Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 1 I cosponsors

S 239 — An act relating to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group

Last action — Senate Message: Signed by Governor May 21, 2026

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on May 26, 2026.

Prognosis

Advancing 52% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    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 I).

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.

In plain language

The bill establishes a working group focused on reporting child abuse and neglect.

This legislation creates a Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group. The group's purpose is to improve how child abuse and neglect are reported.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

94 added · 67 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recently passed version of Bill S.239 has made some important changes regarding the formation and focus of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group. Notably, the updated bill broadens the group's mandate to include a more comprehensive examination of existing statutes, rules, and the policies of the Department for Children and Families, rather than just the statutes. Additionally, it has revised the membership of the group by removing some members, such as the Attorney General and the Chief Administrative Judge, and adding a new entity focused on preventing child abuse, thereby potentially enhancing the group's effectiveness in addressing child welfare. These adjustments matter because they aim to ensure that the group is more equipped to modernize reporting practices based on wider expertise and current best practices.

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AS PASSED BY SENATE S.239 Page 1 of 3 S.239 An act relating to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.239 Page 1 of 4 S.239 Introduced by Senator Vyhovsky Referred to Committee on Health and Welfare Date:
January 13, 2026 Subject:
Human services;
reporting abuse or neglect of children Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to establish the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group for the purpose of examining the existing statutes, rules, and policies regarding the reporting of abuse and neglect of a child and recommending changes to such to modernize them and reflect current best practices.
An act relating to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING WORKING GROUP (a) There is created the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group for the purpose of examining the existing statutes, rules, and policies regarding the reporting of abuse and neglect of a child and recommending changes to such to modernize them and reflect current best practices.
(b) The Working Group shall be composed of the following members:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.239 Page 2 of 4 (1) the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation or designee;
(2) the Executive Director of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services or designee;
(3) a co-executive director of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence or designee;
(4) a member, appointed by the Attorney General;
(5) a member, appointed by the Chief Administrative Judge;
and (6) a member, appointed by the Commissioner for Children and Families.
(c) The Working Group shall report its findings and any recommended legislative proposal to the General Assembly on or before November 1, 2026.
Sec.
2.
EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on passage.
Sec.
1.
(5) the Chief Administrative Judge or designee;
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.239 Page 3 of 4 (5) the Chief Administrative Judge or designee;
VT LEG #388121 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.239 Page 2 of 3 (7) the Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Vermont or designee;
(7) the Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Vermont or designee;
VT LEG #388121 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.239 Page 3 of 3 (1) Any recommendations should remain consistent with federal requirements under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), which establishes minimum standards related to state definitions of abuse and neglect, including physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse or exploitation, and emotional maltreatment.
(1) Any recommendations should remain consistent with federal requirements under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), which establishes minimum standards related to state definitions of abuse and neglect, including physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse or exploitation, and emotional maltreatment.
(e) The Working Group shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Department for Children and Families.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.239 Page 4 of 4 (e) The Working Group shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Department for Children and Families.
VT LEG #388121 v.1
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  • Act SummaryOpens in a new window View text Current pdf
  • Introduced As IntroducedOpens in a new window pdf

Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor May 21, 2026

  2. Signed by Governor on May 21, 2026

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 15, 2026

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

  5. As passed by Senate and House

  6. House proposal of amendment concurred in

  7. House proposal of amendment; text

  8. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  9. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  10. House proposal of amendment

  11. Entered on Notice Calendar

  12. Placed on Notice Calendar for May 7, 2026

  13. Motion by Senator Lyons to reconsider concurrence in House proposal of amendment agreed to

  14. House proposal of amendment concurred in

  15. House proposal of amendment; text

  16. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  17. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  18. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  19. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

  20. House proposal of amendment

  21. Entered on Notice Calendar

  22. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

  23. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  24. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  25. Third Reading ordered

  26. Report of Committee on Human Services, as amended, agreed to

  27. Report of the Committee on Human Services amended as recommended by the Committee on Appropriations

  28. Rep. Mrowicki of Putney recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

  29. Rep. Cole of Hartford reported for the Committee on Human Services

  30. Read second time

  31. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  32. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  33. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)

  34. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  35. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services

  36. Read 3rd time & passed

  37. New Business/Third Reading

  38. 3rd reading ordered

  39. Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare agreed to

  40. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Gulick for Committee on Health and Welfare

  41. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

  42. Second Reading

  43. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

  44. Second Reading

  45. Entered on Notice Calendar

  46. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Health and Welfare

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.

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
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 239?
S 239 is sponsored by Tanya C Vyhovsky (Progressive/Democrat).
What is the current status of S 239?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track S 239?
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