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H 891

An act relating to amending the definition of harassment in Title 16

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elizabeth Burrows

H.891 modifies Vermont's harassment statute definition, potentially expanding or restricting which behaviors constitute criminal harassment and affecting enforcement and victim protections.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Education
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 891

Legislative bill overview

H.891 amends Vermont's harassment statute (Title 16) to modify the legal definition of what constitutes harassment. The bill alters the threshold or scope of behaviors that can be prosecuted as harassment under state law. This represents a refinement to existing criminal harassment protections in Vermont's legal code.

Why is this important

Harassment definitions directly impact which behaviors result in criminal charges and how law enforcement responds to complaints. Changes to this definition affect victims' ability to seek legal remedies, defendants' exposure to criminal liability, and how courts interpret harassment cases going forward. This is particularly relevant given increased attention to workplace harassment, cyberbullying, and stalking in recent years.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope expansion or restriction: The bill may broaden what qualifies as harassment (protecting more people but potentially criminalizing more behavior) or narrow it (reducing charges but potentially limiting protections)
  • Subjective vs. objective standards: Questions about whether the new definition relies on victim perception, reasonable person standards, or defendant intent—affecting consistency in prosecution
  • Impact on free speech: Depending on revisions, changes could affect the balance between protecting individuals from harassment and preserving legitimate speech rights

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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