Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont S116: An act relating to crimes against an unborn child
Status: In committee, March 13, 2025
What the bill says
An act relating to crimes against an unborn child It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
From the introduced text, March 13, 2025:
An act relating to crimes against an unborn child It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE (a) The General Assembly finds that courts have determined there is a distinction as to whether a viable fetus is considered a person under Vermont law. In Vaillancourt v. Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, Inc., 139 Vt. (1980), the Court held that "there exists statutory wrongful death liability for the negligently caused death of an unborn, viable fetus." However, in State v. Oliver, 151 Vt. 626 (1989), the Court found that "an unborn fetus is not a person within the meaning of [Vermont's criminal statutes]." The Court in Oliver stated that if a fetus is to be considered a person for purposes of the criminal statutes, the "task must be accomplished by the legislature." VT LEG #381155 v.1 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.116 2025 Page 2 of (b) The purpose of this act is to protect the right of a pregnant woman to carry a child to term and to hold perpetrators of crimes against an unborn child fully accountable. Sec. 2. 13 V.S.A. § 15 is added to read: § 15. CRIMES AGAINST AN UNBORN CHILD (a) As used in this section, "unborn child" means the offspring of human beings prior to …
Sponsors
- Terry Williams (R, Rutland District) · primary sponsor
- Lawrence Hart (R, Orange District)
- Steven Heffernan (R, Addison District)
Latest actions
- : Read 1st time & referred to Committee on [Judiciary]
- : Introduced and read first time
Common questions
- What is S116?
- S116 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): An act relating to crimes against an unborn child.
- What does S116 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to crimes against an unborn child It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
- What is the status of S116?
- In committee as of March 13, 2025. Latest action: Read 1st time & referred to Committee on [Judiciary] (March 13, 2025).
- Who sponsored S116?
- Terry Williams (R, Rutland District), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S116?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.116
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.