The Vermont Civil Rights Sovereignty and Equal Protection Act of 2026 seeks to enhance civil rights protections within the state by establishing the Civil Rights Coordinating Council and the Civil Rights and Equal Protection Special Fund. This initiative aims to ensure independent enforcement of civil rights laws, free from federal influence, and to promote the equal enjoyment of liberty and dignity for all individuals. The bill introduces new protected characteristics in the definitions of harassment and discrimination, including source of income, housing status, and crime victim status, while removing the term "creed." It also mandates that state agencies and recipients of state housing-related funds actively combat discrimination and requires municipal employers to undergo training on civil rights provisions.

The Civil Rights and Equal Protection Special Fund will be managed by the Attorney General and will support various civil rights initiatives, including staffing for the Attorney General's Civil Rights Unit and the Vermont Human Rights Commission. The fund will be financed through state revenues, such as cannabis excise tax and sports wagering revenue, and will not accept federal funds. The bill appropriates $15 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027, with an intention for $12 million to be allocated annually thereafter, adjusted for inflation. Additionally, the Attorney General is granted rulemaking authority, and a report on special motions to strike is required by November 1, 2026. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 9-4500, 9-4501, 9-4502, 9-4503, 13-1455