Bill H.28 seeks to amend the Vermont Statutes Annotated to explicitly allow individuals the option to use affirmations in place of oaths in various legal contexts throughout Titles 110. The bill introduces the phrase "or affirmation" in multiple sections, ensuring that the terms "oath" and "sworn" encompass both oaths and affirmations. This change applies to a range of legal proceedings, including those involving public officers, the Attorney General, and various boards and commissions. Additionally, the bill updates definitions in 1 V.S.A. § 127 and § 137, and mandates that officials, including the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, take an oath or affirmation upon assuming office.

Moreover, the bill promotes inclusivity by replacing gender-specific pronouns with neutral terms, such as changing "he or she" to "the magistrate" or "the officer." It emphasizes the importance of sworn or affirmed statements in legal proceedings, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the legal process. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes minor technical amendments to enhance readability and consistency without overriding substantive changes made by other bills in the current biennium. Overall, H.28 aims to modernize Vermont's legal framework by providing flexibility and accessibility in affirming commitments and responsibilities under the law.

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