VermontLaw bars civil arrests at schools and other public locations
The law bars civil arrest on the premises of schools, state and local government buildings, and other listed locations.
What it does
The law bars civil arrest at schools, government buildings, libraries, polling places, places of worship, and several other public-serving locations.
Argument forPeople at schools, polling places, and health care facilities may be less likely to face civil arrest while using those services.
Argument againstLimits on civil arrests at these locations could make it harder to carry out some court-related arrests there.
More detail
The law bars civil arrest at the listed locations. The rule applies on the premises of educational institutions, buildings wholly owned and controlled by the State or a local government, DMV locations, public libraries, polling places, social services establishments, places of worship, children's camps, and health care facilities. The law took effect June 16, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29Senate Message: Signed by Governor Phil Scott June 16, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 16, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 10, 2026To Governor
- May 20Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 19As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 19House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 19House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 19Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 15Unfinished Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 14New Business/House Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 13House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 13Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 12House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- May 8Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 8Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- May 7Third Reading orderedMinor
- Vote recorded Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 70 of 139 to Pass -- Yeas = 109, Nays = 30. Result: pass.Lower
- May 7Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 70 of 139 to Pass -- Yeas = 109, Nays = 30
- May 7Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to
- May 7Rep. Dolan of Essex Junction demanded yeas and nays
- May 7Rep. Greer of Bennington asked and was granted leave to withdraw amendment
- May 7Rep. Greer of Bennington moved to amend the report of the Committee on Judiciary
- May 7Rep. Goodnow of Brattleboro reported for the Committee on Judiciary
- May 7Read second timeMinor
- May 7Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 6Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Feb 18Read first time and referred to the Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 13Read 3rd time & passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Feb 13New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 12Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Hashim
- Vote recorded 3rd reading ordered on roll call Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 27, Nays = 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 123rd reading ordered on roll call Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 27, Nays = 2
- Feb 12Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to
- Feb 12Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 12Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 12Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 11Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 11Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 11Entered on Notice Calendar
- Jan 6Read 1st time & referred to Committee on JudiciaryIntroduced
Criminal Justice