams and reinforce accountability among contractors.

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AS PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 1 of 7 S.183 An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 1 of 8 S.183 Introduced by Senator Norris Referred to Committee on Judiciary Date:
January 6, 2026 Subject:
Crimes;
home improvement and land improvement fraud Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to require that a person knowingly intends to defraud a client with whom the person has entered into a contract or agreement for home or land improvement.
An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
§ 2029 is amended to read:
§ 2029 is amended to read:
(2)(A) “Land improvement” means:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 2 of 8 (2)(A) “Land improvement” means:
§ 2602, including the construction of trails, roads, and structures associated VT LEG #387880 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 2 of 7 with forestry operations and the transportation off-site of trees, shrubs, or timber.
§ 2602, including the construction of trails, roads, and structures associated with forestry operations and the transportation off-site of trees, shrubs, or timber.
(b) A person commits the offense of home improvement or land improvement fraud when the person knowingly enters into a contract, or agreement, or change order, written or oral, for $1,000.00 or more, with an owner for home improvement or land improvement, or into several contracts, or agreements, or change orders for $2,500.00 or more in the aggregate, with more than one owner for home improvement or land improvement, and the person knowingly:
(b) A person commits the offense of home improvement or land improvement fraud when the person knowingly enters into a contract or agreement, written or oral, for $1,000.00 or more, with an owner for home improvement or land improvement, or into several contracts or agreements for BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 3 of 8 $2,500.00 or more in the aggregate, with more than one owner for home improvement or land improvement, and the person knowingly:
VT LEG #387880 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 3 of 7 (2) misrepresents a material fact relating to the terms of the contract, or agreement, or change order or to the condition of any portion of the property involved;
(2) misrepresents a material fact relating to the terms of the contract or agreement or to the condition of any portion of the property involved;
(3) uses or employs any unfair or deceptive act or practice in order to induce, encourage, or solicit such person to enter into any contract or agreement or to modify the terms of the original contract or agreement;
or (4) when there is a declared state of emergency, charges for goods or services related to the emergency a price that exceeds two times the average price for the goods or services and the increase is not attributable to the additional costs incurred in connection with providing those goods or services.
(b) A person commits the offense of home improvement or land improvement fraud when the person knowingly enters into a contract, or BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 4 of 8 agreement, or change order, written or oral, for $1,000.00 or more, with an owner for home improvement or land improvement, or into several contracts, or agreements, or change orders for $2,500.00 or more in the aggregate, with more than one owner for home improvement or land improvement, and the person knowingly:
(1)(A) fails to perform the contract or agreement, in whole or in part;
and (B) when the owner requests performance, payment, or a refund of payment made, the person fails to either:
(i) refund the payment;
(ii) make and comply with a definite plan for completion of the work that is agreed to by the owner;
or (iii) make the payment promises performance that the person does not intend to perform or knows will not be performed, in whole or in part;
(2) misrepresents a material fact relating to the terms of the contract, or agreement, or change order or to the condition of any portion of the property involved;
and (3) the Office of the Attorney General shall place the person’s name on the Home Improvement and Land Improvement Fraud Registry and shall include on the Registry whether the person has notified the Office of Attorney General under subdivision (e)(1) of this section that they have filed a surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit.
and (3) the Office of the Attorney General shall place the person’s name on the Home Improvement and Land Improvement Fraud Registry and shall BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 5 of 8 include on the Registry whether the person has notified the Office of Attorney General under subdivision (e)(1) of this section that they have filed a surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit.
VT LEG #387880 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 4 of 7 (d)(1) A person who violates subsection (b) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both, if the loss to a single consumer is less than $1,500.00.
(d)(1) A person who violates subsection (b) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both, if the loss to a single consumer is less than $1,500.00.
(e)(1) A person who is sentenced pursuant to subdivision (d)(2), (3), or (4) of this section, or convicted of fraudulent acts related to home improvement or VT LEG #387880 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 5 of 7 land improvement, may engage in home improvement or land improvement activities for compensation only if:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 6 of 8 (e)(1) A person who is sentenced pursuant to subdivision (d)(2), (3), or (4) of this section, or convicted of fraudulent acts related to home improvement or land improvement, may engage in home improvement or land improvement activities for compensation only if:
(2) As used in this subsection:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 7 of 8 (2) As used in this subsection:
VT LEG #387880 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 6 of 7 (B) “Family member” means a spouse, child, sibling, parent, next of kin, domestic partner, or legal guardian.
(B) “Family member” means a spouse, child, sibling, parent, next of kin, domestic partner, or legal guardian.
(g) A person convicted of home improvement or land improvement fraud is prohibited from applying for or receiving State grants or from contracting, directly or indirectly, with the State or any of its subdivisions for a period of up to three years following the date of the conviction, as determined by the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services.
(g) A person convicted of home improvement or land improvement fraud is prohibited from applying for or receiving State grants or from contracting, directly or indirectly, with the State or any of its subdivisions for a period of BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 8 of 8 up to three years following the date of the conviction, as determined by the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services.
(h) A person subject to the financial surety requirements of section 3605 of this title for timber trespass shall not engage in land improvement activities VT LEG #387880 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.183 Page 7 of 7 unless the person has satisfied the financial surety requirements for timber trespass.
(h) A person subject to the financial surety requirements of section 3605 of this title for timber trespass shall not engage in land improvement activities unless the person has satisfied the financial surety requirements for timber trespass.
VT LEG #387880 v.1
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  • Introduced As IntroducedOpens in a new window pdf

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies the definitions and penalties related to home improvement and land improvement fraud in Vermont.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    As used in this section:

    Introduces the definitions section for clarity.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    “Home improvement” means the fixing, replacing, remodeling, removing, renovation, alteration, conversion, improvement, demolition, or rehabilitation of or addition to any building, or any portion thereof, including roofs, that is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling unit. → “Home improvement” means the fixing, replacing, remodeling, removing, renovation, alteration, conversion, improvement, demolition, or rehabilitation of or addition to any building, or any portion thereof, including roofs, that is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling unit.

    Clarifies the definition of home improvement without changing its essence.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    “Land improvement” means: → “Land improvement” means:

    Introduces the definition of land improvement for clarity.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    “Land improvement” includes activities made in connection with a residence or dwelling or those activities not made in connection with a residence or dwelling.

    Expands the definition of land improvement to include a broader range of activities.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    A person commits the offense of home improvement or land improvement fraud when the person knowingly enters into a contract, or agreement, or change order, written or oral, for $1,000.00 or more, with an owner for home improvement or land improvement, or into several contracts, or agreements, or change orders for $2,500.00 or more in the aggregate, with more than one owner for home improvement or land improvement, and the person knowingly: → A person commits the offense of home improvement or land improvement fraud when the person knowingly enters into a contract, or agreement, or change order, written or oral, for $1,000.00 or more, with an owner for home improvement or land improvement, or into several contracts, or agreements, or change orders for $2,500.00 or more in the aggregate, with more than one owner for home improvement or land improvement.

    Clarifies the threshold for contracts that constitute fraud.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    the person shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both, if the loss to a single consumer is less than $1,500.00. → the person shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both, if the loss to a single consumer is less than $1,500.00.

    Maintains the penalties for fraud, ensuring consistency with previous statutes.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    the loss to a single consumer is $1,500.00 or more; or → the loss to a single consumer is $1,500.00 or more;

    Clarifies grounding of penalties for fraudulent behavior, focusing on consumer loss.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    A person convicted of home improvement or land improvement fraud is prohibited from applying for or receiving State grants or from contracting, directly or indirectly, with the State or any of its subdivisions for a period of up to three years following the date of the conviction, as determined by the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services.

    Imposes restrictions on convicted fraudsters to prevent future frauds using state resources.

  • 13 V.S.A. § 2029

    A person subject to the financial surety requirements of section 3605 of this title for timber trespass shall not engage in land improvement activities unless the person has satisfied the financial surety requirements for timber trespass.

    Aligns land improvement activities with existing financial surety requirements for timber trespass.

Action History

  1. Recommitted to Committee on Judiciary on motion of Senator Baruth

  2. Governor vetoed bill

  3. Governor vetoed bill

  4. Entered on Notice Calendar

  5. Governor vetoed bill on April 22, 2026

  6. Senate Message: Vetoed by Governor April 22, 2026

  7. Vetoed by Governor & placed on notice calendar for April 24, 2026

  8. Delivered to Governor on April 16, 2026

  9. As passed by Senate and House

  10. House message: House passed bill in concurrence

  11. Read third time and passed in concurrence

  12. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  13. Third Reading ordered

  14. Rep. LaLonde of South Burlington reported for the Committee on Judiciary

  15. Read second time

  16. Action Calendar: Favorable

  17. Notice Calendar: Favorable

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

  19. Read 3rd time & passed

  20. New Business/Third Reading

  21. 3rd reading ordered

  22. Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to

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

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

  25. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

  26. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

  27. New Business/Second Reading

  28. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

  29. Second Reading

  30. Entered on Notice Calendar

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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 189 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (189)

189 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 189 →

"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.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 183?
S 183 is sponsored by Robert W Norris (Republican).
What is the current status of S 183?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 06, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track S 183?
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