An act relating to prohibiting the transfer of Family Court cases to criminal court when the offender is a victim of human trafficking

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Barbara Rachelson

Keeps cases involving offenders who are human trafficking survivors in Family Court, barring transfer to criminal court for those offenses.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary

Summary of H.299 (2025-2026) – Vermont

Purpose and intent

This Act seeks to prohibit the transfer of Family Court cases to criminal court when the offender is a victim of human trafficking.

In short, if a person who has committed an offense is themselves a survivor of human trafficking, the bill would prevent moving that case from Family Court to criminal court.

Key provisions and changes

Prohibition on transfer: The central provision would bar transferring certain cases from Family Court to criminal court specifically when the offender is a victim of human trafficking. The bill aims to keep the adjudication within Family Court rather than escalating to criminal court proceedings.

Scope: The provision applies to cases that would otherwise be eligible for transfer from Family Court to criminal court, but would be disqualified by the offender’s status as a human trafficking victim.

Relationship to existing processes: The bill modifies current transfer rules to ensure victims of trafficking receive adjudication and potential remedies within the Family Court framework rather than a criminal venue.

Who or what would be affected

Offenders who are victims of human trafficking: Individuals who would otherwise trigger a transfer to criminal court due to the offenses alleged and their status as trafficking survivors.

Family Court system: Family Court would retain jurisdiction over these cases, altering how such cases are processed, charged, and adjudicated.

Criminal courts: The transfer pathway to criminal court would be limited or removed for these specific circumstances.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: As of the last recorded action (February 20, 2025), the bill has been read the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

Next steps: The bill would proceed through committee consideration, potential amendments, and eventually floor votes in the House, followed by Senate action and possible gubernatorial approval, subject to the normal legislative timetable.

No committee meeting history is listed yet for Regular Session 2025-2026, indicating no additional public testimony or action recorded at this time beyond the initial referral.

Additional notes

Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Rachelson (co-sponsor noted).

Location: House Committee on Judiciary.

The bill’s focus is protective and corrective in recognizing trafficking survivors’ circumstances, ensuring their cases are handled within Family Court rather than criminalizing or stigmatizing them through transfer to criminal proceedings.

If you’d like, I can monitor updates on committee hearings, amendments, or floor votes and provide a follow-up briefing with any changes to the bill’s provisions or status.