The bill H.28 amends various sections of the Vermont Statutes Annotated to incorporate the option of affirmation alongside oaths in legal contexts, thereby expanding the forms of commitment recognized in the state. Key changes include the insertion of the phrase "or affirmation" in multiple statutes, ensuring that individuals, including public officers and officials, can choose to affirm rather than swear an oath. For example, the bill introduces the language "Oath shall include affirmation" in 1 V.S.A. § 127 and modifies other sections to clarify that both oaths and affirmations are acceptable. Additionally, the bill updates language to promote gender neutrality by replacing gender-specific pronouns with neutral terms, such as changing "his or her" to "the" or "individual."

Furthermore, the bill enhances the powers of various regulatory bodies, allowing them to administer oaths and affirmations during hearings and investigations. It mandates that reports and applications submitted to these bodies be verified under oath or affirmation, reinforcing the legal weight of the information provided. The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and other officials, ensuring compliance and accountability in their duties. Overall, H.28 aims to modernize Vermont's legal language regarding oaths and affirmations, streamline processes, and enhance the integrity of legal proceedings across the state.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 1-127, 1-137, 2-70(b), 2-70, 2-267a, 3-123(h), 3-123, 3-129, 3-151, 3-153(b), 3-153, 3-156, 3-258, 3-317, 3-925(d), 3-925, 3-965(c), 3-965, 3-1018(d), 3-1018, 3-1030(c), 3-1030, 3-1230(d), 3-1230, 3-2103, 3-3091(b), 3-3091, 4-27b, 4-71, 4-362, 4-461, 4-466(d), 4-466, 4-491, 4-608(f), 4-608, 4-794, 4-803, 4-851, 4-852, 4-1106(b), 4-1106, 5-32, 5-34, 5-1016(d), 5-1016, 5-1017(c), 5-1017, 5-3756, 6-1(a), 6-1, 6-11, 6-2674(a), 6-2674, 6-2722, 6-2762, 6-2929, 6-2972(b), 6-2972, 6-3318, 7-211(b), 7-211, 7-588, 8-13(a), 8-13, 8-2102(a), 8-2102, 8-2117(b), 8-2117, 8-2120(a), 8-2120, 8-2202a(a), 8-2202a, 8-2236a, 8-2260(a), 8-2260, 8-3361(a), 8-3361, 8-3371(e), 8-3371, 8-3561(a), 8-3561, 8-3565(a), 8-3565, 8-3574(b), 8-3574, 8-3686(f), 8-3686, 8-3865, 8-3914, 8-4464(4), 8-4464, 8-4468, 8-4485(a), 8-4485, 8-4495, 8-4503(b), 8-4503, 8-4516, 8-4588, 8-5105(b), 8-5105, 8-6004(d), 8-6004, 8-6007(b), 8-6007, 8-6024(c), 8-6024, 8-6045, 8-7051, 8-7060(a), 8-7060, 8-7075(c), 8-7075, 8-7112, 8-13103(e)(4), 8-13103, 8-13103(e), 8-14405, 8-30501(a), 8-30501, 8-31103(e)(3), 8-31103, 8-31103(e), 8-31309, 9-280, 9-2156, 9-2157, 9-2435(b), 9-2435, 9-2460(a), 9-2460, 9-2518(d)(1), 9-2518, 9-2518(d), 9-2522, 9-2575, 9-3044, 9-3045(b), 9-3045, 9-3346, 9A-3505(b), 9A-3505, 9A-9607(b), 9A-9607, 10-611(h), 10-611, 10-2625(f), 10-2625, 10-4191, 10-4270, 10-4454(d), 10-4454, 10-4508, 10-6027
As Passed By the House -- Official: 1-127, 1-137, 2-70(b), 2-70, 2-267a, 3-123(h), 3-123, 3-129, 3-151, 3-153(b), 3-153, 3-156, 3-258, 3-317, 3-925(d), 3-925, 3-965(c), 3-965, 3-1018(d), 3-1018, 3-1030(c), 3-1030, 3-1230(d), 3-1230, 3-2103, 3-3091(b), 3-3091, 4-27b, 4-71, 4-362, 4-461, 4-466(d), 4-466, 4-491, 4-608(f), 4-608, 4-794, 4-803, 4-851, 4-852, 4-1106(b), 4-1106, 5-32, 5-34, 5-1016(d), 5-1016, 5-1017(c), 5-1017, 5-3756, 6-1(a), 6-1, 6-11, 6-2674(a), 6-2674, 6-2722, 6-2762, 6-2929, 6-2972(b), 6-2972, 6-3318, 7-211(b), 7-211, 7-588, 8-13(a), 8-13, 8-2102(a), 8-2102, 8-2117(b), 8-2117, 8-2120(a), 8-2120, 8-2202a(a), 8-2202a, 8-2236a, 8-2260(a), 8-2260, 8-3361(a), 8-3361, 8-3371(e), 8-3371, 8-3561(a), 8-3561, 8-3565(a), 8-3565, 8-3574(b), 8-3574, 8-3686(f), 8-3686, 8-3865, 8-3914, 8-4464(4), 8-4464, 8-4468, 8-4485(a), 8-4485, 8-4495, 8-4503(b), 8-4503, 8-4516, 8-4588, 8-5105(b), 8-5105, 8-6004(d), 8-6004, 8-6007(b), 8-6007, 8-6024(c), 8-6024, 8-6045, 8-7051, 8-7060(a), 8-7060, 8-7075(c), 8-7075, 8-7112, 8-13103(e)(4), 8-13103, 8-13103(e), 8-14405, 8-30501(a), 8-30501, 8-31103(e)(3), 8-31103, 8-31103(e), 8-31309, 9-280, 9-2156, 9-2157, 9-2435(b), 9-2435, 9-2460(a), 9-2460, 9-2518(d)(1), 9-2518, 9-2518(d), 9-2522, 9-2575, 9-3044, 9-3045(b), 9-3045, 9-3346, 9A-3505(b), 9A-3505, 9A-9607(b), 9A-9607, 10-611(h), 10-611, 10-2625(f), 10-2625, 10-4191, 10-4270, 10-4454(d), 10-4454, 10-4508, 10-6027
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 1-127, 1-137, 2-70(b), 2-70, 2-267a, 3-123(h), 3-123, 3-129, 3-151, 3-153(b), 3-153, 3-156, 3-258, 3-317, 3-925(d), 3-925, 3-965(c), 3-965, 3-1018(d), 3-1018, 3-1030(c), 3-1030, 3-1230(d), 3-1230, 3-2103, 3-3091(b), 3-3091, 4-27b, 4-71, 4-362, 4-461, 4-466(d), 4-466, 4-491, 4-608(f), 4-608, 4-794, 4-803, 4-851, 4-852, 4-1106(b), 4-1106, 5-32, 5-34, 5-1016(d), 5-1016, 5-1017(c), 5-1017, 5-3756, 6-1(a), 6-1, 6-11, 6-2674(a), 6-2674, 6-2722, 6-2762, 6-2929, 6-2972(b), 6-2972, 6-3318, 7-211(b), 7-211, 7-588, 8-13(a), 8-13, 8-2102(a), 8-2102, 8-2117(b), 8-2117, 8-2120(a), 8-2120, 8-2202a(a), 8-2202a, 8-2236a, 8-2260(a), 8-2260, 8-3361(a), 8-3361, 8-3371(e), 8-3371, 8-3561(a), 8-3561, 8-3565(a), 8-3565, 8-3574(b), 8-3574, 8-3686(f), 8-3686, 8-3865, 8-3914, 8-4464(4), 8-4464, 8-4468, 8-4485(a), 8-4485, 8-4495, 8-4503(b), 8-4503, 8-4516, 8-4588, 8-5105(b), 8-5105, 8-6004(d), 8-6004, 8-6007(b), 8-6007, 8-6024(c), 8-6024, 8-6045, 8-7051, 8-7060(a), 8-7060, 8-7075(c), 8-7075, 8-7112, 8-13103(e)(4), 8-13103, 8-13103(e), 8-14405, 8-30501(a), 8-30501, 8-31103(e)(3), 8-31103, 8-31103(e), 8-31309, 9-280, 9-2156, 9-2157, 9-2435(b), 9-2435, 9-2460(a), 9-2460, 9-2518(d)(1), 9-2518, 9-2518(d), 9-2522, 9-2575, 9-3044, 9-3045(b), 9-3045, 9-3346, 9A-3505(b), 9A-3505, 9A-9607(b), 9A-9607, 10-611(h), 10-611, 10-2625(f), 10-2625, 10-4191, 10-4270, 10-4454(d), 10-4454, 10-4508, 10-6027