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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont General Assembly Proposes Stand Your Ground Law for Homes and Vehicles
Last action · March 11, 2025: Read first time and referred to the Committee on JudiciarySponsor: Deborah Dolgin
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What This Bill Would Do
Vermont H.457 removes any legal before using deadly force in self-defense or defense of others while inside a home or vehicle. The measure applies when a person reasonably believes they face imminent peril of murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, burglary, or larceny.
Modifies criminal liability standards for residents involved in violent encounters within residential or vehicular settings by eliminating the traditional requirement to attempt retreat.
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.
Vermont residents
Individuals inside a home or vehicle gain the legal right to use deadly force without first attempting to retreat when facing specific violent crimes.
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
Does this bill eliminate the duty to retreat everywhere?
What crimes must someone be attempting for deadly force to be used under this bill?
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- Mar 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Introduction of Stand Your Ground Standard
The bill marks a proposed legislative shift in Vermont toward eliminating the duty to retreat in residential and vehicular settings.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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