Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 6 D · 1 R cosponsors

H 626 — An act relating to sexual extortion, voyeurism, and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent

Last action — House message: Governor approved bill on April 28, 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 09, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on April 28, 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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Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    7 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 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.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

619 added · 325 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill H.626 now includes stronger measures against sexual extortion and voyeurism. It criminalizes the act of threatening to share explicit images to coerce individuals into producing more explicit material or engaging in sexual acts. Additionally, the bill extends the statute of limitations for both criminal and civil actions related to these offenses, allowing more time for victims to seek justice. These changes are important as they aim to better protect individuals from coercive behaviors and ensure they have avenues for recourse when their privacy is violated.

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AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 1 of 14 H.626 An act relating to sexual extortion, voyeurism, and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 1 of 28 H.626 Introduced by Representatives Arsenault of Williston, Malay of Pittsford, Austin of Colchester, Graning of Jericho, Harple of Glover, Krasnow of South Burlington, and Stone of Burlington Referred to Committee on Date:
Subject:
Crimes;
voyeurism;
disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to criminalize the act of threatening to disclose a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or who is engaged in sexual conduct with the intent to compel a person to produce nude images or images of sexual conduct, engage in sexual conduct, or provide anything of value;
to criminalize threatening a person with the intent to compel a person to produce nude images or images of sexual conduct or to engage in sexual conduct;
to extend the statute of limitations for photographing, filming, or recording a person in violation of the voyeurism statute;
to extend the statute of limitations for displaying or disclosing images in violation of the voyeurism statute;
to eliminate the statute of limitations for civil actions against a person for knowingly disclosing, without the plaintiff’s consent, a visual image of the plaintiff while the plaintiff is nude or engaged in sexual conduct if the disclosure caused harm to the plaintiff;
and to allow BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 2 of 28 recovery of damages for a disorder resulting from trauma in a tort claim against a person who knowingly discloses, without the plaintiff’s consent, an identifiable visual image of the plaintiff while the plaintiff is nude or engaged in sexual conduct and the disclosure causes the plaintiff harm.
An act relating to voyeurism and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent An act relating to sexual extortion, voyeurism, and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
§ 2605 is amended to read:
§ 2605 is amended to read:
This definition includes circumstances in which a person knowingly disrobes in front of another, but does not expect nor give consent for the other person to photograph, film, or record his or her the person’s intimate areas.
This definition BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 3 of 28 includes circumstances in which a person knowingly disrobes in front of another, but does not expect nor give consent for the other person to photograph, film, or record his or her the person’s intimate areas.
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 2 of 14 (5) “Place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy” means:
(5) “Place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy” means:
(9) “Harm” means physical injury, financial injury, or serious emotional distress.
(1) the intimate areas of another person without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being viewed, photographed, filmed, or recorded is in a place where he or she the person would have a reasonable expectation of VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 3 of 14 privacy or under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 4 of 28 (1) the intimate areas of another person without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being viewed, photographed, filmed, or recorded is in a place where he or she the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy or under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy;
or (2) a person engaged in sexual conduct without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being photographed, filmed, or recorded is in a place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy or VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 4 of 14 under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
or BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 5 of 28 (2) a person engaged in sexual conduct without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being photographed, filmed, or recorded is in a place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy or under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
(f) Applicability.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 6 of 28 (f) Applicability.
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 5 of 14 (g) Exceptions.
(g) Exceptions.
(j) Penalties.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 7 of 28 (j) Penalties.
(1) For a first offense, a person who violates subsection (b), (c), or (d), or (e) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 6 of 14 more than $1,000.00, or both.
(1) For a first offense, a person who violates subsection (b), (d), or (e)(c) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both.
For a second or subsequent offense, a person who violates subsection (b), (c), or (d), or (e) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both.
For a second or subsequent offense, a person who violates subsection (b), (d), or (e)(c) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(4) A civil action authorized by this subsection may be commenced at any time after the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 8 of 28 (4) A civil action authorized by this subsection may be commenced at any time after the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition.
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 7 of 14 Notwithstanding 1 V.S.A.
Notwithstanding 1 V.S.A.
§ 214, this subsection shall apply retroactively to a violation of this section that occurred on or after July 1, 2005, irrespective of any statute of limitations in effect at the time the violation occurred.
§ 214, this subsection shall apply retroactively to a violation of this section that occurred prior to July 1, 2026, irrespective of any statute of limitations in effect at the time the violation occurred.
§ 2606 is amended to read:
§ 2606 is amended to read:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 9 of 28 (5) “Visual image” includes a photograph, film, videotape, recording, or digital reproduction, including an image created or altered by digitization.
(6) “Digitization” means the process of altering an image in a realistic manner utilizing an image or images of a person, including images other than the person depicted, or computer-generated images.
(b)(1) A No person violates this section if the person shall knowingly discloses disclose a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or who is engaged in sexual conduct, without the person’s consent, with the intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the person depicted, and the disclosure would cause a reasonable person to suffer harm.
A person may be identifiable from the image itself or information offered in connection with the image.
Consent to recording or production of the visual image does not, by itself, constitute consent for disclosure of the image.
A person who violates this subdivision (1) shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both.
(2) A person who violates this subdivision (1) of this subsection with the intent of disclosing the image for financial profit shall be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than $10,000.00, or both.
(2)(A) No person shall knowingly threaten to disclose a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or who is engaged in sexual conduct, without the person’s consent, with the intent to compel a person to:
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 10 of 28 (i) produce nude images or images of sexual conduct;
(ii) engage in sexual conduct;
(iii) engage in any act against the person’s will;
(iv) refrain from engaging in any act in which the person has a legal right to engage;
or (v) provide money or anything of value.
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(B) With the intent to compel a person to produce nude images or images of sexual conduct or to engage in sexual conduct, no person shall knowingly threaten to:
(i) accuse a person of a crime or cause criminal charges to be instituted against a person;
(ii) cause injury to a person or property;
(iii) expose a secret or publicize an asserted fact, whether true or false, intending to subject another person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule;
or (iv) report a person’s immigration status or suspected immigration status.
(C) A person who violates this subdivision (2) shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both.
(3) For purposes of this section, a person may be identifiable from the image itself or information offered in connection with the image.
Consent to BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 11 of 28 recording or production of the visual image does not, by itself, constitute consent for disclosure of the image.
(c) A person who maintains an internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application that contains a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or who is engaged in sexual conduct shall not solicit or accept a fee or other consideration to remove, delete, correct, modify, or refrain from posting or disclosing the visual image if requested by the depicted person.
(d) This section shall not apply to:
(1) Images involving voluntary nudity or sexual conduct in public or commercial settings or in a place where a person does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
(2) Disclosures made in the public interest, including the reporting of unlawful conduct, or lawful and common practices of law enforcement, criminal reporting, corrections, legal proceedings, or medical treatment.
(3) Disclosures of materials that constitute a matter of public concern.
(4) Interactive computer services, as defined in 47 U.S.C.
§ 230(f)(2), or information services or telecommunications services, as defined in 47 U.S.C.
§ 153, for content solely provided by another person.
This subdivision shall not preclude other remedies available at law.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 12 of 28 (e)(1) A plaintiff shall have a private cause of action against a defendant who knowingly discloses, without the plaintiff’s consent, an identifiable visual image of the plaintiff while the plaintiff is nude or engaged in sexual conduct and the disclosure causes the plaintiff harm.
(2) In addition to any other relief available at law, the court may order equitable relief, including a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or a permanent injunction ordering the defendant to cease display or disclosure of the image.
The court may grant injunctive relief maintaining the confidentiality of a plaintiff using a pseudonym.
(3) In an action brought pursuant to this subsection, the required element in a negligence claim of actual injury to the plaintiff may be satisfied by a diagnosis of a disorder resulting from trauma.
(4) A civil action authorized by this subsection may be commenced at any time after the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition.
Notwithstanding 1 V.S.A.
§ 214, this subsection shall apply retroactively to a violation of this section that occurred prior to July 1, 2026, irrespective of any statute of limitations in effect at the time the violation occurred.
Sec.
3.
13 V.S.A.
§ 4501 is amended to read:
§ 4501.
LIMITATION OF PROSECUTIONS FOR CERTAIN CRIMES (a) Prosecutions for aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a minor as defined in subsection BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 13 of 28 3258(c) of this title, human trafficking, aggravated human trafficking, murder, manslaughter, arson causing death, and kidnapping may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense.
(b) Prosecutions for lewd and lascivious conduct, sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult under subsection 1379(a) of this title, grand larceny, robbery, burglary, embezzlement, forgery, bribery offenses, false claims, fraud under 33 V.S.A.
§ 141(d), and felony tax offenses shall be commenced within six years after the commission of the offense, and not after.
(c) Prosecutions for any of the following offenses shall be commenced within 40 years after the commission of the offense, and not after:
(1) lewd and lascivious conduct alleged to have been committed against a child under 18 years of age;
(2) maiming;
(3) lewd or lascivious conduct with a child;
(4) sexual exploitation of children under chapter 64 of this title;
and (5) sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult under subsection 1379(b) of this title.
(d) Prosecutions for arson and first degree aggravated domestic assault shall be commenced within 11 years after the commission of the offense, and not after.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 14 of 28 (e) Prosecutions for other felonies and for misdemeanors shall be commenced within three years after the commission of the offense, and not after.
(f) Prosecutions for a violation of subsection 2605(c) of this title (voyeurism photographing, filming, or recording), subsection 2605(e) of this title (voyeurism display or disclosure of images to a third party), and section 2606 of this title (disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent) shall be commenced within six years after the commission of the offense or within six years after the date on which the subject of the offense discovers the existence of the photograph, film, or recording that constitutes a violation of such sections.
Sec.
4.
EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
Sec.
1.
13 V.S.A.
§ 2605 is amended to read:
§ 2605.
VOYEURISM (a) Definitions.
As used in this section:
(1) “Bona fide private investigator or bona fide security guard” means an individual lawfully providing services, whether licensed or unlicensed, pursuant to 26 V.S.A.
§§ 3151 and 3151a.
(2) “Female breast” means any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 15 of 28 (3) “Circumstances in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy” means circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that his or her the person’s intimate areas would not be visible to the public, regardless of whether that person is in a public or private area.
This definition includes circumstances in which a person knowingly disrobes in front of another, but does not expect nor give consent for the other person to photograph, film, or record his or her the person’s intimate areas.
(4) “Intimate areas” means the naked or undergarment-clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast of a person.
(5) “Place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy” means:
(A) a place in which a reasonable person would believe that he or she the person could disrobe in privacy, without his or her the person undressing being viewed by another;
or (B) a place in which a reasonable person would expect to be safe from unwanted intrusion or surveillance.
(6) “Sexual conduct” shall have has the same meaning as in section of this title.
(7) “Surveillance” means secret observation of the activities of another person for the purpose of spying upon and invading the privacy of the person.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 16 of 28 (8) “View” means the intentional looking upon another person for more than a brief period of time, in other than a casual or cursory manner, with the unaided eye or a device designed or intended to improve visual acuity.
(9) “Harm” means physical injury, financial injury, or serious emotional distress.
(b) Unlawful viewing.
No person shall intentionally view, photograph, film, or record in any format:
(1) the intimate areas of another person without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being viewed, photographed, filmed, or recorded is in a place where he or she the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy or under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy;
or (2) the intimate areas of another person without that person’s knowledge and consent and under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy a person engaged in sexual conduct without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being viewed is in a place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy or under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
(c) Unlawful photographing, filming, or recording.
No person shall display or disclose to a third party any image recorded in violation of BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 17 of 28 subsection (b), (d), or (e) of this section intentionally photograph, film, or record in any format:
(1) the intimate areas of another person without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being photographed, filmed, or recorded is in a place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy or under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy;
or (2) a person engaged in sexual conduct without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being photographed, filmed, or recorded is in a place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy or under circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
(d) Surveillance.
No person shall intentionally conduct surveillance or intentionally photograph, film, or record in any format a person without that person’s knowledge and consent while the person being surveilled, photographed, filmed, or recorded is in a place where he or she the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy within a home or residence.
Bona fide private investigators and bona fide security guards engaged in otherwise lawful activities within the scope of their employment are exempt from this subsection.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 18 of 28 (e) Display or disclosure to a third party.
No person shall intentionally photograph, film, or record in any format a person without that person’s knowledge and consent while that person is in a place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and that person is engaged in sexual conduct display or disclose to a third party an image recorded in violation of subsection (c) of this section.
(f) Applicability.
This section shall apply to a person who intentionally views, photographs, films, or records the intimate areas of a person as part of a security or theft prevention policy or program at a place of business.
(g) Exceptions.
This section shall not apply to:
(1) a law enforcement officer conducting official law enforcement activities in accordance with State and federal law;
or (2) official activities of the Department of Corrections, a law enforcement agency, the Agency of Human Services, or a court for security purposes or during the investigation of alleged misconduct by a person in the custody of the Department of Corrections, a law enforcement agency, the Agency of Human Services, or a court.
(h) Constitutionally protected activity.
This section is not intended to infringe upon the freedom of the press to gather and disseminate news as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 19 of 28 (i) Affirmative defense.
It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (b) or (c) of this section that the defendant was a bona fide private investigator or bona fide security guard conducting surveillance in the ordinary course of business, and the violation was unintentional and incidental to otherwise legal surveillance.
However, an unintentional and incidental violation of subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall not be a defense to a violation of subsection (c)(e) of this section.
(j) Penalties.
(1) For a first offense, a person who violates subsection (b), (c), or (d), or (e) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both.
For a second or subsequent offense, a person who violates subsection (b), (c), or (d), or (e) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(2) A person who violates subsection (c)(e) of this section shall be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(k) Civil.
(1) A plaintiff shall have a private cause of action against a defendant who intentionally displays or discloses to a third party an image recorded in violation of subsection (c) of this section and the display or disclosure causes the plaintiff harm.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 20 of 28 (2) In addition to any other relief available at law, the court may order equitable relief, including a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or a permanent injunction ordering the defendant to cease display or disclosure of the image.
The court may grant injunctive relief maintaining the confidentiality of a plaintiff using a pseudonym.
(3) In an action brought pursuant to this subsection, the required element in a negligence claim of actual injury to the plaintiff may be satisfied by a diagnosis of a disorder resulting from trauma.
(4) A civil action authorized by this subsection may be commenced at any time after the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition.
Notwithstanding 1 V.S.A.
§ 214, this subsection shall apply retroactively to a violation of this section that occurred prior to July 1, 2026 on or after July 1, 2005, irrespective of any statute of limitations in effect at the time the violation occurred.
Sec.
2.
13 V.S.A.
§ 2606 is amended to read:
§ 2606.
DISCLOSURE OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES WITHOUT CONSENT (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Disclose” includes transfer, publish, distribute, exhibit, or reproduce.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 21 of 28 (2) “Harm” means physical injury, financial injury, or serious emotional distress.
(3) “Nude” means any one or more of the following uncovered parts of the human body:
(A) genitals;
(B) pubic area;
(C) anus;
or (D) post-pubescent female nipple.
(4) “Sexual conduct” shall have has the same meaning as in section of this title.
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 8 of 14 (6) “Digitization” means the process of altering an image in a realistic manner utilizing an image or images of a person, including images other than the person depicted, or computer-generated images.
(6) “Digitization” means the process of altering an image in a realistic manner utilizing an image or images of a person, including images other than the person depicted, or computer-generated images.
A person may be identifiable from the image itself or information offered in connection with the image.
A person may be identifiable from the image itself or information offered in connection with the BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 22 of 28 image.
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 9 of 14 (c) A person who maintains an internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application that contains a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or who is engaged in sexual conduct shall not solicit or accept a fee or other consideration to remove, delete, correct, modify, or refrain from posting or disclosing the visual image if requested by the depicted person.
(c) A person who maintains an internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application that contains a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or who is engaged in sexual conduct shall not solicit or accept a fee or other consideration to remove, delete, correct, modify, or refrain from posting or disclosing the visual image if requested by the depicted person.
(2) Disclosures made in the public interest, including the reporting of unlawful conduct, or lawful and common practices of law enforcement, criminal reporting, corrections, legal proceedings, or medical treatment.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 23 of 28 (2) Disclosures made in the public interest, including the reporting of unlawful conduct, or lawful and common practices of law enforcement, criminal reporting, corrections, legal proceedings, or medical treatment.
§ 153, for content solely provided by another person.
§ 153, for content solely provided by another person.
(e)(1) A plaintiff shall have a private cause of action against a defendant who knowingly discloses, without the plaintiff’s consent, an identifiable visual VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 10 of 14 image of the plaintiff while the plaintiff is nude or engaged in sexual conduct and the disclosure causes the plaintiff harm.
(e)(1) A plaintiff shall have a private cause of action against a defendant who knowingly discloses, without the plaintiff’s consent, an identifiable visual image of the plaintiff while the plaintiff is nude or engaged in sexual conduct and the disclosure causes the plaintiff harm.
(4) A civil action authorized by this subsection may be commenced at any time after the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 24 of 28 (4) A civil action authorized by this subsection may be commenced at any time after the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition.
§ 214, this subsection shall apply retroactively to a violation of this section that occurred on or after July 1, 2015, irrespective of any statute of limitations in effect at the time the violation occurred.
§ 214, this subsection shall apply retroactively to a violation of this section that occurred prior to July 1, 2026 on or after July 1, 2015, irrespective of any statute of limitations in effect at the time the violation occurred.
§ 2607 is added to read:
§ 2607 is added to read:
§ 2607.
§ 2607.
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 11 of 14 (3) “Sexual conduct” has the same meaning as in section 2821 of this title.
(3) “Sexual conduct” has the same meaning as in section 2821 of this title.
(4) refrain from engaging in any act in which the person has a legal right to engage;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 25 of 28 (4) refrain from engaging in any act in which the person has a legal right to engage;
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 12 of 14 (d)(1) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $3,000.00, or both, if the victim of the offense is 18 years of age or older.
(d)(1) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $3,000.00, or both, if the victim of the offense is 18 years of age or older.
(2) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years or fined not more than $10,000.00, or both, if the victim of the offense is under 18 years of age.
(2) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than years or fined not more than $10,000.00, or both, if the victim of the offense is under 18 years of age.
(3) If serious bodily injury or death results from a violation of this section, the person convicted of the violation shall be imprisoned not more than 15 years or fined not more $15,000.00, or both.
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 26 of 28 (3) If serious bodily injury or death results from a violation of this section, the person convicted of the violation shall be imprisoned not more than 15 years or fined not more $15,000.00, or both.
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 13 of 14 Sec.
Sec.
§ 4501 is amended to read:
§ 4501 is amended to read:
LIMITATION OF PROSECUTIONS FOR CERTAIN CRIMES (a) Prosecutions for aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a minor as defined in subsection 3258(c) of this title, human trafficking, aggravated human trafficking, murder, manslaughter, arson causing death, and kidnapping may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense.
LIMITATION OF PROSECUTIONS FOR CERTAIN CRIMES (a) Prosecutions for aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a minor as defined in subsection 3258(c) of this title, human trafficking, aggravated human BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 27 of 28 trafficking, murder, manslaughter, arson causing death, and kidnapping may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense.
(b) Prosecutions for lewd and lascivious conduct, sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult under subsection 1379(a) of this title, grand larceny, robbery, burglary, embezzlement, forgery, bribery offenses, false claims, fraud under 33 V.S.A.
(b) Prosecutions for lewd and lascivious conduct, sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult under subsection 1379(a) of this title, grand larceny, robbery, burglary, embezzlement, forgery, bribery offenses, false claims, fraud under 33 V.S.A.
VT LEG #387202 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.626 Page 14 of 14 (4) sexual exploitation of children under chapter 64 of this title;
(4) sexual exploitation of children under chapter 64 of this title;
(8) disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent under section 2606 of this title;
BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.626 Page 28 of 28 (8) disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent under section of this title;
VT LEG #387202 v.1
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Amendments

2 amendments

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Action History

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on April 28, 2026

  2. Signed by Governor on April 28, 2026

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

  4. Delivered to the Governor on April 22, 2026

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

  6. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

  7. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

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

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

  10. New Business/Third Reading

  11. 3rd reading ordered

  12. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to

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

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

  15. Second Reading

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

  17. Second Reading

  18. Entered on Notice Calendar

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

  20. Read third time and passed

  21. Remaining instances of amendment agreed to

  22. Rep. Donahue of Northfield asked and was granted leave to withdraw 1st instance of amendment

  23. Rep. Donahue of Northfield asked that the question be divided

  24. Rep. Donahue of Northfield moved to amend the bill

  25. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  26. Third Reading ordered

  27. Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to

  28. Rep. Malay of Pittsford reported for the Committee on Judiciary

  29. Read second time

  30. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  31. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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7 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 183 not signed on

Sponsors (7)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (183)

183 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors H 626?
H 626 is sponsored by Mary-Katherine A Stone (Democrat), Emilie Krasnow (Democrat), Leanne Harple (Democrat), Edye Graning (Democrat), Sarah "Sarita" C Austin (Democrat), Alicia Malay (Republican/Democrat), and Angela Arsenault (Democrat).
What is the current status of H 626?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track H 626?
Track H 626 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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