Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified
Risks
- No material direct effect identified
StateVermontEnacted
S 209: An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations
Tanya Vyhovsky
S 209 status: Enacted — Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 16, 2026 (updated May 29, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
79OUT OF 100
Score:79/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality90%
Bipartisan60%
Public opinion75%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill creates a prohibition on civil arrests within designated 'safe' locations.
Who is affected
Law enforcement agencies, public schools, healthcare facilities, and houses of worship.
Requirements and enforcement
Authorities must refrain from civil enforcement actions within the specified sensitive zones.
Costs and funding
Operational costs related to policy updates and training for law enforcement personnel.
When it takes effect
The bill was signed into law on June 16, 2026.
Potential benefits
Ensures that community residents can access essential services without fear of civil arrest.
Risks and tradeoffs
Potential operational friction or ambiguity in defining specific boundaries of safe zones.
What is still unknown
The exact scope of enforcement exceptions for non-civil matters and how federal agencies may interact with this state-level policy.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Mixed / Neutral
55%
Benefits
- Increased attendance at community services
- Reduced legal uncertainty for facility management
- Standardization of civil enforcement protocols
Risks
- Potential operational adjustments for law enforcement
- Training requirements for enforcement personnel
- Minor compliance reporting shifts
Society
Positive outlook
90%
Benefits
- Increased access to education for students
- Enhanced community trust in public institutions
- Improved utilization of emergency healthcare
Risks
- Potential for enforcement friction
- Complexity in defining 'sensitive location' boundaries
- Variable implementation across different municipalities
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified
Risks
- No material direct effect identified
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
80%
Benefits
- Clearer jurisdictional limits for agencies
- Codified protection of public space usage
- Reduced agency overreach concerns
Risks
- Potential for oversight challenges in application
- Need for clear policy communication to field staff
- Discretionary interpretation of non-criminal enforcement
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
90%
Benefits
- Unimpeded access to hospital emergency rooms
- Reduced fear-based avoidance of health clinics
- Improved safety for families seeking care
Risks
- Potential for enforcement planning adjustments
- Emergency protocol refinement needed
- Resource coordination in medical settings
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
LegiScan returned a PDF-only document. PDF extraction is not enabled in this build, so the pipeline used a safer fallback.
Analysis scope
Source provided is an abstract; full text analysis of exemptions is not possible.
04
Where it stands
Official recordSenate Message: Signed by Governor June 16, 2026
- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorComplete
- EnactedComplete
05
How it affects your district
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06
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