Act No. 153 Page 1 of 1
2024
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It
is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the
staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not
intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 153 (H.614). An act relating to land improvement fraud and timber trespass
Subjects: Consumer protection; crimes; land improvement fraud; timber trespass
This act adds land improvement services to the existing statute that prohibits home
improvement fraud. The act defines land improvement services generally as work on a
property separate from a building on the parcel, including construction of driveways, site
work, limbing or pruning of trees, removal of trees, and forestry operations. The act also
provides that home improvement or land improvement fraud occurs when a contractor
fails to pay a property owner under a contract, such as when they fail to pay an owner the
value of harvested trees. The act increases to $1,000.00 the value of a contract that
triggers home improvement or land improvement fraud. The act also requires the
Attorney General to include on the Home Improvement and Land Improvement Fraud
Registry whether a violator has posted financial surety allowing the violator to continue
to provide services. The act also increases the financial bond or surety requirement for
violators subject to the surety requirements from $50,000.00 to $250,000.00.
The act amends the statutes related to the crime of timber trespass to require a person
convicted of two or more violations of timber trespass or subject to two or more civil
judgements to post financial surety of not less than $250,000.00 with the Attorney
General if the person is going to continue to operate as a business. A violator who does
not post financial surety can continue to work in the field but only for a person or
company that is not a family member, household member, or business associate. The act
also provides that if a violator of timber trespass laws fails to post the required bond or
fails to inform the Attorney General of working for another business, the person would be
subject to a penalty of up to two years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $1,000.00
or both.
The act requires a person who is convicted of timber trespass to notify the Attorney
General and also requires the courts to notify the Attorney General of the violation. The
Attorney General must place the person’s name on the Home Improvement and Land
Improvement Fraud Registry, including whether the person filed a surety bond or an
irrevocable letter of credit. The act also provides that the bond and financial surety
requirements for timber trespass apply prospectively and do not apply to convictions or
civil judgments that occurred before the effective date of the act.
The act requires the Attorney General to submit to the General Assembly a report
regarding the current enforcement of timber trespass in the State and potential methods of
improving enforcement.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024
VT LEG #377360 v.2


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 13-2029, 18-4241, 18-4243, 18-4248(b), 18-4248
As Passed By the House -- Official: 13-2029, 18-4241, 18-4243, 18-4248(b), 18-4248, 18-4247
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 13-2029
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 13-2029, 18-4241, 18-4243, 18-4248(b), 18-4248, 18-4247, 13-3606a
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 13-2029, 13-3606a
As Enacted: 13-2029, 13-3606a