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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont Bill H.666 Expands Survivors Benefits to Families of Law Enforcement Officers
Last action · January 14, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and HousingSponsor: Ashley Bartley
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What This Bill Would Do
Vermont H.666 expands the state's emergency personnel survivors benefit program to include certified law enforcement officers employed by counties or municipalities, allowing their families to apply for an $80,000 monetary benefit upon a line-of-duty death or starting July 1, 2026.
Families of municipal and county law enforcement officers gain eligibility for the same $80,000 state death benefit currently restricted to firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
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
Officers employed by counties or municipalities gain eligibility for state-provided survivor benefits for their families in the event of line-of-duty deaths or occupation-related illnesses.
Survivors of law enforcement officers
Family members are newly eligible to apply for an $80,000 monetary benefit upon the line-of-duty death or occupation-related illness of an officer.
Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board
The Board assumes responsibility for reviewing and unanimously voting on survivor benefit claims filed by families of law enforcement officers.
Key Facts
- H.666 is officially cited as 'Jessica's Law'.
- The bill expands the definition of 'emergency personnel' to include county and municipal law enforcement officers certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council.
- Survivors of eligible law enforcement officers may apply for a payment of $80,000 from the State if the officer dies in the line of duty or from an occupation-related illness.
- Line-of-duty service for law enforcement includes answering complaints, responding to disorder, participating in training drills, or serving under department orders.
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- Heart injuries or diseases symptomatic within 72 hours of last service are legally presumed to be occupation-related illnesses incurred in the line of duty.
- Decisions to award monetary benefits require a unanimous vote by the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board within 60 days of receiving necessary information.
- The Emergency Board may transfer additional funds into the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Special Fund if the fund balance is insufficient when the General Assembly is not in session.
- The act takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies as a law enforcement officer under this bill?
How much is the monetary benefit for survivors?
What constitutes an occupation-related illness under the bill?
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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- Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroducedRead 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
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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