H.385

An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Sponsors: Rep. Edye Graning , Rep. Angela Arsenault, Rep. Tiffany Bluemle, Rep. David Bosch, Rep. Michael Boutin, Rep. Mollie Burke, Rep. Emily Carris Duncan, Rep. Ela Chapin, Rep. Brian Cina, Rep. Mari Cordes, Rep. Leonora Dodge, Rep. Abbey Duke, Rep. Rebecca Holcombe, Rep. Robert Hooper, Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Rep. Kate Lalley, Rep. Martin LaLonde, Rep. Kate Logan, Rep. Kate McCann, Rep. Jubilee McGill, Rep. Anthony Micklus, Rep. Brian Minier, Rep. Kate Nugent, Rep. Herb Olson, Rep. Monique Priestley, Rep. Laura Sibilia, Rep. Shawn Sweeney, Rep. Kirk White

Last Recorded Action: 5/21/2026 - House message: Governor approved bill on May 20, 2026

Committee Activity - Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

1:10 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Strike-all Amendment Walk-through and Testimony

Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation
Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Carla Sanchez-Adams, Senior Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
Christopher Curtis, Director, Consumer Assistance Program, Vermont Attorney General's Office
Laura Bierley, VRP Project Director, Vermont Legal Aid

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

2:10 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Testimony and Mark-up. Strike-all Amendment Incorporating Suspicious Transaction Holds.

Christopher Curtis, Director, Consumer Assistance Program, Vermont Attorney General's Office
Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
Colin Hilliard, Associate State Director - Advocacy and Outreach, AARP VT
Katie Mackenzie, Person with Lived Experience

Friday, February 13, 2026

Committee(s):: House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
10:30 AM: H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt
Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
1:00 PM: H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt
Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Grace Pazdan, Staff Attorney, Vermont Legal Aid
Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Colin Hilliard, Associate State Director - Advocacy and Outreach, AARP VT
Carrie Allen, President, Association of Vermont Credit Unions
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
Don Maurice, Legal Consultant, Receivables Management Association International

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

1:40 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Introduction and Witness Testimony

Rep. Edye Graning, Co-Chair, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary

Friday, February 20, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

After the Floor

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Witness Testimony

Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association

Friday, February 20, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

11:00 AM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Walk-through new draft; testimony

Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Grace Pazdan, Staff Attorney, Vermont Legal Aid
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
Carrie Allen, President, Association of Vermont Credit Unions
Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Matt Cota, Lobbyist, Vermont Automotive Distributors Association
Mitchell Jay, Owner, Central Vermont AutoMart
Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Committee(s):: House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
2:20 PM: H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt
Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Carrie Allen, President, Association of Vermont Credit Unions
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

2:00 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Witness Testimony

Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary

Friday, February 27, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

1:00 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Mark-up

Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation
Andrea Bopp Stark, Senior Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association

2:00 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Continuing Discussion and Mark-up

Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
Laura Bierley, VRP Project Director, Vermont Legal Aid
Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

2:35 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Continuing Discussion and Mark-up

Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

1:00 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Witness Testimony

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Committee(s):: House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
1:00 PM: H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt
Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rep. Ian Goodnow, Representative, House Committee on Judiciary
Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation
Aaron Ferenc, Deputy Commissioner of Banking, Department of Financial Regulation
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

9:50 AM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Mark-up and Vote

Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary

10:40 AM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Walk-through

Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Finance

2:30 PM

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. Edye Graning, Reporter, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Joe Valenti, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Committee(s):: Senate Committee on Finance
1:15 PM: H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt
Grace Pazdan, Staff Attorney, Vermont Legal Aid
1:30 PM: H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt
Charlie Gliserman, Director of Policy, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Colin Hilliard, Associate State Director - Advocacy and Outreach, AARP VT
2:00 PM: H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt
Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
Carrie Allen, President, Association of Vermont Credit Unions

Friday, May 1, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Finance

-

H.385 - An act relating to remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt

Vote