Vermont S 183: An act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense

Bill Text

BILLAS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.183
2026 Page 1 of 8
S.183
Introduced by Senator Norris
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Date: January 6, 2026
Subject: Crimes; home improvement and land improvement fraud
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require that a
person knowingly intends to defraud a client with whom the person has
entered into a contract or agreement for home or land improvement.
An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 2029 is amended to read:
§ 2029. HOME IMPROVEMENT AND LAND IMPROVEMENT FRAUD
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Home improvement” means the fixing, replacing, remodeling,
removing, renovation, alteration, conversion, improvement, demolition, or
rehabilitation of or addition to any building, or any portion thereof, including
roofs, that is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling unit.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

BILLAS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.183
2026 Page 2 of 8
(2)(A) “Land improvement” means:
(i) the construction, replacement, installation, paving, or
improvement of driveways, sidewalks, trails, roads, or other landscape
features;
(ii) site work, including grading, excavation, landscape irrigation,
site utility installation, site preparation, and other construction work that is not
part of a building on a parcel;
(iii) the limbing, pruning, cutting, or removal of trees or
shrubbery; and
(iv) forestry operations, as that term is defined in 10 V.S.A.
§ 2602, including the construction of trails, roads, and structures associated
with forestry operations and the transportation off-site of trees, shrubs, or
timber.
(B) “Land improvement” includes activities made in connection with
a residence or dwelling or those activities not made in connection with a
residence or dwelling.
(b) A person commits the offense of home improvement or land
improvement fraud when the person knowingly enters into a contract or
agreement, written or oral, for $1,000.00 or more, with an owner for home
improvement or land improvement, or into several contracts or agreements for
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

BILLAS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.183
2026 Page 3 of 8
$2,500.00 or more in the aggregate, with more than one owner for home
improvement or land improvement, and the person knowingly:
(1)(A) fails to perform the contract or agreement, in whole or in part;
and
(B) when the owner requests performance, payment, or a refund of
payment made, the person fails to either:
(i) refund the payment;
(ii) make and comply with a definite plan for completion of the
work that is agreed to by the owner; or
(iii) make the payment promises performance that the person does
not intend to perform or knows will not be performed, in whole or in part;
(2) misrepresents a material fact relating to the terms of the contract or
agreement or to the condition of any portion of the property involved;
(3) uses or employs any unfair or deceptive act or practice in order to
induce, encourage, or solicit such person to enter into any contract or
agreement or to modify the terms of the original contract or agreement; or
(4) when there is a declared state of emergency, charges for goods or
services related to the emergency a price that exceeds two times the average
price for the goods or services and the increase is not attributable to the
additional costs incurred in connection with providing those goods or services.
(b) A person commits the offense of home improvement or land
improvement fraud when the person knowingly enters into a contract, or
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

BILLAS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE S.183
2026 Page 4 of 8
agreement, or change order, written or oral, for $1,000.00 or more, with an
owner for home improvement or land improvement, or into several contracts,
or agreements, or change orders for $2,500.00 or more in the aggregate, with
more than one owner for home improvement or land improvement, and the
person knowingly:
(1)(A) fails to perform the contract or agreement, in whole or in part;
and
(B) when the owner requests performance, payment, or a refund of
payment made, the person fails to either:
(i) refund the payment;
(ii) make and comply with a definite plan for completion of the
work that is agreed to by the owner; or
(iii) make the payment promises performance that the person does
not intend to perform or knows will not be performed, in whole or in part;
(2) misrepresents a material fact relating to the terms of the contract, or
agreement, or change order or to the condition of any portion of the property
involved;
(3) uses or employs any unfair or deceptive act or practice in order to
induce, encourage, or solicit such person to enter into any contract, or
agreement, or change order or to modify the terms of the original contract,