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

H 540 — An act relating to the recommendations of the Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group

Last action — House message: Governor approved bill on April 20, 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 April 21, 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

Advancing 52% · moderate confidence

  • 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 D).

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

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

76 added · 73 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill H 540 include the addition of a section regarding the Restorative Justice Program, which allows courts to refer offenders to this program without necessarily placing them on probation. This change is significant because it provides an alternative approach to sentencing, potentially offering offenders a chance for rehabilitation while still holding them accountable. If the offender does not successfully complete the program, they will return to court for further sentencing, ensuring that there is still a system of consequences in place.

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AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.540 Page 1 of 4 H.540 An act relating to the recommendations of the Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.540 Page 1 of 4 H.540 Introduced by Representative Dolan of Essex Junction Referred to Committee on Date:
Subject:
Crimes;
sentencing;
corrections;
community reparative boards Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to adopt the recommendations from the final report of the Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group.
An act relating to the recommendations of the Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
§ 7030 is amended to read:
§ 7030 is amended to read:
(1) A deferred sentence pursuant to section 7041 of this title.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.540 Page 2 of 4 (1) A deferred sentence pursuant to section 7041 of this title.
The offender shall return to court for further sentencing if the reparative board VT LEG #387277 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.540 Page 2 of 4 does not accept the case or if the offender fails to complete the reparative board program to the satisfaction of the board in a time deemed reasonable by the board.
The offender shall return to court for further sentencing if the reparative board does not accept the case or if the offender fails to complete the reparative board program to the satisfaction of the board in a time deemed reasonable by the board.
§ 910 is amended to read:
§ 910 is amended to read:
Sec.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.540 Page 3 of 4 Sec.
§ 913 is added to read:
§ 913 is added to read:
§ 913.
§ 913.
§ 1967.
§ 1967.
In sentences where the VT LEG #387277 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.540 Page 3 of 4 referral is not a condition of probation, the offender shall return to court for further sentencing if the reparative board does not accept the case or if the offender fails to complete the reparative board program to the satisfaction of the board in a time deemed reasonable by the board.
In sentences where the referral is not a condition of probation, the offender shall return to court for further sentencing if the reparative board does not accept the case or if the offender fails to complete the reparative board program to the satisfaction of the board in a time deemed reasonable by the board.
(4) the offender’s willingness to participate in the program;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.540 Page 4 of 4 (4) the offender’s willingness to participate in the program;
VT LEG #387277 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.540 Page 4 of 4 (f) The Supreme Court may adopt procedural rules to effectuate this section.
(f) The Supreme Court may adopt procedural rules to effectuate this section.
VT LEG #387277 v.1
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  • Introduced As IntroducedOpens in a new window pdf

Action History

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on April 20, 2026

  2. Signed by Governor on April 20, 2026

  3. Delivered to the Governor on April 14, 2026

  4. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence

  5. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence

  6. New Business/Third Reading

  7. Reported favorably by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on Judiciary, read 2nd time and 3rd reading ordered

  8. Favorable report by Committee on Judiciary

  9. New Business/Second Reading

  10. Favorable report by Committee on Judiciary

  11. Second Reading

  12. Entered on Notice Calendar

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

  14. Read third time and passed

  15. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  16. Third Reading ordered

  17. Rep. Headrick of Burlington reported for the Committee on Corrections and Institutions

  18. Read second time

  19. Action Calendar: Favorable

  20. Notice Calendar: Favorable

  21. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions

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

civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors H 540?
H 540 is sponsored by Karen N Dolan (Democrat).
What is the current status of H 540?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track H 540?
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