S.45 (Act 61)

An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Sponsors: Sen. Samuel Douglass, , Sen. Scott Beck, Sen. Patrick Brennan, Sen. Randolph Brock, Sen. Thomas Chittenden, Sen. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Brian Collamore, Sen. Ann Cummings, Sen. Martine Gulick, Sen. Wendy Harrison, Sen. Larry Hart, Sen. Steven Heffernan, Sen. Virginia Lyons, Sen. Joseph Major, Sen. Christopher Mattos, Sen. Robert Norris, Sen. Andrew Perchlik, Sen. Anne Watson, Sen. David Weeks, Sen. Richard Westman, Sen. Rebecca White, Sen. Terry Williams,

Location: House Committee on Judiciary

Last Recorded Action: 6/13/2025 - Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 12, 2025

Committee Activity - Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary,

10:30 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Introduction, testimony

Samuel Douglass, Senator, Orleans District
Adam Necrason, Vermont Association for Justice, Necrason Group

10:45 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Walk-through

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary,

9:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Testimony

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Bradley St. Pierre, Pleasant Valley Farm, Richford
Josh Poulin, Poulin Grain
Leon Corse, Partner, Corse Farm Dairy LLC
Oliver Manning, Manning Dairy LLC

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary,

9:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Testimony

Scott Sanderson, Manager of Farm and Food, Conservation Law Foundation
Jon Groveman, Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
Merrill Bent, Attorney, Green Mountain Law
Claudine Safar, Lawyer, Monaghan Safar PLLC
Gerard Vorsteveld, Owner, Vorsteveld Farm

10:35 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Testimony

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary,

10:30 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee discussion, mark-up

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary,

9:40 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee discussion

11:25 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Vote

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary,

2:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Walk-through and witness testimony

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Oliver Manning, Manning Dairy LLC
Claudine Safar, Lawyer, Monaghan Safar PLLC
Gerard Vorsteveld, Owner, Vorsteveld Farm
Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary,

10:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Witness testimony

Merrill Bent, Attorney, Green Mountain Law
John Echeverria, Professor, Vermont Law and Graduate School
Scott Sanderson, Manager of Farm and Food, Conservation Law Foundation

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary,

1:30 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Witness testimony

Jon Groveman, Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Harold Howrigan, Howrigan Farm
Justin Rich, Burnt Rock Farm
Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

3:30 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee discussion

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary,

10:30 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Witness-testimony

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Scott Sanderson, Manager of Farm and Food, Conservation Law Foundation
Jon Groveman, Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary,

1:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Walk-through

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary,

10:30 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee discussion

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Friday, April 18, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

1:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

1:40 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

1:55 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Scott Sanderson, Director of Farm and Food, Conservation Law Foundation

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

11:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Graham Unangst-Rufenacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont
Frank Kampf, Farmer, Cabot

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

9:05 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Paul Doton, Dairy Farmer and Board Chair, Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance
Jon Groveman, Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council

2:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

John Echeverria, Professor, Vermont Law and Graduate School

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

9:05 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Becky Castle, Owner, Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream
Alex Thibault, Farmer

Friday, May 2, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

1:30 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Heather Darby, Associate Professor, UVM Extension, Founding Member Northern Grain Growers Association
Josh Faulkner, Director, UVM Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab, University of Vermont Extension

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

10:45 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Laura Klaiber, Research Scientist, Miner Institute
Maddie Kempner, Policy Director, NOFA-VT
Erica Langston, Co-owner, Merryweather Meadows

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

9:30 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Justin Rich, Farmer, Burnt Rock Farm
Ellen Howrigan, Farmer, HJ & A Howrigan & Sons, Inc.

Friday, May 9, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

11:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee discussion

1:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

1:30 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee discussion

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

9:40 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Straw Poll

11:50 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee Discussion

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Judiciary,

11:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Walk-through and witness testimony

Rep. David Durfee, Sponsor, House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Emma Shouldice, Lobbyist, Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance

Friday, May 23, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

following Floor adjournment

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry,

1:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Possible vote

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary,

2:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Judiciary,

9:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Friday, May 30, 2025

Committee(s):

Committee of Conference,

5:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee of Conference

5:45 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee of Conference

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

7:00 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee of Conference

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

7:30 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee of Conference

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

7:55 PM

S.45 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Committee of Conference

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel