Vermont H880: An act relating to repealing the exception for clergy to report child abuse and neglect

What the bill says

An act relating to repealing the exception for clergy to report child abuse and neglect VT LEG #385423 v.1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.880 2026 Page 2 of It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.

From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:

An act relating to repealing the exception for clergy to report child abuse and neglect VT LEG #385423 v.1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.880 2026 Page 2 of It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. 33 V.S.A. § 4913 is amended to REMEDIAL ACTION * * * (i) Except as provided in subsection (j) of this section, a A person may not refuse to make a report required by this section on the grounds that making the report would violate a privilege or disclose a confidential communication. (j) A member of the clergy shall not be required to make a report under this section if the report would be based upon information received in a communication that is: (1) made to a member of the clergy acting in his or her capacity as spiritual advisor; (2) intended by the parties to be confidential at the time the communication is made; (3) intended by the communicant to be an act of contrition or a matter of conscience; and (4) required to be confidential by religious law, doctrine, or tenet. [Repealed.] (k) When a member of the clergy receives information about abuse or neglect of a child in a manner other than as described in subsection (j) of this VT LEG #385423 v.1 BILL AS …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Esme Cole (D, Windsor-6) · primary sponsor
• William Greer (D, Bennington-2) · primary sponsor
• Michael Boutin (R, Washington-3)
• Carris Duncan, Emily (D, Windham-6)
• Alice Emmons (D, Windsor-3)
• Rebecca Holcombe (D, Windsor-Orange-2)
• Robert Hooper (D, Chittenden-18)
• Bram Kleppner (D, Chittenden-13)
• Saudia LaMont (D, Lamoille-Washington)
• Jubilee McGill (D, Addison-5)
• Monique Priestley (D, Orange-2)
• Kirk White (D, Windsor-Addison)

Latest actions

1. February 4, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
2. February 4, 2026: Introduced and read first time

Common questions

What is H880?

H880 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): An act relating to repealing the exception for clergy to report child abuse and neglect.

What does H880 do?

In its own words: An act relating to repealing the exception for clergy to report child abuse and neglect VT LEG #385423 v.1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.880 2026 Page 2 of It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.

What is the status of H880?

In committee as of February 4, 2026. Latest action: Read first time and referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] (February 4, 2026).

Who sponsored H880?

Esme Cole (D, Windsor-6), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for H880?

On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.880