Bill H.937 introduces significant amendments to Vermont's civil and criminal procedure statutes, particularly focusing on the definition and recovery of profits from crime, as well as penalties for underage possession of alcohol and tobacco. A new subchapter titled "Profits from Crime" is established, which defines profits from crimes and mandates notification for entities involved in such profits. The bill empowers crime victims to pursue civil actions for damages against convicted individuals and outlines the Attorney General's responsibilities in notifying victims and seeking recovery of incarceration costs. Additionally, it modifies existing laws regarding underage alcohol and tobacco possession, specifying penalties and procedures for individuals aged 12 to under 21, and includes provisions for automatic reinstatement of driving privileges after a specified period for first and subsequent offenses.

The bill also makes several amendments to enhance victims' rights and streamline legal processes. It expands the information available to victims, including details about the defendant's incarceration status and access to the Vermont Offender Locator website. Notably, it repeals the previous definition of "profits from crimes" and related provisions, modifies the Victims Compensation Board's membership requirements, and lowers the cap on excess collections from offenders from $10,000 to $5,000. Furthermore, it clarifies the handling of pretrial risk assessments and extends the timeline for defendants to contest temporary court orders from 10 days to 14 days. The act is set to take effect upon passage, with specific provisions scheduled for implementation on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 7-656, 7-1005, 12-506, 12-2683, 12-4601, 12-5131, 13-1061, 13-2631, 13-5314, 13-5351, 13-5352, 13-5358a(d), 13-5358a, 13-5363, 13-5421, 13-5422, 13-7043, 13-7554c, 14A-505, 15-603(h), 15-603, 15-1085, 18-4230f, 18-4234, 28-304, 27-1101, 33-6936(c), 33-6936