Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly. He singed into law S.210, An act relating to access to autopsy reports, but vetoed S.183, An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud. The veto was related to an editing error in the bill and not based on its content. Scott said once the bill is corrected, he will sign it into law as intended.
On April 22, Governor Scott signed a bill of the following title:
- S.210, An act relating to access to autopsy reports
- On April 22, Governor Scott returned without signature and vetoed S.183, An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud and sent the following letter to the General Assembly.
Dear Mr. Bloomer:
Pursuant to Chapter II, Section 11 of the Vermont Constitution, I’m returning S.183, An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud without my signature because of my objections described herein.
To be clear, I fully support this bill’s intent, which makes necessary changes to Vermont's home and land improvement fraud statute to restore the original criminal intent standard — requiring prosecutors to prove a contractor knowingly intended to defraud at the time of contracting — after a 2015 amendment that changed the law in a likely-unconstitutional way that was recently flagged by two Vermont trial courts.
However, this bill was passed with a cross-reference that was struck in error and requires a legislative correction. I understand this error has been flagged for relevant committees of jurisdiction, and a corrected version of S.183 can be added to another bill that is moving through the process.
With several weeks remaining in the legislative session, there is time for the Legislature to make the appropriate correction, either as a new bill or as an amendment to a bill that is still currently under consideration. Again, to be clear I support this bill’s intent and look forward to a version I can sign.
Based on this objection I must return S.183 without my signature pursuant to Chapter II, Section 11 of the Vermont Constitution.
Sincerely,
/s/
Philip B. Scott
Governor
To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2026 legislative session, click here.
4.22.2026. Governor. 109 State Street | The Pavilion | Montpelier, VT 05609-0101 | www.vermont.gov
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