The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont restricts public agencies from entering federal immigration enforcement agreements without gubernatorial approval
Last action · February 3, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and InstitutionsSponsor: William Greer
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What This Bill Would Do
Vermont public agencies are prohibited from entering into federal immigration enforcement agreements or housing individuals for civil immigration violations unless authorized by the Governor in consultation with the Attorney General. The measure also restricts public agencies from collecting or disclosing for religious or immigration registries and bans the Department of Corrections from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
Changes the legal authority for local and state agencies to partner with federal immigration programs, requiring that any 287(g) or similar agreements receive direct approval from the Governor and Attorney General while terminating existing conflicting agreements within 30 days.
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.
Public agencies
Public agencies are prohibited from entering into specific federal immigration agreements without gubernatorial approval, cannot house individuals for civil immigration violations, and must terminate conflicting agreements within 30 days.
Department of Corrections
The Department is barred from assisting federal immigration authorities, entering into cooperative arrangements with them, or accepting funds from any federal immigration authority.
Individuals facing civil violations of federal immigration law
State and local public agencies are prohibited from entering into agreements to house individuals for alleged civil violations of federal immigration law.
Key Facts
- Only the Governor, in consultation with the Vermont Attorney General, is authorized to enter into, modify, or extend agreements pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) or 19 U.S.C. § 1401(i).
- Public agencies and their officers, employees, agents, and independent contractors are prohibited from entering into immigration agreements without gubernatorial authorization.
- Public agencies are barred from entering into agreements to house individuals for alleged civil violations of federal immigration law.
- Public agencies engaged in an agreement in violation of this act must terminate the agreement not later than 30 days after the effective date of the act.
Show all 7 facts
- Public agencies are prohibited from collecting information on religious beliefs for registration purposes or knowingly disclosing personally identifying information to federal agencies for registry programs.
- The Department of Corrections is prohibited from assisting federal immigration authorities, cooperating with them, or accepting funds from them.
- The act takes effect upon passage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the authority to approve federal immigration agreements under this bill?
Can local public agencies house individuals for civil immigration violations?
How much time do agencies have to terminate conflicting agreements?
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 3, 2026HouseIntroducedRead first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions
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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Centralization of Immigration Agreement Authority
The legislation shifts authority away from individual local public agencies and consolidates the power to enter federal immigration agreements strictly with the Governor and Attorney General.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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