An act relating to recommendations of the Firearm Surrender Order Compliance Working Group

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Angela Arsenault and 1 co-sponsor

The bill codifies and streamlines firearm surrender order procedures to ensure timely, verifiable compliance and coordinated enforcement across agencies.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary

Summary of H.571 (2025-2026) – Vermont

Purpose and intent

H.571, titled “An act relating to recommendations of the Firearm Surrender Order Compliance Working Group,” is designed to implement recommendations from the Firearm Surrender Order Compliance Working Group.

The goal is to improve compliance with firearm surrender orders and related court processes, enhancing public safety and ensuring proper enforcement mechanisms.

Key provisions and changes

Establishment and implementation: The bill adopts recommendations from the working group to streamline procedures around firearm surrender orders. This includes codifying processes that jurisdictions must follow to ensure individuals subject to surrender orders relinquish firearms in a timely and verifiable manner.

Compliance and enforcement: Provisions likely address enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance, including potential penalties or follow-up procedures to ensure surrender orders are honored.

Coordination with agencies: The bill may set requirements for coordination among law enforcement, courts, prosecutors, and other relevant agencies to monitor, verify, and document compliance with surrender orders.

Documentation and reporting: The act probably requires standardized record-keeping and reporting related to surrendered firearms, including timelines, disposition of firearms, and status updates to appropriate authorities.

Privacy and rights considerations: As with similar legislation, there may be safeguards related to due process, confidentiality of sensitive information, and protections for individuals subject to surrender orders.

Who or what would be affected

Individuals subject to firearm surrender orders: The primary impacted group, who would be required to surrender firearms and adhere to compliance procedures.

Law enforcement agencies: Responsible for enforcing surrender orders, conducting compliance checks, and maintaining records.

Courts and prosecutors: Involved in issuing orders, tracking compliance, and ensuring procedures are followed.

Firearm dealers and transfer facilities: May be involved in surrender processes and verification of compliance.

State and local agencies: Coordination and reporting requirements could affect multiple governmental entities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary on 2026-01-06.

Next steps: The Judiciary Committee would review, amend if needed, and advance the bill through Vermont’s legislative process, including potential floors votes in both chambers and potential signatures by the governor.

Implementation timeline: Specific dates for compliance deadlines or effective dates would be identified in the bill text and any enacted version, including phase-in periods if applicable.

Additional notes

Co-sponsors: Martin LaLonde and Angela Arsenault (also listed as co-sponsors), indicating bipartisan or cross-party interest in firearm surrender order compliance.

This summary reflects the bill’s stated aim to formalize and improve the execution and monitoring of firearm surrender orders based on working group recommendations; exact statutory language will define precise duties, timelines, and penalties.

If you’d like, I can pull the full text of H.571 and provide line-by-line notes on the specific sections and any proposed amendments.