H 626 VT

Became Law

An act relating to sexual extortion, voyeurism, and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent

VT · session 2025-2026 · Assembly / House · bill

A state bill is a proposed law in a state legislature — separate from the U.S. Congress. Learn more →

Introduced Jan 9, 2026

Latest action (Apr 30, 2026) House message: Governor approved bill on April 28, 2026

Sponsors (7)

Angela Arsenault Democratic · primary
Alicia Malay Republican · primary
Sarah "Sarita" Austin Democratic · primary
Edye Graning Democratic · primary
Leanne Harple Democratic · primary
Emilie Krasnow Democratic · primary
Mary-Katherine Stone Democratic · primary

Action history (32)

Jan 9, 2026 Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary · lower
Feb 3, 2026 Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment · lower
Feb 4, 2026 Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment · lower
Feb 4, 2026 Read second time · lower
Feb 4, 2026 Rep. Malay of Pittsford reported for the Committee on Judiciary · lower
Feb 4, 2026 Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to · lower
Feb 4, 2026 Third Reading ordered · lower
Feb 5, 2026 Action Calendar: Third Reading · lower
Feb 5, 2026 Rep. Donahue of Northfield moved to amend the bill · lower
Feb 5, 2026 Rep. Donahue of Northfield asked that the question be divided · lower
Feb 5, 2026 Rep. Donahue of Northfield asked and was granted leave to withdraw 1st instance of amendment · lower
Feb 5, 2026 Remaining instances of amendment agreed to · lower
Feb 5, 2026 Read third time and passed · lower
Feb 6, 2026 Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary · upper
Apr 10, 2026 Entered on Notice Calendar · upper
Apr 10, 2026 Second Reading · upper
Apr 10, 2026 Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary · upper
Apr 14, 2026 Second Reading · upper
Apr 14, 2026 Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary · upper
Apr 14, 2026 Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on Judiciary · upper
Apr 14, 2026 Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to · upper
Apr 14, 2026 3rd reading ordered · upper
Apr 15, 2026 New Business/Third Reading · upper
Apr 15, 2026 Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment · upper
Apr 16, 2026 Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment · lower
Apr 17, 2026 Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment · lower
Apr 21, 2026 Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment · lower
Apr 21, 2026 Senate proposal of amendment concurred in · lower
Apr 22, 2026 Delivered to the Governor on April 22, 2026 · lower
Apr 23, 2026 House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment · upper
Apr 28, 2026 Signed by Governor on April 28, 2026 · executive
Apr 30, 2026 House message: Governor approved bill on April 28, 2026 · upper

Text versions (9)

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

Act SummaryOpens in a new window · PDF
As EnactedOpens in a new window · PDF
As Passed by Both House and Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · PDF
As Passed by Both House and Senate (OfficialOpens in a new window) · PDF
Senate Proposal of Amendment (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · PDF
Senate Proposal of Amendment (OfficialOpens in a new window) · PDF
As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · PDF
As Passed By the House (OfficialOpens in a new window) · PDF
As IntroducedOpens in a new window · PDF

Full text

Full text imported from legislature.vermont.gov

Act No. 89 2026

Page 1 of 1

This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.

Act No. 89 (H.626). An act relating to sexual extortion, voyeurism, and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent Subjects: Crimes; voyeurism; disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent This act creates the new crime of sexual extortion and makes amendments to the statutes regarding voyeurism and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent. The sexual extortion statute prohibits a person from knowingly threatening to disclose a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or who is engaged in sexual conduct, without the person’s consent, with the intent to compel the person to engage in any act against the person’s will or refrain from engaging in any act in which the person has a legal right to engage. The statute also prohibits a person from knowingly threatening another person with harm for the purposes of compelling the person to produce nude visual images or visual images of sexual conduct or to engage in sexual conduct. Penalties range from three to 15 years imprisonment depending upon the age of the victim and whether serious bodily injury or death results from the extortion. The new criminal offense has a 40-year statute of limitation. The act amends the voyeurism statute to separate the offense of viewing voyeurism from photographing voyeurism for the purpose of extending the statute of limitation for photographing voyeurism from three years to 40 years. The act also extends the statute of limitations for voyeurism involving display or disclosure of images to a third party from three years to 40 years. Finally, the act creates a private right of action against a defendant who intentionally displays or discloses to a third party an image recorded in violation of the statute if the display or disclosure causes the plaintiff harm and eliminates the statute of limitations and applies it retroactively to a violation that occurred on or after July 1, 2005. The act amends the statute regarding disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent to move threats to release images to the sextortion statute and eliminates the statute of limitations for the existing statutory private right of action and applies it retroactively to a violation that occurred on or after July 1, 2015. In the private right of action provisions for voyeurism and disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent, the act provides that the required element in a negligence claim of actual injury to the plaintiff may be satisfied by a diagnosis of a disorder resulting from trauma. Effective Date: July 1, 2026

VT LEG #389027 v.2

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