The bill S.54, introduced by Senators Vyhovsky, Gulick, Harrison, Hart, and White, aims to reform Vermont's prostitution laws by repealing existing prohibitions against consensual sex work and indiscriminate sexual intercourse among adults. The legislation recognizes that current laws, which have remained largely unchanged for over a century, do not reflect modern values of personal autonomy and have been shown to increase risks for sex workers, including violence and health issues. The bill emphasizes the need for reform based on extensive research indicating that criminalization of voluntary sex work leads to significant harms.

While the bill seeks to decriminalize consensual sex work, it maintains strict prohibitions and penalties for human trafficking, particularly for individuals coerced into sex work through force, fraud, or coercion. Specifically, it repeals 13 V.S.A. chapter 59, subchapter 2, which pertains to prostitution, while retaining severe penalties for trafficking offenses, ranging from five years to life imprisonment depending on the severity of the crime. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 13-59