An act relating to repeat violent offenders, assaults against a protected professional, and victim input on plea agreements
H.754 would create a new “repeat violent offender” sentencing enhancement for people convicted of a third felony crime of violence after two prior felony crimes of violence. If the State files notice and elects to use the enhancement, the defendant would face a mandatory minimum sentence of three years and could be sentenced up to life imprisonment, with that minimum term not eligible for suspension, probation, parole, furlough, or other early release. The bill also treats multiple convictions from the same criminal transaction as a single conviction for purposes of the repeat-offender provision.
The bill further increases penalties for assaults against “protected professionals,” including law enforcement officers, firefighters, health care workers, Department for Children and Families personnel, and emergency medical personnel. It raises penalties for simple or aggravated assault against those individuals while they are performing lawful duties or being targeted to prevent them from doing so, and separately prohibits intentionally causing bodily fluids to contact a protected professional, with a penalty of up to one year in jail or a fine. The court would also be required to consider whether a defendant was a patient with a psychiatric illness whose symptoms were worsened by the circumstances when sentencing under this section, and the bill excludes certain individuals under 18 in residential rehabilitation facilities from this section.
In addition, H.754 expands victim participation and information rights in plea negotiations and sentencing for listed crimes. It requires prosecutors, upon request, to provide victims with the written terms of proposed plea agreements before acceptance, to explain sentencing ranges, earned time, parole, furlough, and deferred sentence consequences, and to consult with victims during plea negotiations and about proposed probation conditions. Courts would also be directed to consider victim views at sentencing or when deciding whether to defer sentencing. The act would take effect July 1, 2026.
The bill’s impact on state law would be significant in the criminal sentencing and corrections areas, creating a new mandatory minimum framework for repeat violent offenders and strengthening penalties for assaults on public-safety and health-care personnel. It would also add procedural obligations for prosecutors and courts in cases involving victims of listed crimes, increasing the amount of notice and consultation required before plea agreements and at sentencing. These changes would affect defendants with prior violent felony convictions, victims of crime, prosecutors, courts, and correctional authorities.
The general sentiment reflected by the bill’s structure is strongly punitive and victim-centered, with an emphasis on public safety, deterrence, and protecting frontline workers. No committee testimony or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the available materials. The most likely points of contention are the mandatory minimum and parole restrictions for repeat violent offenders, the increased penalties for assaults against protected professionals, and the added prosecutorial and court obligations related to plea agreements and victim consultation.
H.754 would amend Vermont criminal law by adding a new repeat violent offender sentencing statute, increasing penalties for assaults against protected professionals, and expanding victim notice and consultation rights in plea negotiations and sentencing. It would impose a mandatory minimum three-year sentence, with no early release, for a third felony crime of violence after two prior qualifying convictions, and it would raise or create penalties for assaults and bodily-fluid assaults against specified public-safety and health-care personnel. It would also require prosecutors to provide more detailed plea information to victims and to consult with them throughout the plea process in listed-crime cases.
The bill appears to reflect a generally tough-on-crime and victim-rights-oriented approach, prioritizing longer incarceration for repeat violent offenders and stronger protections for workers who may face assault while performing their duties. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes in the provided record, the available materials do not show explicit support or opposition from legislators or stakeholders. Based on the text alone, the bill is framed as a public-safety measure with a strong emphasis on accountability and victim participation.
Likely areas of contention include the new mandatory minimum and life-maximum sentencing range for repeat violent offenders, especially the prohibition on probation, parole, furlough, and other early release during the minimum term. Another possible point of debate is the expansion of penalties for assaults on protected professionals, including whether the bill appropriately distinguishes between serious violence and lower-level conduct such as bodily-fluid contact. The added requirements for prosecutors to disclose plea terms, explain release mechanisms, and consult with victims may also raise concerns about administrative burden, plea-bargaining flexibility, and the balance between victim input and prosecutorial discretion.