Vermont House Bill H0093

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/25
• Refer: 1/24/25

Caption

An act relating to the creation and maintenance of a database of veterans in Vermont

Summary

H.93 would require the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs to develop and maintain a statewide database of veterans in Vermont. The bill directs the Director of the Office of Veterans Affairs to work with other state agencies, offices, and departments to collect information on veterans to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with state and federal law. The bill also creates a confidentiality rule for the database. Any personally identifying information collected for the database would be exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act, and the exemption would be made permanent rather than subject to automatic repeal. The act would take effect on July 1, 2025.

Impact

If enacted, H.93 would add a new chapter to Title 20 governing veterans in Vermont and would impose a new administrative duty on the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs to build and maintain a veterans database. It would also require cooperation from other state entities in sharing veterans-related information, subject to legal limits. The bill would create a specific Public Records Act exemption for personally identifying information in the database, affecting public access to those records and strengthening confidentiality protections for veterans' data.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text and sponsorship, the measure appears to be framed as a supportive administrative effort to improve state coordination and services for veterans, with an emphasis on privacy protection. The absence of recorded controversy suggests the bill may have been viewed as a technical or service-oriented proposal rather than a politically divisive one.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the balance between creating a comprehensive veterans database and protecting personal privacy. Supporters would likely emphasize improved outreach, service delivery, and coordination among agencies, while critics could raise concerns about data collection, interagency sharing, and the scope of the permanent Public Records Act exemption. Another possible issue is the mandate on agencies to provide information to the extent practicable, which could prompt questions about implementation burden and data accuracy.