Vermont H 578: An act relating to requirements for older drivers to renew operator’s licenses

Bill Text

No. 118 Page 1 of 27
2026

VT LEG #390162 v.1
No. 118. An act relating to penalties and procedures for animal cruelty
offenses.
(H.578)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 351 is amended to read:
§ 351. DEFINITIONS
As used in this chapter:
* * *
(21) “Sexual conduct” means:
(A) any act between a person and animal that involves contact
between the mouth, sex organ, or anus of a person and the mouth, sex organ, or
anus of an animal; or
(B) without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose, the
insertion, however slight, of any part of a person’s body or of any instrument,
apparatus, or other object into the vaginal or anal opening of an animal;
(C) without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose, a
person touching or fondling a sex organ or anus of an animal, either directly or
through clothing; or
(D) without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose, any
intentional transfer or transmission of semen by a person upon any part of an
animal.
* * *

No. 118 Page 2 of 27
2026

VT LEG #390162 v.1
(25) “Working with” means working or volunteering in any capacity,
including as an independent contractor, that requires the person to be in contact
with an animal, including at a commercial boarding or training establishment,
shelter, animal control facility, pet shop, grooming facility, commercial
breeding service, veterinary hospital or clinic, animal welfare society, or any
nonprofit organization incorporated for the purpose of providing for or
promoting the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals.
Sec. 2. 13 V.S.A. § 352 is amended to read:
§ 352. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
(1) Intentionally kills or attempts to kill any animal belonging to another
person without first obtaining legal authority or consent of the owner.
(2) Overworks, overloads, tortures, torments, abandons, administers
poison to, cruelly harms or mutilates an animal, or exposes a poison with intent
that it be taken by an animal.
(3) Ties, tethers, or restrains an animal, either a pet or livestock, in a
manner that is inhumane or is detrimental to its welfare. Livestock and poultry
husbandry practices are exempted.
(4) Deprives an animal that a person owns, possesses, or acts as an agent
for of adequate food, water, shelter, rest, sanitation, or necessary medical
attention or transports an animal in overcrowded vehicles.

No. 118 Page 3 of 27
2026

VT LEG #390162 v.1
(5)(A) Owns, possesses, keeps, or trains an animal engaged in an
exhibition of fighting; possesses, keeps, or trains any animal with intent that it
be engaged in an exhibition of fighting; or permits any such act to be done on
premises under his or her the person’s charge or control.
(B) Owns, possesses, ships, transports, delivers, or keeps a device,
equipment, or implement for the purpose of training or conditioning an animal
for participation in animal fighting or enhancing an animal’s fighting
capability.
(6) Acts as judge or spectator at events of animal fighting or bets or
wagers on the outcome of such fight.
(7) As poundkeeper, officer, or agent of a humane society or as an
owner or employee of an establishment for treatment, board, or care of an
animal, knowingly receives, sells, transfers, or otherwise conveys an animal in
his or her the person’s care for the purpose of research or vivisection.
(8) Intentionally torments or harasses an animal owned or engaged by a
police department or public agency of the State or its political subdivisions or
interferes with the lawful performance of a police animal.
(9) Knowingly sells, offers for sale, barters, or displays living baby
chicks, ducklings, or other fowl that have been dyed, colored, or otherwise
treated so as to impart to them an artificial color or fails to provide poultry with
proper brooder facilities.

No. 118 Page 4 of 27
2026

VT LEG #390162 v.1
(10) Uses a live animal as bait or lure in a race, game, or contest or in
training animals in a manner inconsistent with 10 V.S.A. Part 4 or the rules
adopted thereunder.
(11)(A) Engages in sexual conduct with an animal.
(B) Possesses, sells, transfers, purchases, or otherwise obtains an
animal with the intent that it be used for sexual conduct.
(C) Organizes, promotes, conducts, aids, abets, or participates in as
an observer an act involving any sexual conduct with an animal.
(D) Causes, aids, or abets another person to engage in sexual conduct
with an animal.
(E) Permits sexual conduct with an animal to be conducted on
premises under his or her the person’s charge or control.
(F) Advertises, offers, or accepts the offer of an animal with the
intent that it be subject to sexual conduct in this State.
(G) Knowingly possesses, films, or distributes obscene visual images
of sexual conduct with an animal.
(12) Possesses, owns, cares for, resides with, has custody of, or works
with an animal while the person is prohibited from possessin