Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont H578: An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses
Status: Signed into law, June 8, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses. (H.578) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
From the chaptered text, June 8, 2026:
An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses. (H.578) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 351 is amended to read: § 351. DEFINITIONS As used in this chapter: * * * (21) "Sexual conduct" means: (A) any act between a person and animal that involves contact between the mouth, sex organ, or anus of a person and the mouth, sex organ, or anus of an animal; or (B) without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose, the insertion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or of any instrument, apparatus, or other object into the vaginal or anal opening of an animal; (C) without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose, a person touching or fondling a sex organ or anus of an animal, either directly or through clothing; or (D) without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose, any intentional transfer or transmission of semen by a person upon any part of an animal. * * * VT LEG #390162 v.1 No. 118 Page 2 of 27 (25) "Working with" means working or volunteering in any capacity, including as an independent contractor, that requires the person to be in contact with an animal, including at a commercial boarding or …
Sponsors
- Emilie Krasnow (D, Chittenden-9) · primary sponsor
- Ian Goodnow (D, Windham-9)
- Kenneth Goslant (R, Washington-1)
- Barbara Rachelson (D, Chittenden-14)
Latest actions
- : House message: Governor approved bill on [June 8, 2026]
- : Signed by Governor on [June 8, 2026]
- : Delivered to Governor on [June 2, 2026]
- : House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment
- : Senate proposal of amendment concurred in
- : Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. [McCoy of Poultney]
- : Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
- : Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
- : Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator [Baruth]
- : Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
Common questions
- What is H578?
- H578 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses.
- What does H578 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses. (H.578) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
- What is the status of H578?
- Signed into law as of June 8, 2026. Latest action: House message: Governor approved bill on [June 8, 2026] (May 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored H578?
- Emilie Krasnow (D, Chittenden-9), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H578?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.578
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.