H.578

An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Sponsors: Rep. Emilie Krasnow , Rep. Ian Goodnow, Rep. Kenneth Goslant, Rep. Barbara Rachelson

Location: Senate Committee on Judiciary

Last Recorded Action: 3/17/2026 - Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary

Committee Activity - Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

1:00 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Walk-Through and Witness Testimony

Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Lead Sponsor, House Committee on General and Housing
Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Heather Bent, Vermonters Against Cruelty and Abandonment
Renee Falconer, Vermonters Against Cruelty and Abandonment
Trevor Whipple, Former Police Chief, Barre and South Burlington
Joanne Bourbeau, Northeastern Regional Director, Humane World for Animals
Ann Chynoweth, Humane World for Animals
Jen Straub, Dorset Equine Rescue

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

9:00 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
Lisa Milot, Director of Animal Welfare, Department of Public Safety
Era MacDonald, Founder and Executive Director, Merrymac Farm Sanctuary

3:45 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Aliena Gerhard, State's Attorney, Lamoille County State's Attorney's Office

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

9:00 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Steven Brown, State's Attorney, Windham County

1:00 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Lisa Milot, Director of Animal Welfare, Department of Public Safety

Friday, January 30, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

11:00 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

9:00 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Lisa Milot, Director of Animal Welfare, Department of Public Safety

10:30 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
Erika Holm, Chair, Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board
Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs

Friday, February 6, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

1:15 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Review of Draft 2.1 and straw poll

Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Lead Sponsor
Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

3:00 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Bill Review

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

2:45 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
Lisa Milot, Director of Animal Welfare, Department of Public Safety

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

2:10 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Kaitlynn Levine, State Veterinarian, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Friday, February 13, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary

11:00 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Discussion and Vote

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Ways and Means

4:40 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

vote

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Appropriations

1:40 PM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Walk through

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Sponsor
Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office

Friday, February 27, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Appropriations

9:05 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Vote

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary

9:00 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Walk-through and Witness Testimony

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Kim McManus, Legislative, Policy and Records Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs

Friday, April 10, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary

10:00 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Lisa Milot, Director of Animal Welfare, Department of Public Safety

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary

9:10 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witness Testimony

Erika Holm, Co-Executive Director, Programs and Operations, Central Vermont Humane Society

9:45 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Mark-up and Committee Discussion

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary

10:30 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Mark-up

Hillary Chutter-Ames, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary

10:30 AM

H.578 - An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Mark-up

Hillary Chutter-Ames, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel