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H.578

An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Rep. Emilie Krasnow , Rep. Ian Goodnow , Rep. Kenneth Goslant , Rep. Barbara Rachelson
3/12/2026 - Read third time and passed
Sponsor(s)
Last Recorded Action
House 3/12/2026 - Read third time and passed
Bill/Resolution Text

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An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Detailed Status

Regular Session 2025-2026
Body Date Journal Calendar Location Full Status
An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Roll Call History

Regular Session 2025-2026
Body Date Journal Location Full Status

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Although procedurally bills and resolutions are assigned to only one committee at a time, other committees may review the bill or resolution. This page contains results from both the assigned committee as well as other committees.

An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Committee Meetings

Regular Session 2025-2026
Meeting Date Committee
An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

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


An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Witnesses Who Testified

Regular Session 2025-2026
House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
  • Steve Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  • Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Kaitlynn Levine, State Veterinarian, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
House Committee on Appropriations
  • Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Sponsor
  • Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
  • Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Lead Sponsor
House Committee on Judiciary
  • Heather Bent, Vermonters Against Cruelty and Abandonment
  • Joanne bourbeau, Northeastern Regional Director, Humane World for Animals
  • Steven Brown, State's Attorney, Windham County
  • Ann Chynoweth, Humane World for Animals
  • Renee Falconer, Vermonters Against Cruelty and Abandonment
  • Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Aliena Gerhard, State's Attorney, Lamoille County State's Attorney's Office
  • Erika Holm, Chair, Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board
  • Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Lead Sponsor, House Committee on General and Housing
  • Era MacDonald, Founder and Executive Director, Merrymac Farm Sanctuary
  • Kim McManus, Legislative Attorney, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  • Lisa Milot, Director of Animal Welfare, Department of Public Safety
  • Jen Straub, Dorset Equine Rescue
  • Trevor Whipple, Former Police Chief, Barre and South Burlington
  • Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
House Committee on Ways and Means
  • Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office

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Fiscal notes and materials available on this web page are provided for informational purposes only, and may not comprise all materials received by the Vermont Legislature or the final fiscal information related to a specific bill.  The Legislature is not responsible for the accuracy of any information in these materials, and their posting does not constitute approval or endorsement by the Legislature.

No fiscal documents found for H.578 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.
No committee of conference members found for H.578 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.
An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Committee of Conference Meetings

Regular Session 2025-2026
Meeting Date Committee
An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty offenses

Committee of Conference Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026
No committee of conference meeting history found for H.578 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.
No committee of conference report found for H.578 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.

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Act

No act information found for H.578 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.

Staff & Other Information

Staff
Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel

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