2025 Legislative Session Report

The Vermont Network is Vermont’s leading voice on domestic and sexual violence. Our members are 15 independent, non-profit organizations that provide direct services to survivors and prevention programming across the state. 

At the Network, we advocate for state-level policies that seek to uproot the causes of violence and support the well-being of survivors, their families, and Vermont communities.

In 2025, Vermont lawmakers advanced new protections, investments, and reforms to benefit survivors. Our 2025 Legislative Session Report highlights some of these successes as well as opportunities for the future.

Advocates, survivors, and Network staff outside the Vermont State House at 2025 Advocacy Day.
Investing in Services for Survivors
  • The FY26 state budget includes a $450,000 one-time increase in funding for domestic and sexual violence services. These funds will help prevent cuts to support for survivors, like 24/7 hotlines, legal advocacy, and hard-working staff.

  • Using funds from the Opioid Abatement Special Fund, H.218 directs approximately $21,000 to Umbrella to support integrated services for domestic and sexual violence survivors in recovery in the Northeast Kingdom.

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  • Vermont’s domestic and sexual violence programs offer 24/7 life-saving services in every Vermont community. Despite this essential work, they have been largely flat-funded at the state-level for 15 years. To prevent cuts and meet the need for services, we will continue advocacy for increased and sustainable funding in 2026.
Improving Legal System Responses for Survivors

Protection orders, which are civil court orders requested by a survivor, are a critical legal tool for survivors. If granted, the orders offer important protective measures to prevent future harm, including requiring a perpetrator of violence to maintain physical distance. This year, the legislature passed several improvements to protection orders, including:

  • Starting on September 1, survivors of sexual assault will be able to file for a sexual assault protection order 24/7, not just during regular business hours (S.9).

  • Relief from abuse orders, protection orders for survivors of domestic violence, can now include temporary possession of a vehicle or completion of Domestic Violence Accountability Programming as conditions of the order (H.222).

  • Criteria for protection orders for survivors of domestic violence and stalking are updated to clearly include stalking facilitated by electronic devices or apps (H.222).

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  • The legislature created two working groups – the Firearm Surrender Order Compliance Working Group and Victim Notification System Taskforce – to study and offer recommendations for much-needed improvements to these systems (S.109). We look forward to participating and carrying forward their recommendations.
Attendees listening to a training on legislative advocacy at 2025 Advocacy Day.
Economic Justice & Health Care for Survivors
  • Vermont workers can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid safe leave to seek safety or heal from domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking – or support a loved one to do so – without fear of losing their job (H.461).

  • Health care legislation – including strengthened protections for abortion providers (S.28) and medical debt relief (S.27) – will support survivors in accessing the care they need.

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  • Coerced debt occurs when an abusive partner utilizes coercive control, threats, or identity theft to incur debt in the name of a survivor without their consent. The debt and resulting poor credit score can have long-term consequences, creating barriers to education, housing, and employment. The legislature requested a study and recommendations for protections against coerced debt in Vermont (H.137). We look forward to revisiting advocacy on this important issue next year.

  • The Vermont Network was significantly involved in H.91, a bill to re-envision the General Assistance Housing Program and also change Vermont’s system of regional emergency housing services. The bill would have restructured how funding for domestic and sexual violence shelter is administered. H.91 was vetoed by Governor Scott and not overridden by the legislature. The Vermont Network will continue to work with the Governor’s administration, our members, and lawmakers to ensure all survivors and their families have safe, stable housing.
Supporting Youth Survivors
  • Supervised visitation programs provide a safe setting for a child to have supervised contact with a parent, both for their protection and the protection of a non-abusive parent. These programs are essential, but they have faced recent funding cuts and are not available in several Vermont counties. In the FY26 state budget, the legislature directed the Judiciary and Department of Children and Families to produce a report on how to provide statewide and sustainably funded supervised visitation services.

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  • Vermont’s Hazing, Harassment, and Bullying Advisory Council advises the Agency of Education on how to support K-12 schools in preventing and responding to this harm. This year, the legislature discussed – but did not pass – a bill to strengthen student voices and update the responsibilities of the Council. We look forward to continuing work on H.130 next year.