An act relating to recognition of military protection orders
H.547 is a court-procedure and domestic-relations bill that would require Vermont courts to recognize military protection orders and certain sworn written statements as admissible evidence in proceedings involving stalking, sexual assault, and relief from abuse. The bill amends the definitions sections in both the stalking/sexual assault protection order chapter and the relief-from-abuse chapter to define “military protective order” as an order issued by a commanding officer against a current member of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Vermont National Guard, or another state or territory’s National Guard.
The bill also allows a plaintiff seeking an order against stalking or sexual assault, or a family or household member seeking relief from abuse, to submit written statements sworn before authorized military or federal oath-administering officials. In both types of cases, a military protective order and those sworn statements would be admissible to show a relevant pattern or course of conduct. In addition, the bill expands an existing National Guard victim-assistance provision by directing the Adjutant General to provide travel-related financial assistance to current and former National Guard members who were victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment and who participate in related administrative or military justice proceedings.
If enacted, H.547 would amend Title 12, Title 15, and Title 20 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated. It would broaden the evidentiary record in stalking, sexual assault, and domestic violence protection-order cases by expressly allowing military protective orders and certain sworn statements to be used in court. It would also clarify and expand support for National Guard victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment by authorizing reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses for participation in specified proceedings. The bill would take effect July 1, 2026.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the overall sentiment appears supportive and practical rather than controversial. The proposal is framed as a procedural and victim-support measure intended to improve access to evidence and assistance for people affected by abuse, stalking, and military-related misconduct. The bill’s structure suggests a targeted effort to align Vermont law with military protective-order practices and to reduce barriers for victims participating in proceedings.
No committee transcripts or vote history are available, so no specific objections or amendments are documented. Potential points of discussion, if raised, would likely center on the scope of admissible evidence, the reliability and treatment of military protective orders in civil protection-order cases, and the extent of state-funded travel assistance for National Guard victims. The bill’s language is narrow and administrative, which may limit controversy, but it does touch on the intersection of civilian courts, military orders, and victim-support funding.