Bill > S0302

This bill amends existing Vermont law to restrict public agencies from collecting certain personally identifying information, which is defined as details about a person's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, immigration status, age, or disability. Specifically, public agencies are now prohibited from collecting an individual's immigration status unless it's for a specific purpose mandated by state or federal law, and they are also barred from collecting religious beliefs for registration purposes. Furthermore, public agencies are forbidden from knowingly sharing this personally identifying information with federal agencies for the purpose of registering or tracking individuals, or from using public resources to aid in federal programs that register individuals based on such information. The bill also requires any public agency that continues to collect immigration status information after the bill's effective date to submit a written explanation to the Attorney General by December 15, 2026, detailing the legal basis for this continued collection, and the Attorney General will then report to the legislature by March 15, 2027, summarizing these explanations and opining on their compliance with the new law.

Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.302