Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont H385: An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt
Status: Signed into law, May 20, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt. (H.385) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
From the chaptered text, May 20, 2026:
An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt. (H.385) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. 9 V.S.A. chapter 63, subchapter 13 is added to read: Subchapter 13. Coerced Debt § 2495a. DEFINITIONS As used in this subchapter: (1) "Adequate documentation" means at least one of the following: (A) a copy of a report filed with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency that identifies the coerced debt and the circumstances under which the coerced debt was incurred, the filing of which subjects the person filing the report to criminal penalties for filing false information if, in fact, the information in the report is false; (B) a court order finding that the debt was coerced; or (C) a sworn certification from a qualified third-party professional regarding the debtor's claim of coerced debt. (2) "Coerced debt" means all or a portion of secured or unsecured debt solely or jointly in a debtor's name that: (A) was incurred as a result of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult and the perpetrator's: (i) use of the debtor's personal information without the debtor's knowledge, authorization, or consent; or VT LEG #389902 v.1 No. 106 Page 2 of 28 (ii) use or threat of …
Sponsors
- Edye Graning (D, Chittenden-3) · primary sponsor
- Angela Arsenault (D, Chittenden-2)
- Tiffany Bluemle (D, Chittenden-13)
- David Bosch (R, Rutland-2)
- Michael Boutin (R, Washington-3)
- Mollie Burke (D, Windham-8)
- Carris Duncan, Emily (D, Windham-6)
- Elanor Chapin (D, Washington-5)
- Brian Cina (D, Chittenden-15)
- Mari Cordes (D, Addison-4)
- Leonora Dodge (D, Chittenden-23)
- Abbey Duke (D, Chittenden-17)
Latest actions
- : House message: Governor approved bill on [May 20, 2026]
- : Signed by Governor on [May 20, 2026]
- : Delivered to Governor on [May 14, 2026]
- : Senate Message: Passed in concurrence
- : Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence
- : New Business/Third Reading
- : Reported favorably by Senator [Gulick] for Committee on [Finance], read 2nd time and 3rd reading ordered
- : Favorable report by Committee on [Finance]
- : New Business/Second Reading
- : Favorable report by Committee on [Finance]
Common questions
- What is H385?
- H385 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt.
- What does H385 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt. (H.385) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
- What is the status of H385?
- Signed into law as of May 20, 2026. Latest action: House message: Governor approved bill on [May 20, 2026] (May 21, 2026).
- Who sponsored H385?
- Edye Graning (D, Chittenden-3), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H385?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.385
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.