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Bill

H 604

An act relating to semiautomatic assault weapons

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Charlie Kimbell

Bans manufacturing, possessing, or transferring semiautomatic assault weapons in Vermont, with limited law enforcement and military exemptions and penalties up to 1 year or $500.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 604

Overview

  • Bill: H.604 (H.604) introduced in Vermont during the 2025-2026 session
  • Sponsor: Rep. Charles Kimbell (Woodstock)
  • Committee: Judiciary
  • Status: Read first time and referred to the House Judiciary Committee on January 8, 2026
  • Purpose: Prohibit the manufacture, possession, and transfer of semiautomatic assault weapons in Vermont

Core purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to ban semiautomatic assault weapons in the state, covering those that can accept detachable magazines and have specified features.
  • It sets penalties for violations and includes narrowly drawn exemptions for certain law enforcement and military personnel.

Key provisions and changes

  • Prohibition (a): It is unlawful to manufacture, possess, or transfer a semiautomatic assault weapon in Vermont.
  • Penalties (b): Violations carry up to 1 year imprisonment, up to $500 fine, or both.
  • Exemptions (c):
    • (1) Possession by federal law enforcement officers or Vermont-certified law enforcement officers for legitimate purposes (whether on or off duty).
    • (2) Active members of the Vermont National Guard, other state National Guards, or the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • Definition of semiautomatic assault weapon (d):
    • Includes:
    • Semiautomatic rifles that accept detachable magazines and have any of several listed features (e.g., folding/ telescoping stock, certain grips, bayonet mounts, flash suppressors, grenade launcher capability).
    • Semiautomatic pistols with detachable magazines and any of a separate list of features (e.g., folding/ telescoping stock, grip features, detachable magazine configurations, threaded barrels, shrouds, weight thresholds, or being a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm).
    • Semiautomatic shotguns with specified features (e.g., folding/ telescoping stock, thumbhole stock, second handgrip, fixed magazine capacity over seven rounds, or ability to accept a detachable magazine).
    • Exclusions (not a semiautomatic assault weapon):
    • Firearms manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide; permanently inoperable firearms; antique firearms.
    • Semiautomatic rifles that cannot accept a detachable magazine holding more than five rounds.
    • Semiautomatic shotguns that cannot hold more than five rounds (fixed or detachable).
  • Effective date (Sec. 2): The act takes effect on passage.

Who/what would be affected

  • A broad category of individuals and entities that possess semiautomatic assault weapons in Vermont, including:
    • Private residents and gun owners (would be prohibited from manufacturing, possessing, or transferring semiautomatic assault weapons).
    • Dealers or transferors within Vermont (subject to prohibition on transfer).
    • Law enforcement and military personnel are exempt when carrying or possessing semiautomatic assault weapons for legitimate purposes, as specified.
  • Exemptions apply to:
    • Federal law enforcement officers and Vermont-certified law enforcement officers.
    • Active members of the Vermont National Guard, other state National Guards, and the U.S. Armed Forces.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: January 8, 2026 (first reading, referred to Judiciary Committee).
  • Status indicates no floor passage date or committee amendments published in the provided text.
  • The act specifies that it takes effect upon passage (immediate or retroactive to the date of enactment).

Additional notes

  • The definition of “semiautomatic assault weapon” closely mirrors typical criteria used in similar state-level prohibitions, focusing on detachable magazines and specific ergonomic or functional features.
  • The bill includes concrete penalties but relatively modest maximums (up to 1 year and $500 fine), reflecting Vermont’s current approach to penalties for firearm-related offenses in the introduced text.
  • As introduced, the bill does not address grandfathering, buyback programs, or criminal penalties for possession of non-semiautomatic firearms with similar appearance.

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

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