Bill > H0041

This bill creates a new criminal offense in Vermont that explicitly prohibits several egregious acts involving dead bodies, establishing clear legal consequences for such actions. The bill defines specific prohibited behaviors, including knowingly burning, mutilating, disfiguring, dismembering, or destroying a dead body without legal authorization, as well as engaging in sexual conduct with a dead body. The legislation differentiates between types of violations, with penalties ranging from imprisonment up to 5 years and fines up to $5,000 for basic body abuse, and more severe penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment and fines up to $10,000 for violations aimed at concealing a crime or involving sexual conduct. The bill provides a detailed definition of "sexual conduct" that includes specific physical acts and intentions, and explicitly excludes cremated remains from the definition of a "dead body." Additionally, the bill modifies an existing statute related to unauthorized burial or removal of a body, changing the potential penalty from criminal imprisonment to a civil penalty of up to $1,000. The new law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and appears designed to create more comprehensive legal protections and clearer penalties for inappropriate treatment of human remains.

Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.41