VermontAct 117 sets gender-related rules in Vermont correctional facilities
Act 117 sets gender-related correctional standards and requires reports and legislative review, with the provisions taking effect July 1, 2026.
What it does
Act 117 sets standards for gender identification, searches, and housing placement for transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex people in Vermont correctional facilities.
The Department of Corrections must follow current federal prison sexual-assault prevention standards and send the required data to the General Assembly.
The corrections department must report on search-policy and federal-standard changes, and a legislative committee must review gender-affirming care and recommend possible statutory language.
Argument forClearer housing and search standards could make correctional practices more consistent for transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex people.
Argument againstNew search and housing standards might limit facility discretion or create disagreements about how staff should apply them.
More detail
Correctional facilities must follow standards for identifying gender, conducting searches, and placing people in housing. The standards apply to transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex people in Vermont correctional facilities. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
The Department of Corrections must follow current federal Prison Rape Elimination Act standards and submit required data to the General Assembly. The duties cover the Department of Corrections and data required under the federal prison sexual-assault prevention law. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
The Department of Corrections must report on its updated search policy and changes to federal prison sexual-assault prevention standards, while a legislative committee must review gender-affirming care practices and recommend statutory language. The reporting duty applies to the Department of Corrections, and the review duty applies to the Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee. These duties take effect July 1, 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 29House message: Governor approved bill on June 8, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 8, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 2, 2026To Governor
- May 21Senate Message: Passed in concurrenceMajor
- May 21Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 21Read 3rd time & passed in concurrencePassed 2nd Chamber
- May 21New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- May 20Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Ram Hinsdale
- Vote recorded 3rd reading ordered on roll call Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 27, Nays = 2. Result: pass.Upper
- May 203rd reading ordered on roll call Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 27, Nays = 2
- May 20Reported favorably by Senator Plunkett for Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- May 20Read 2nd timeMinor
- May 20Favorable report by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- May 20Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 19Favorable report by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- May 19New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 15Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- May 15Second ReadingMinor
- May 15Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 24Read 1st time & referred to Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 19Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 19Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 18Report of Committee on Corrections and Institutions agreed to
- Mar 18Rep. Galfetti of Barre Town reported for the Committee on Corrections and Institutions
- Mar 18Read second timeMinor
- Mar 18Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 17Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Jan 6Read first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and InstitutionsIntroduced
Criminal JusticeCivil Rights & VotingHealthcare