The bill H.28 proposes amendments to the Vermont Statutes Annotated to allow individuals the option to use affirmations in place of oaths in various legal contexts. This change aims to modernize legal procedures and enhance inclusivity by explicitly including the term "affirmation" alongside "oath" in multiple sections, such as 1 V.S.A. 127, 137, and 2 V.S.A. 3. The bill also seeks to replace outdated language, such as "where by law an affirmation may be substituted," and gender-specific pronouns with neutral terms, thereby promoting clarity and equality in legal documentation.

In addition to these changes, the bill outlines the responsibilities of various officials, including probate judges and the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, to administer oaths and affirmations. It mandates that reports and applications submitted to the Commissioner must be under oath or affirmation, reinforcing the seriousness of the information provided. The bill also clarifies procedures for subpoenas and witness examinations, aiming to streamline administrative processes and enhance regulatory oversight across different sectors in Vermont. The effective date for these amendments is set for July 1, 2025.

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