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Bill

H 395

An act relating to creating the Municipal Law Enforcement Assistance Program

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Will Greer

Municipalities that opt in can levy a $75 local surcharge on civil penalties imposed by the Judicial Bureau, with funds must be used to support local law enforcement.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 395

Overview

H.395 (2025-2026), introduced in Vermont by Rep. Greer, would create the Municipal Law Enforcement Assistance Program. The central idea is to allow municipalities to vote to impose a local penalty surcharge on civil penalties collected by the Judicial Bureau for violations within the municipality. The Judicial Bureau would administer the program, remit collected funds to the respective municipality, and municipalities would use the funds exclusively to support law enforcement services and activities.

Purpose and intent

  • Establish the Municipal Law Enforcement Assistance Program to fund local police presence and operations.
  • Give municipalities a mechanism to finance enhanced law enforcement by imposing a local surcharge on civil penalties collected for violations within the municipality.

Key provisions and changes

  • Creation of the program (new 24 V.S.A. § 1944).
  • Local option surcharge:
    • A municipality’s legislative body can, by majority vote, recommend and voters can approve (by majority at annual or special meeting) a local penalty surcharge of $75.00.
    • Applies only to civil money penalties assessed by the Judicial Bureau for matters under its jurisdiction (4 V.S.A. § 1102).
    • Applies only to violations or offenses committed within a municipality that votes to establish the surcharge.
  • Notification and effective date:
    • Within 10 days after an affirmative vote, the municipal clerk must notify the Judicial Bureau and provide a certified copy of the results.
    • The surcharge becomes effective in the next fiscal year quarter after 90 days’ notice to the Judicial Bureau.
  • Administration and costs:
    • The Judicial Bureau will collect and administer the surcharge.
    • The Bureau may retain up to $5.00 of each surcharge to offset administrative and collection costs (subject to 32 V.S.A. § 605).
    • If a surcharge is improperly assessed in a municipality that did not authorize it, the Bureau must refund the surcharge to the payor.
  • Funds distribution:
    • Monies collected are remitted quarterly to the respective municipality.
  • Use of funds:
    • Municipalities must use the proceeds exclusively to establish, support, maintain, or improve law enforcement services and operations within the municipality.
  • Definitions:
    • “Municipality” means a city or town.

Affected entities

  • Municipalities (cities and towns) that choose to authorize and implement the local surcharge.
  • The Vermont Judicial Bureau, which would administer, collect, and remit the surcharge.
  • Residents and offenders subject to civil penalties assessed by the Judicial Bureau for violations within participating municipalities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.
  • Process timeline:
    • Local legislative approval by majority vote; then voter approval by majority at a meeting.
    • Within 10 days post-approval, municipality notifies Judicial Bureau.
    • Surcharge becomes effective the next fiscal year quarter following 90 days’ notice to the Judicial Bureau.
    • Quarterly remittance of collected funds to each participating municipality.
  • Administrative cap: Up to $5.00 of each surcharge retained by the Judicial Bureau for administrative costs.

Potential impact (summary)

  • Revenue mechanism for municipalities to enhance local law enforcement capacity, potentially improving patrols, staffing, equipment, or other enforcement-related services.
  • Financial burden on violators within participating municipalities who incur civil penalties subject to the surcharge (additional $75 per eligible civil penalty).
  • Administrative design aims to minimize bureaucratic complexity by using the existing Judicial Bureau framework while preserving local autonomy through voter-approved adoption.
  • Only municipalities that opt in will receive funds and must use them for law enforcement purposes.

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

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