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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont bill extends $80,000 survivor benefits to families of deceased law enforcement officers
Last action · February 27, 2025: Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)Sponsors: Mark Higley and 28 others
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill expands the existing state survivor benefit program to include families of law enforcement officers who die in the or from an occupation-related illness, making them eligible for an $80,000 payment starting July 1, 2025.
Families of certified law enforcement officers become eligible for the same state financial compensation currently reserved for firefighters and emergency medical personnel upon a line-of-duty death.
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
Certified law enforcement officers gain state-backed survivor benefit eligibility for their families in the event of a line-of-duty death or occupation-related illness.
Survivors of law enforcement officers
Spouses, children, or parents become eligible to apply for an $80,000 monetary benefit upon the line-of-duty death of a law enforcement officer.
Emergency Personnel and Law Enforcement Officers Survivors Benefit Review Board
The Board assumes the responsibility of reviewing claims and deciding whether to award monetary benefits to law enforcement officer survivors.
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
Who is eligible for the $80,000 survivor benefit under this bill?
Who decides whether a survivor benefit is awarded?
Where does the money for the benefit claims come from?
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
3 actions- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- Feb 27, 2025HouseNotice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Jan 22, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing
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
Show 24 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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