Vermont H. 589: An act relating to the reasonable and prudent parent standard

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.589
2026 Page 1 of 2

VT LEG #385570 v.1
H.589 1
Introduced by Representative Holcombe of Norwich 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Court procedure; limitations on actions; statute of repose; actions 5
arising out of improvements to real property 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish a 7
six-year statute of repose for an action arising out of improvements to real 8
property. 9
An act relating to a six-year statute of repose for actions arising out of 10
improvements to real property 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
Sec. 1. 12 V.S.A. § 526 is added to read: 13
§ 526. ACTION ARISING OUT OF IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL 14
PROPERTY; STATUTE OF REPOSE 15
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a civil action for personal 16
injury or property damages arising out of a deficiency in the creation of an 17
improvement to real property, including the design, planning, contract 18
administration, supervision, or construction of the improvement, shall be 19
brought within six years after substantial completion of the improvement. 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.589
2026 Page 2 of 2

VT LEG #385570 v.1
(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to actions involving 1
fraudulent misrepresentations or to actions involving the fraudulent 2
concealment of material facts upon which a claim might be based, which are 3
governed by section 555 of this title. 4
(c) As used in this section, “substantial completion” means that 5
construction is sufficiently complete so that an improvement may be utilized 6
by its owner or lawful possessor for the purposes intended. In the case of a 7
phased project with more than one substantial completion date, the six-year 8
period of limitations for actions involving systems designed to serve the entire 9
project shall begin at the substantial completion of each phase. 10
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 11
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 12