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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont bill eliminates judge discretion on two-year minimum prison sentence for drug distribution causing death
Last action · February 11, 2025: Read first time and referred to the Committee on JudiciarySponsor: Christopher Taylor
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What This Bill Would Do
Vermont House Bill 186 removes a judge's authority to sentence a defendant convicted of selling or a regulated drug resulting in death to less than the mandatory two-year minimum prison term.
Changes sentencing rules for drug distribution resulting in death by eliminating judicial discretion to depart downward from the mandatory two-year minimum prison term under the provision.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Defendants convicted of selling or dispensing a regulated drug with death resulting
Judges in Vermont courts
Judges lose their legal discretion to issue sentences shorter than the two-year minimum for this specific conviction.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does House Bill 186 change regarding sentencing?
Does the bill apply to all drug offenses?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Feb 11, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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