House postpones S.163, advances S.181 and S.183 to third reading

The Vermont House considered three Senate bills during the April 9, 2026 session and recorded floor action by voice vote.

S.163, an act relating to the role of advanced practice registered nurses in hospital care, was the first item considered. The member from Essex moved to postpone action on S.163 for two legislative days; the voice vote was in favor and the motion to postpone carried.

S.181, relating to pre-sentence investigation (PSI) requirements for deferred sentences, was presented by the House Judiciary Committee (member from Williston, Representative Arsenal). The committee described the bill's intent to remove the mandatory PSI requirement for some deferred sentences while retaining mandatory PSIs for listed crimes (citing amendments to 13 V.S.A. b7 7041). The committee said the change will allow faster case resolution and help relieve a backlog because PSIs can take about a month to complete. The committee reported the amendment and asked the House to propose the amendment to the Senate; the House voice vote was in favor, and the House ordered third reading.

S.183, an act addressing home improvement and land improvement fraud, was presented by the House Judiciary Committee (member from South Burlington, Representative Malone). The committee explained that the bill revises the statute to target fraudulent intent at contract entry and avoids criminalizing a mere breach of contract (referring to prior 2015 language that trial court opinions had found problematic). The bill adds language to cover change orders and requires proof that a contractor entered or amended a contract with intent to defraud. The House ordered third reading on a voice vote.

Floor action on these items was recorded by voice vote; no roll-call tallies with named individual votes were given in the transcript. Committee witnesses for S.181 and S.183 included legislative counsel, Department of Corrections staff, State's Attorneys & Sheriffs staff, Defender General's Office representatives, Judiciary leadership, and private-sector witnesses for the home-improvement bill.