Bill > H0589

This bill establishes a six-year "statute of repose" for lawsuits related to problems with improvements made to real property, such as buildings or infrastructure. This means that legal actions for personal injury or property damage stemming from issues in the design, planning, supervision, or construction of these improvements must be filed within six years after the improvement is "substantially completed," which is defined as the point when the improvement can be used for its intended purpose. However, this six-year limit does not apply to cases involving fraud, such as intentionally misleading statements or hiding important facts, which will be handled under a different legal provision. For phased construction projects, the six-year clock for systems serving the entire project will start ticking from the substantial completion of each individual phase. This new law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.589