An act relating to establishing a task force to update Vermont’s CHINS laws

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Christie and 1 co-sponsor

H.220 creates a temporary CHINS Statutory Revision Task Force to study and potentially revise Vermont CHINS statutes, with a final report by Nov 15, 2025 and dissolution by Feb 1,

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary

Summary of Bill H.220 (2025-2026) – Vermont

Purpose and intent

Establishes the CHINS Statutory Revision Task Force to review and consider revisions to Vermont laws governing children in need of supervision (CHINS).

Aims to update specific CHINS provisions and/or pursue a broader revision of CHINS-related statutes.

Key provisions and changes proposed

Creation of a Task Force named the CHINS Statutory Revision Task Force.

Purpose: study Vermont statutes governing CHINS, including:

Whether the definition of “reasonable efforts” under 33 V.S.A. § 5102(25) should be updated.
Whether 33 V.S.A. § 5102 should be revised in other respects.
Whether 33 V.S.A. chapter 53 should be amended generally.

Scope is focused on CHINS statutes and related definitions/chapters, with the potential to recommend broader legislative action.

Membership and structure

Task Force members include high-level officials and representatives from key stakeholders:

Chief Superior Judge or designee
Attorney General or designee
Defender General or designee
Commissioner of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) or designee
Vermont Child, Youth, and Family Advocate or designee
Executive Director of the Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs or designee
Executive Director of the Vermont Parent Representation Center, Inc., or designee
Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Vermont or designee
Executive Director of Lund or designee

The Task Force will have access to administrative, technical, and legal assistance from the state entities listed above.

Timeline and meetings

First meeting to be called by the Chief Superior Judge on or before July 1, 2025.

The Task Force shall select a chair at its first meeting.

Quorum is a majority of the membership.

Proposed report deadline: On or before November 15, 2025, the Task Force must submit a written report with findings and recommendations to:

Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee
Senate Committee on Judiciary
House Committee on Judiciary

Duration: The Task Force ceases to exist on February 1, 2026.

Effective date: The Act takes effect upon passage.

Who would be affected

The primary impact would be on the development and potential revision of Vermont CHINS statutes (33 V.S.A. chapters and sections referenced).

Agencies and entities involved in CHINS matters (DCF, state’s attorneys and sheriffs offices, guardian ad litem or advocate organizations, etc.) would participate and bear responsibility for providing information, analysis, and support.

Procedural notes

No direct funding or fiscal specifics are provided in the introduced text; the bill focuses on establishing the task force and its operations.

The bill is currently in the early legislative stage (introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee).

Bottom line

H.220 creates a time-limited CHINS Statutory Revision Task Force to examine and potentially revise Vermont CHINS statutes, including definitions of reasonable efforts and broader CHINS provisions, with a final report due by November 15, 2025, and the task force dissolving by February 1, 2026.