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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont Bill S.97 Establishes Municipal and Regional Civilian Police Oversight Boards with Subpoena Power
Last action · February 28, 2025: Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government OperationsSponsor: Tanya Vyhovsky
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill authorizes municipalities and regions in Vermont to create community police oversight boards to receive, investigate, and address complaints against law enforcement agencies and officers starting July 1, 2025. The legislation empowers these boards to issue subpoenas, inspect internal records, publish public investigative reports, and participate in collective bargaining. Additionally, the bill appropriates $500,000 to the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to administer a grant program supporting board implementation.
Local residents gain an independent investigative body with subpoena authority to review police conduct, recommend disciplinary sanctions, and influence police training standards and union contract negotiations.
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.
Law enforcement officers
Law enforcement officers are subject to complaint investigations, subpoena requests, record inspections, and disciplinary recommendations conducted by the new civilian oversight boards.
Law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement agencies must report all public complaints to the local oversight board within seven business days, cooperate with board investigations, and provide requested records.
Municipal and regional legislative bodies
Legislative bodies are authorized to create community police oversight boards, appoint their members, and participate in collective bargaining processes involving law enforcement representation.
Vermont Criminal Justice Council
The Council must administer the new grant program, give deference to board recommendations in unprofessional conduct adjudications, and coordinate training oversight.
Key Facts
- Municipalities and regions are authorized to establish community police oversight boards consisting of an odd number of at least seven members appointed for three-year terms.
- Boards have the power to receive, investigate, and address public grievances, complaints of unprofessional conduct, and incidents involving officer-caused death or serious bodily injury.
- Boards are authorized to administer oaths, issue subpoenas, and inspect all relevant law enforcement records, including personnel files and body camera footage.
- Each board must include individuals with lived experience with the criminal justice system, a civil rights representative, a mental health or civil liberties expert, and a licensed attorney.
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- Boards must participate in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements involving their municipal or regional law enforcement officers.
- Law enforcement agencies must report all complaints to the oversight board having jurisdiction within seven business days of receipt.
- The Vermont Criminal Justice Council is appropriated $500,000 from the General Fund to administer a grant program assisting municipalities and regions in implementing their boards.
- The act takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can serve on a community police oversight board?
Can oversight boards issue subpoenas?
How are these oversight boards funded?
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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 28, 2025SenateIntroducedRead 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations
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.
Shift Toward Local Civilian Police Oversight
The bill marks a significant structural change by institutionalizing independent municipal and regional oversight boards with statutory subpoena power and a formal role in collective bargaining.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz65Current news / social attention level
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