The bill H.28, introduced by Representatives Chapin and LaLonde, seeks to amend the Vermont Statutes Annotated by explicitly allowing individuals to choose affirmations in addition to oaths in various legal contexts throughout Titles 110. Key amendments include the definition of "oath" to encompass "affirmation," thereby broadening the scope of acceptable affirmations for public officers, including Capitol Police officers and legal assistants. The bill also updates language to replace gender-specific pronouns with neutral terms, promoting inclusivity in legal language.

Additionally, the bill modifies procedures for administering oaths and affirmations by various officials, such as probate judges and magistrates, ensuring that they can perform their duties with either option. It emphasizes the importance of affirmations in maintaining the integrity of legal documents and testimonies, while also streamlining administrative processes within regulatory bodies, including the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, allowing time for necessary adjustments to implement these changes.

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