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We are thrilled to share that on June 8, 2026, Governor Scott officially signed H.578: An Act Relating to Penalties and Procedures for Animal Cruelty Offenses. The bill becomes law and will take effect July 1, 2026.

H.578 is a great step forward to strengthen Vermont's animal cruelty laws. HSCC was proud to help advocate for this bill alongside other animal shelters and animal welfare organizations from across the state.

We are especially grateful to the main sponsor of the bill, South Burlington Representative Emilie Krasnow, for her tireless work on behalf of Vermont's animals.

Besides strengthening penalties for animal abusers, this law establishes shortened timelines to expedite forfeiture proceedings and requires the animal owner to post security at the time of seizure to help with cost of care. Most shelters like HSCC currently aren't able to take animals seized in cruelty cases because these cases often drag on a very long time – leaving the animal languishing in a shelter with no reimbursement for costs. Most importantly, long stays in a shelter environment are not beneficial to an animal's overall welfare.

Thank you so much to all our community members who helped us get the word out and contacted their representatives in support of H.578.