VermontHouse-passed bill would let renters remove abusers from leases
If enacted, landlords would let renters remove an abusive person from a shared lease, and a funded state pilot would report participating tenants’ timely rent payments.
What it does
A renter could remove a person who abuses, sexually assaults, or stalks them from the rental agreement while keeping their own tenancy. If they cannot cover the rent, they would get at least 90 days to find another tenant or new housing.
A landlord could have a tenant’s visitor barred from the home or shared areas if the tenant agrees, the visitor breaks the lease, or the visitor breaks state or federal law on the property.
If funded, Vermont would run a two-year pilot reporting participating tenants’ timely rent payments to credit agencies. Up to 10 landlords could join, and tenants would choose whether to take part and could leave at any time.
If funded, a Vermont nonprofit would provide landlords and tenants with rental rights education and help, including tenant training and in-person, online, and on-demand options.
Argument forA renter facing abuse by someone in the home could keep their tenancy while the landlord removes the person accused of abuse, and may get time to find housing if needed.
Argument againstLandlords could bar a tenant’s visitors from the home or shared areas for breaking a lease or state or federal law, which may limit tenants’ ability to host guests.
More detail
A landlord would have to let a protected tenant remove an abusive person from the rental agreement. This applies when a tenant or lawful occupant abuses, sexually assaults, or stalks a protected tenant. If removing the person leaves the protected tenant unable to pay rent, the landlord must give the tenant at least 90 days to find another tenant or new housing.
A landlord could have a tenant’s visitor barred from the home or its shared areas. This applies to a tenant’s visitors at a rented home, including its shared areas. The tenant responsible for the visitor may consent to the order. Otherwise, the visitor must have broken the lease or violated state or federal law while on the property.
The State Treasurer would run a two-year pilot to report participating tenants’ timely rent payments to credit agencies. The contractor would recruit no more than 10 landlords and, where practicable, at least 100 tenants. The program would report timely rent payments made after a tenant joins, not fees. The program could be implemented only if the General Fund provides money for it in fiscal year 2027. Landlords must join in writing and cannot charge tenants to participate. Tenants choose whether to join and may leave at any time; late payments may lead to removal from the program. The Treasurer would contract with a program administrator by May 1, 2027.
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity would provide rental rights education and help to landlords and tenants. The help would cover landlords’ and tenants’ rights, duties, and remedies under Vermont rental laws, with in-person, virtual, and on-demand options. The program could be implemented only if the General Fund provides money for it in fiscal year 2027. Tenant training would include the Preferred Renter Certification Program or its future equivalent.
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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 27Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Ram HinsdaleLatest
- Vote recorded Roll Call, requested by Senator Weeks, Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 17, Nays = 12. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded 3rd reading refused on roll call, requested by Senator Ram Hinsdale, Failed -- Needed 16 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 15, Nays = 16. Result: fail.Upper
- May 273rd reading refused on roll call, requested by Senator Ram Hinsdale, Failed -- Needed 16 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 15, Nays = 16
- May 27Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary, as amended, agreed toMinor
- May 27Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary amended as recommended by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- May 27Proposal of amendment not agreed toMinor
- May 27Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Ram Hinsdale and Chittenden; textMinor
- May 27Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Weeks
- May 27Roll Call, requested by Senator Weeks, Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 17, Nays = 12
- May 27Motion to substitute proposal of amendment agreed to
- May 27Senator(s) Hashim motion to substitute proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 27Reported favorably by Senator Norris for Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 27Reported favorably by Senator Clarkson for Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 27Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Hashim for Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 27Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 27Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- May 27Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 27New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 26Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 26Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- May 26Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 26Second ReadingMinor
- May 26Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 21Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- May 21Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- May 21Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 21Second ReadingMinor
- May 21Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 7Rules suspended & bill committed to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs with the report of Committee on Judiciary intact, on motion of Senator Hashim
- Apr 1Read 1st time & referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 27Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Which was disagreed to on a Roll Call Failed -- Needed 61 of 122 to Pass -- Yeas = 33, Nays = 89. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 27Third division of amendment disagreed to
- Mar 27Which was disagreed to on a Roll Call Failed -- Needed 61 of 122 to Pass -- Yeas = 33, Nays = 89
- Mar 27Second division of amendment disagreed to
- Mar 27Rep. Headrick of Burlington demanded yeas and nays
- Mar 27First division of amendment disagreed to
- Mar 27Rep. Tomlinson of Winooski asked that the question be divided
- Mar 27Rep. Logan of Burlington moved to amend the bill
- Mar 27Rep. Stevens of Waterbury, Burrows of West Windsor, and LaMont of Morristown moved to amend the bill, which was disagreed to
- Mar 27Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 27, 2026
- Mar 26Rep. Mihaly of Calais moved to postpone action until March 27, 2026, which was agreed to
- Mar 26Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Third Reading orderedMinor
- Vote recorded Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 71 of 141 to Pass -- Yeas = 120, Nays = 21. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 71 of 141 to Pass -- Yeas = 120, Nays = 21
- Mar 25Report of Committee on General and Housing, as amended, agreed to
- Mar 25Rep. Cina of Burlington demanded yeas and nays
- Mar 25Rep. Goodnow of Brattleboro, Kornheiser of Brattleboro, and Krasnow of South Burlington moved to amend the report of the Committee on General and Housing, as amended, which was agreed to
- Mar 25Rep. LaLonde of South Burlington and Burditt of West Rutland moved to amend the report of the Committee on General and Housing, as amended, which was agreed to
- Mar 25Report of Committee on General and Housing amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 25Rep. Bluemle of Burlington recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 25Rep. Krasnow of South Burlington reported for the Committee on General and Housing
- Mar 25Read second timeMinor
- Mar 25Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 24Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Feb 27Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- Feb 27Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Jan 23Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and HousingIntroduced
- May 27Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Ram HinsdaleLatest
HousingConsumer ProtectionCivil Rights & Voting