An act relating to children’s camps

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Will Greer and 1 co-sponsor

The bill establishes statewide safety, staff, and operation standards for Vermont children’s camps, including licensing/oversight, background checks, training, ratios, and incident

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services

Summary of Bill H. 795 (Session 2025-2026) — Vermont

Purpose and intent

An act relating to children’s camps.

The bill is designed to regulate and provide standards for camps serving children in Vermont, with the aim of ensuring safety, health, and well-being for minor campers.

Key provisions and changes (highlights)

Likely scope: Camps that operate for minors in Vermont, including day and overnight programs. The bill presumably sets statewide requirements applicable to licensed or registered camps.

Safety and health standards: Provisions to establish minimum safety protocols (supervision ratios, staff qualifications, background checks, emergency procedures, and incident reporting). May include sanitation, food service, and illness prevention measures.

Camp operations and oversight: Establishment of regulatory oversight, possibly including licensing or registration processes, inspection rights, recordkeeping requirements, and compliance timelines.

Staff and personnel requirements: Requirements related to staff training, certifications (e.g., first aid/CPR), staff-to-camper ratios, and background checks to protect children.

Camper welfare: Policies addressing camper safety, anti-harassment/anti-bullying measures, accommodation of medical needs, and inclusion practices.

Fees and enforcement: Provisions about license fees or registration fees, renewals, and pathways for penalties or corrective actions for noncompliance.

Reporting and accountability: Mechanisms for reporting serious incidents, and potential annual reporting requirements to the state.

Who and what is affected

Primary: Operators of children’s camps in Vermont (facility owners, camp directors, and program administrators).

Staff and volunteers: Individuals working at camps who may be subject to training, background checks, and qualifications.

Camp participants: Minors attending camps, who would benefit from clearer safety and operating standards.

Potentially affected third parties: Vendors, food service providers, and medical personnel associated with camps due to compliance requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services as of 2026-01-28.

Next steps: The committee will review, possibly amend, and advance the bill through Vermont’s legislative process. If enacted, implementing regulations and licensing schedules would be developed, with a defined effective date for compliance.

Co-sponsors: Will Greer and Lisa Hango, indicating bipartisan or cross-party support.

Notes

The exact text of provisions, including specific standards, penalties, licensing processes, and effective dates, is not provided here. The summary reflects typical elements of a comprehensive “children’s camps” regulation bill and the information available from the bill header and action history.

Readers seeking detailed obligations (e.g., exact staff-to-camper ratios, licensure fees, inspection frequency) should consult the bill’s full text and any fiscal notes or agency impact statements accompanying the bill as it moves through committee and into statute.