Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont S209: An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations
Status: Signed into law, February 12, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations. (S.209) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
From the chaptered text, June 16, 2026:
An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations. (S.209) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. 12 V.S.A. § 3577 is amended to read: § 3577. PRIVILEGE FROM ARREST (a) The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor of Accounts, Attorney General, and members of the General Assembly and officers and witnesses whose duty it is to attend thereon, in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, shall be privileged from arrest and imprisonment during their necessary attendance on and in going to and returning from the General Assembly. (b) A party or witness in a cause pending in any court in the State or before special masters, auditors, referees, or commissioners, and a witness in a criminal cause pending in any such court, shall not be arrested, imprisoned, or detained by virtue of civil process. Any witness summoned from outside the State in a criminal cause, pending in any court within the State, shall be privileged from the service of papers of any kind whatsoever, and from arrest for any cause while going to, attending at, or returning from such court or trial of such cause. (c)(1) Prohibition. A person shall not be subject to civil arrest while: (A) traveling to, entering, remaining at, …
Sponsors
- Tanya Vyhovsky (D, Chittenden-Central District) · primary sponsor
- Seth Bongartz (D, Bennington District)
- Martine Gulick (D, Chittenden-Central District)
- Nader Hashim (D, Windham District)
- Andrew Perchlik (D, Washington District)
- Anne Watson (D, Washington District)
- Rebecca White (D, Windsor District)
Latest actions
- : Senate Message: Signed by Governor [June 16, 2026]
- : Signed by Governor on [June 16, 2026]
- : Delivered to Governor on [June 10, 2026]
- : Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in
- : As passed by Senate and House
- : House proposal of amendment concurred in
- : House proposal of amendment; text
- : Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment
- : Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment
- : New Business/House Proposal of Amendment
Votes
- Which was agreed to on a Roll Call [Passed -- Needed 70 of 139 to Pass -- Yeas = 109, Nays = 30] (May 7, 2026): 109 yea, 30 nay, passed
- 3rd reading ordered on roll call [Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 27, Nays = 2] (February 12, 2026): 27 yea, 2 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is S209?
- S209 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations.
- What does S209 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations. (S.209) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
- What is the status of S209?
- Signed into law as of February 12, 2026. Latest action: Senate Message: Signed by Governor [June 16, 2026] (May 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored S209?
- Tanya Vyhovsky (D, Chittenden-Central District), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S209?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.209
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.