An act relating to how to count certain offenders for the purpose of periodic reapportionment of districts for the General Assembly

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Will Greer

The bill standardizes how incarcerated offenders are counted in population totals used for General Assembly reapportionment to ensure fairer, more accurate district boundaries.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

Summary of Bill H 763 (2025-2026) – Vermont

Purpose and intent

This act addresses how to count certain offenders for the purpose of periodic reapportionment of General Assembly districts. In other words, it sets rules for counting populations or individuals (specifically offenders) that are used to redraw legislative district boundaries after each census cycle, ensuring that reapportionment reflects an accurate population count.

Key provisions and changes

Establishes criteria or methodology for counting offenders when calculating district populations for reapportionment.

Aims to specify which offenders are included or excluded in population counts used for districting (e.g., whether incarcerated individuals count toward the population where they are imprisoned or elsewhere).

Seeks to standardize the counting approach to improve fairness or accuracy in district population totals that determine representative balance for the General Assembly.

Who/what would be affected

Vermont residents, particularly:

Individuals who are incarcerated (offenders) and the location where their population is counted for districting purposes.
State and local constituencies as reapportionment distributions may shift depending on how counts are allocated.
Government agencies responsible for conduct of census data usage and redistricting, including the General Assembly and the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs.

Political boundaries and potential shifts in district boundaries after reapportionment.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Action history indicates: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs on January 23, 2026.

Sponsor: Co-sponsor Will Greer.

As a first-reading bill, it will move through committee review, potential amendments, and eventual floor consideration. Final timelines will depend on committee action, floor votes, and legislative scheduling.

Practical implications

By clarifying how offenders are counted, the bill could affect the population totals used to draw state General Assembly districts.

Depending on whether incarcerated individuals are counted where they are imprisoned or elsewhere, district populations could gain or lose residents, potentially impacting representative balance and community size in affected districts.

The measure emphasizes procedural clarity in reapportionment to promote consistent application of counting rules.

Note: The summary reflects the bill’s stated focus and the information available from the action history and sponsors. As the bill progresses, additional details on specific definitions, exceptions, and the exact counting methodology would clarify its full impact.