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H 768
Vermont House•In House Committee
Summary
H 768, an act relating to consumer protections related to the towing and storage of vehicles, was introduced in the House on Jan 23, 2026 by Rep. Barbara Rachelson (D) with 1 co-sponsor. It was referred to Commerce and Economic Development, and last saw action on Jan 23, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.
Record
Text
H 768 has 1 co-sponsor.
h768/introduced.txtBILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 1 of 231H.7682 Introduced by Representatives Rachelson of Burlington and Southworth of3Walden4 Referred to Committee on5 Date:6 Subject: Motor vehicles; involuntary towing and storage; consumer protection;7unclaimed property8 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish9 certain consumer protections related to the towing and storage of vehicles and10 to require the net proceeds from the sale of an abandoned vehicle to be11 distributed to the vehicle owner through the State’s unclaimed property system.12 An act relating to consumer protections related to the towing and storage of13 vehicles14 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:15 Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. chapter 42 is added to read:16CHAPTER 42. TOWING OF MOTOR VEHICLES17 § 4251. SHORT TITLE18 This chapter may be cited as the “Vermont Consumer Protection Towing19 Act.”VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 2 of 231 § 4252. PURPOSE2 The purpose of the Vermont Consumer Protection Towing Act is to3 establish minimum standards for towing and storage services and to promote4 fair and honest practices in the towing industry.5 § 4253. DEFINITIONS6 As used in this chapter:7(1) “Automobile club” means a legal entity that, in consideration of8 dues, assessments, or periodic payments of money, promises its members or9 subscribers to assist them in matters relating to motor travel or the operation,10 use, or maintenance of a motor vehicle, including auto dealers and insurance11 companies, by supplying services, which may include towing service,12 emergency road service, and indemnification service.13(2) “Dealer” has the same meaning as in subdivision 4(8) of this title.14(3) “Drop fee” means a charge offered instead of a standard tow fee that15 allows an owner or operator who arrives on the scene prior to a vehicle being16 towed to stop a tow that is in process.17(4) “Emergency towing” means the towing of a vehicle due to a motor18 vehicle crash, mechanical breakdown on a public highway, or other19 emergency-related incident necessitating vehicle removal for public safety20 with or without the owner’s or operator’s consent.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 3 of 231(5) “Government agency towing” means the towing of government-2 owned or government-controlled vehicles by the government agency that owns3 or controls them.4(6) “Heavy-duty vehicle” means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle5 weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.6(7) “Light-duty vehicle” means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle7 weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds.8(8) “Medium-duty vehicle” means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle9 weight rating of at least 10,001 pounds and not more than 26,000 pounds.10(9) “Owner” means the person to whom a vehicle is registered or to11 whom it is leased, if the terms of the lease require the lessee to maintain and12 repair the vehicle. For the purposes of this chapter, a rental vehicle company is13 the owner of a vehicle rented pursuant to a rental agreement.14(10) “Private property towing” means the towing of a vehicle, without15 the owner’s or operator’s consent, from private property where it was illegally16 parked, or for which some exigent circumstance necessitated its removal, to a17 nearby location.18(11) “Rental vehicle company” means any person, including a19 franchisee, in the business of renting vehicles to the public.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 4 of 231(12) “Seizure towing” means the taking of a vehicle for law enforcement2 purposes, such as the maintenance of the chain of custody of evidence,3 forfeiture of assets, or unpaid parking tickets.4(13) “Storage services” means storing a towed vehicle at a towing-5 storage lot.6(14) “Tow truck” means a motor vehicle equipped to tow or pick up7 vehicles, including damaged or disabled vehicles.8(15) “Towing company” means any person, partnership, company, firm,9 or aggregation of individuals that exists to provide towing or storage services.10 A towing company does not include an automobile club, dealer, or insurance11 company.12(16) “Towing or storage services” means towing services or storage13 services, or both.14(17) “Towing services” means towing or otherwise moving vehicles by15 means of a tow truck.16(18) “Towing-storage lot” means a property used to store vehicles that17 have been towed.18 § 4254. APPLICABILITY; RULEMAKING; COMPLAINTS19 (a) Applicability.20(1) This chapter shall apply to any person engaging in, or offering to21 engage in, the business of providing towing or storage services in Vermont.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 5 of 231 This chapter shall not apply to vehicles towed into Vermont or towed through2 Vermont, provided that the tow originates in another jurisdiction.3(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, this chapter shall4 not apply to towing and storage services by an automobile club, dealer, or5 insurance company or the towing of an abandoned motor vehicle as defined in6 section 2151 of this title.7 (b) Regulatory authority. This chapter confers exclusive regulatory8 jurisdiction over towing companies and the provision of towing and storage9 services to the Department of Motor Vehicles.10 (c) Rulemaking. The Department shall adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A.11 chapter 25 for the administration of this chapter, including the assessment of12 administrative penalties in addition to those penalties allowed under section13 4265 of this chapter.14 (d) Complaints. The Department shall establish a complaint mechanism15 for consumers and insurers.16 § 4255. EMERGENCY TOWING17 (a) Prohibitions. It is a misdemeanor for a towing company to stop or18 cause an individual to stop at the scene of a crash or near a disabled vehicle for19 the purpose of soliciting an engagement for emergency towing services, either20 directly or indirectly, or, unless requested to perform the services by a law21 enforcement officer or public agency pursuant to that agency’s procedures orVT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 6 of 231 unless summoned to the scene or requested to stop by the owner or operator of2 a disabled vehicle, to provide towing or emergency towing services, to move a3 vehicle from a highway when there is an injury as the result of a crash, or to4 accrue charges for services provided under those circumstances.5 (b) Selection of towing company.6(1) The owner or operator of the vehicle being towed shall summon to7 the scene the towing company of the owner’s or operator’s choice in8 consultation with law enforcement or authorized municipal personnel and9 designate the location where the vehicle is to be towed.10(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply11 when the owner or operator is incapacitated or otherwise unable to summon a12 tow company or defers to law enforcement or authorized municipal personnel.13(3) The authority provided to the owner or operator in subdivision (1) of14 this subsection may be superseded by the law enforcement officer or15 authorized municipal personnel if the towing company of choice cannot16 respond to the scene in a timely fashion and the vehicle is a hazard, impedes17 the flow of traffic, or may not legally remain in its location in the opinion of18 the law enforcement officer or authorized municipal personnel.19 (c) Record of caller.20(1) If a towing company is summoned for an emergency tow by the21 owner or operator of a disabled vehicle, the towing company shall record theVT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 7 of 231 first name, last name, and telephone number of the individual who summoned2 it to the scene and the make, model, year, color, vehicle identification number3 (VIN), and license plate number of the towed vehicle.4(2) If a towing company is summoned for an emergency tow by a law5 enforcement officer or designee of a public safety agency with jurisdiction, the6 towing company shall record the identity of the law enforcement officer or7 designee of a public safety agency with jurisdiction and the log number, call8 number, incident number, or dispatch number assigned to the incident as9 applicable.10 (d) Visual documentation. Prior to towing a vehicle under this section, a11 towing company shall take photographs, video, or other visual documentation12 to evidence the location of the vehicle and any damages.13 (e) Record retention and production.14(1) The towing company shall maintain a record of the information15 described in subsections (c) and (d) of this section and shall retain that16 information for three years.17(2) The towing company shall make the records required to be18 maintained under subdivision (1) of this subsection available within 48 hours19 after receipt of a written request from law enforcement or the Department of20 Motor Vehicles.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 8 of 231 (f) Storage. The towing company shall properly secure all towed vehicles2 and make all reasonable efforts to prevent further damage, weather damage, or3 theft to all towed vehicles, including the vehicles’ cargo and contents.4 § 4256. PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWING REQUIREMENTS5 (a) Establishment of a private tow-away zone. The owner of private6 property may establish a private tow-away zone by posting a sign that is at7 least 18 inches by 24 inches in size and includes a statement that the property8 is a tow-away zone, a description of persons authorized to park on the9 property, and the address and telephone number for where towed vehicles are10 stored.11 (b) Prohibition and record of caller. A towing company shall not tow a12 vehicle under this section unless it receives a request for a tow. The towing13 company shall record the date, time, and name of the requester.14 (c) Visual documentation. Prior to towing a vehicle under this section, a15 towing company shall take photographs, video, or other visual documentation16 to evidence that the vehicle is clearly parked on private property in violation of17 a private tow-away zone. The towing company shall record the time and date18 of the photographs, video, or other visual documentation.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 9 of 231 (d) Record retention and production.2(1) The towing company shall maintain a record of the information3 described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section and shall retain that4 information for three years.5(2) The towing company shall make the records required to be6 maintained under subdivision (1) of this subsection available within 48 hours7 after receipt of a written request from law enforcement or the Department of8 Motor Vehicles.9 (e) Location and storage.10(1) A towing company shall ensure that a vehicle towed under this11 section is taken to a location that is within 25 miles of the location of the12 private tow-away zone.13(2) The towing company shall properly secure all towed vehicles and14 make all reasonable efforts to prevent further damage, weather damage, or15 theft to all towed vehicles, including the vehicles’ cargo and contents.16 (f) Release of vehicle prior to towing. If the owner or operator of a vehicle17 is parked in violation of a private tow-away zone and arrives while the vehicle18 is being removed, the towing company shall give the vehicle owner or operator19 oral or written notification that the vehicle owner or operator may pay a drop20 fee for the release of the vehicle. Upon payment of that fee, the towing21 company shall release the vehicle and give the vehicle owner or operator aVT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 10 of 231 receipt showing both the full amount normally assessed for towing the vehicle2 and the actual amount received for the drop fee.3 (g) Notice. The towing company shall provide notice of the tow to law4 enforcement within two hours after removing the vehicle from the private tow-5 away zone.6 § 4257. SEIZURE TOWING7 (a) Location and storage.8(1) A towing company shall ensure that a vehicle towed under this9 section is taken to a location that is within 25 miles of the location where the10 vehicle is towed from.11(2) The towing company shall properly secure all towed vehicles and12 make all reasonable efforts to prevent further damage, weather damage, or13 theft to all towed vehicles, including the vehicles’ cargo and contents.14 (b) Release of vehicle prior to towing. If the owner or operator of a vehicle15 that is being towed because of unpaid parking tickets arrives while the vehicle16 is being towed, the towing company shall give the vehicle owner or operator17 oral or written notification that the vehicle owner or operator may pay a drop18 fee for the release of the vehicle. Upon payment of that fee, the towing19 company shall release the vehicle and give the vehicle owner or operator a20 receipt showing both the full amount normally assessed for towing the vehicle21 and the actual amount received for the drop fee.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 11 of 231 § 4258. ESTIMATE REQUIREMENTS2 (a) Estimate required. If the owner or operator of a vehicle is present at the3 time and location of a tow, the towing company shall furnish the owner or4 operator of the vehicle with a written itemized estimate of all charges and5 services to be performed.6 (b) Estimate contents. The estimate required under subsection (a) of this7 section shall include all of the following:8(1) the name, address, telephone number, and motor carrier permit9 number of the towing company;10(2) the license plate number of the tow truck performing the tow; and11(3) an itemized description and cost for all services, including charges12 for labor, special equipment, mileage from dispatch to return, and storage fees13 expressed as a daily rate.14 (c) Signature required.15(1) The towing company shall obtain the vehicle owner’s or operator’s16 written or electronic signature on the itemized estimate and shall furnish a17 copy to the individual who signs the estimate.18(2) The requirements in subdivision (1) of this subsection may be19 completed after the vehicle is attached and removed to the nearest safe20 shoulder or highway if done at the request of law enforcement or a publicVT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 12 of 231 agency, provided the estimate is furnished prior to the removal of the vehicle2 from the nearest safe shoulder or highway.3 (d) Record retention and production.4(1) The towing company shall maintain the records required under5 subsection (a) of this section and shall retain that information for three years.6(2) The towing company shall make the records required to be7 maintained under subdivision (1) of this subsection available within 48 hours8 after receipt of a written request from law enforcement or the Department of9 Motor Vehicles.10 § 4259. INVOICE REQUIREMENTS11 (a) Invoice required. All services rendered by a towing company,12 including any warranty or zero-cost services, shall be recorded on an invoice.13 Each additional service must be set forth individually as a single line item with14 an explanation and the exact charge for the service.15 (b) Invoice contents. Each itemized invoice for towing costs shall contain16 the following:17(1) the location from which the vehicle was towed;18(2) the storage location of the vehicle;19(3) the name, address, and telephone number of the towing company;VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 13 of 231(4) a description of the vehicle, including the make, model, year, color,2 vehicle identification number (VIN), and license plate number of the towed3 vehicle;4(5) the charge for the tow; and5(6) the daily storage charge and the number of days the vehicle was6 stored.7 (c) Record retention and production.8(1) The towing company shall maintain the records required under9 subsection (a) of this section and shall retain that information for three years.10(2) The towing company shall make the records required to be11 maintained under subdivision (1) of this subsection available within 48 hours12 after receipt of a written request from law enforcement or the Department of13 Motor Vehicles.14 § 4260. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS15 (a) Notice required. Within 24 hours after the commencement of towing,16 the towing company must commence a search of the records of the Department17 of Motor Vehicles to ascertain the identity of the owner and any lienholder of18 the towed vehicle. Written notice shall be given directly to the owner by19 registered mail within five business days after the commencement of towing,20 and no storage charges beyond the initial 24-hour charge shall accrue until the21 notice requirement has been met.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 14 of 231 (b) Notice contents. Notice to the owner or insurer shall contain the2 following:3(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the towing company;4(2) the date and time the vehicle was towed;5(3) the location from which the vehicle was towed;6(4) the address where the vehicle is or will be stored and the address and7 telephone number where payment and business transactions take place if either8 is different from the address and telephone number of the towing company;9(5) the name of the tow truck operator; and10(6) a description of the vehicle, including the make, model, year, color,11 vehicle identification number (VIN), and license plate number of the towed12 vehicle.13 § 4261. MAXIMUM CHARGES14 (a) A towing company shall not charge more than the following for towing15 a motor vehicle:16(1) $125.00 for a light-duty vehicle;17(2) $275.00 for a medium-duty vehicle; and18(3) $400.00 per hour for towing a heavy-duty vehicle.19 (b) The drop fee charged by a towing company shall not exceed the20 following amounts:VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 15 of 231(1) $30.00 for a light-duty vehicle;2(2) $65.00 for a medium-duty vehicle; and3(3) $150.00 for a heavy-duty vehicle.4 (c) A towing company shall not charge storage-related fees in excess of the5 following:6(1) for a light-duty vehicle, $20.00 per day of storage for any day that7 the towing company is operating under its standard hours of operation;8(2) for a medium-duty vehicle, $30.00 per day of storage for any day9 that the towing company is operating under its standard hours of operation;10(3) for a heavy-duty vehicle, $100.00 per day of storage for any day that11 the towing company is operating under its standard hours of operation; and12(4) for any towed motor vehicle, $35.00 for access to the vehicle outside13 the towing company’s standard hours of operation for the recovery of personal14 items.15 (d) Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, charges for16 towing an abandoned vehicle from public property shall be in accordance with17 section 2158 of this title, and fees for towing or storing a vehicle pursuant to18 municipal ordinance shall be as established by the municipality in accordance19 with section 1753 of this title.20 (e) No charge shall be made in excess of the estimated price without the21 prior consent of the owner or operator of the vehicle.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 16 of 231 § 4262. HOURS OF OPERATION2 A towing-storage lot shall have, at a minimum, the following standard hours3 of operation: 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. on Monday–Friday, exclusive of federal and4 State holidays, and on at least one weekend day.5 § 4263. RELEASE OF VEHICLE; METHODS OF PAYMENT6 (a) A towing company shall release a towed vehicle to the owner or the7 insurance company representative of the owner upon receipt of payment.8 (b) A towing company shall only release a towed vehicle to the insurance9 company representative if:10(1) the owner’s insurance company representative presents proof that the11 towed vehicle is insured with the company; or12(2) the owner of the towed vehicle approves release of the towed vehicle13 to the insurance company representative.14 (c) The owner of the towed vehicle or insurance company representative of15 the owner of the towed vehicle shall have the right to inspect the vehicle before16 accepting its return.17 (d) A towing company shall accept, at a minimum, cash, an insurance18 check, a credit card, a debit card, a certified check, or a money order.19 § 4264. PROHIBITED ACTS20 (a) It shall be unlawful for a towing company or an individual acting on21 behalf of a towing company to:VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 17 of 231(1) falsely represent, either expressly or by implication, that the towing2 company represents or is approved by any private organization that provides3 emergency road service for disabled motor vehicles;4(2) require an owner or operator of a motor vehicle involved in a crash5 or breakdown to preauthorize one or more of the following: more than 246 hours of storage, teardown, or repair work as a condition to providing towing7 services for the vehicle;8(3) charge more than one towing fee when the owner or operator of a9 disabled vehicle requests transport of the vehicle to a repair facility owned or10 operated by the towing company;11(4) charge more than the maximum fees as allowed under section 426112 of this chapter; or13(5) violate any other provision of this chapter.14 (b) Towing companies shall not tow disabled vehicles to a repair facility15 unless the owner or operator of the disabled vehicle gives written consent16 before removal of the disabled vehicle.17 (c) No towing company shall refuse to release a vehicle to the owner or the18 owner’s insurer upon tender of full payment of an itemized invoice for all19 lawful charges made in connection with the towing and storage of a vehicle.20 (d) No towing company shall refuse, during the towing company’s standard21 hours of operation, including prior to payment of fees and release of a towedVT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 18 of 231 vehicle, the right of physical inspection of the towed vehicle by the owner or2 the owner’s insurer or the recovery of personal items left in the vehicle.3 (e) No towing company shall charge storage fees for any day on which4 release of the towed vehicle or access to the towed vehicle by the owner or5 insurer is not permitted by the towing company.6 Sec. 2. 23 V.S.A. § 4265 is added to read:7 § 4265. PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT8 The Department of Motor Vehicles shall investigate any suspected9 violations of this chapter and any complaints of alleged violations of this10 chapter that are filed with the Department and shall take all proper and11 necessary remedial action to correct any violations.12 Sec. 3. ENFORCEMENT OF VERMONT CONSUMER PROTECTION13TOWING ACT; REPORT14 (a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Attorney15 General, shall develop a proposed framework for enforcement of the Vermont16 Consumer Protection Towing Act, 23 V.S.A. chapter 42.17 (b) The proposed framework shall:18(1) identify any investigatory authority necessary to permit the19 Department of Motor Vehicles to determine whether a violation of the Act has20 occurred;VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 19 of 231(2) provide proposed monetary penalty amounts and a process for2 collecting any penalties imposed; and3(3) identify any additional authority that may be necessary to enforce the4 provisions of the Act.5 (b) The Commissioner shall, on or before December 15, 2026, submit a6 written report to the House and Senate Committees on Judiciary and on7 Transportation that outlines the proposed framework and identifies any8 legislative action necessary to implement it.9 Sec. 4. 23 V.S.A. § 2155 is amended to read:10 § 2155. FEES AND CHARGES11 (a) Towing fees. For towing an abandoned motor vehicle from private12 property, a towing service may charge a reasonable fee to be paid by the13 vehicle owner or the landowner of the private property.14 (b) Storage charges. In addition to any towing fee, an owner or lienholder15 reclaiming an abandoned motor vehicle may be charged and shall pay a fee for16 the costs of storage of the vehicle, except that no fee may shall be charged for17 storage for any period preceding the date upon which the form for abandoned18 motor vehicle certification is sent to the Department.19 (c) Maximum fees and charges. The fees and other amounts charged20 pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not exceed the21 applicable amounts permitted pursuant to section 4261 of this title.VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 20 of 231 Sec. 5. 23 V.S.A. § 2156 is amended to read:2 § 2156. DISPOSAL OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES3 (a) If Except as otherwise provided pursuant to subsection (c) of this4 section, if the Commissioner issues the certificate of abandoned motor vehicle,5 title to the motor vehicle shall pass to the holder of the certificate of abandoned6 motor vehicle, free from all claims of the owner or prior holder of the motor7 vehicle, and of all persons claiming through or under the owner or prior holder.8 The Commissioner shall issue an appropriate title or salvage title of the motor9 vehicle at no charge.10***11 (c)(1) A person who has taken title to a motor vehicle pursuant to the12 provisions of this section shall only be entitled to the value of the motor13 vehicle up to the amount of any charges for towing and storage that are due at14 the time the certificate of abandoned motor vehicle is issued. Any value in15 excess of the amount due shall be reported to and delivered into the custody of16 the State Treasurer pursuant to the provisions of 27 V.S.A. chapter 18.17(2) The value in excess of the amount due shall be determined as18 follows:19(A) If the person who has taken title to the motor vehicle pursuant to20 this section sells the vehicle within 90 days after the certificate of abandoned21 motor vehicle is issued, the amount due shall be subtracted from the amountVT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 21 of 231 for which the vehicle is sold, and any remaining amount shall be reported to2 and delivered into the custody of the State Treasurer.3(B) If the person who has taken title to the motor vehicle pursuant to4 this section does not sell the vehicle within 90 days after the certificate of5 abandoned motor vehicle is issued, the amount due shall be subtracted from the6 approximate value of the motor vehicle pursuant to J.D. Power Values or any7 comparable publication, and any remaining amount shall be reported to and8 delivered into the custody of the State Treasurer.9 Sec. 6. 23 V.S.A. § 2158 is amended to read:10 § 2158. FEES FOR TOWING; PUBLIC PROPERTY; FUNDING11 (a) A towing service may charge a fee of up to $125.00 for towing an12 abandoned motor vehicle from public property under the provisions of sections13 2151–2157 of this subchapter. This fee shall be paid to the towing service14 upon the issuance by the Department of Motor Vehicles of a certificate of15 abandoned motor vehicles vehicle under section 2156 of this title. The16 Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall notify the Commissioner of Finance17 and Management who shall issue payment to the towing service for vehicles18 removed from public property.19 (b) The fee for towing charged pursuant to subsection (a) of this section20 shall not exceed the following:VT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 22 of 231(1) $125.00 for a light-duty vehicle;2(2) $275.00 for a medium-duty vehicle; and3(3) $400.00 per hour for towing a heavy-duty vehicle.4 (c) As used in this section:5(1) “Heavy-duty vehicle” means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle6 weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.7(2) “Light-duty vehicle” means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle8 weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds.9(3) “Medium-duty vehicle” means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle10 weight rating of at least 10,001 pounds and not more than 26,000 pounds.11 Sec. 7. RULEMAKING12 (a) Unless extended by the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules13 pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 843(c), the Department of Motor Vehicles shall adopt14 rules required under 23 V.S.A. § 4254(c), as added by Sec. 1 of this act, on or15 before June 1, 2027, to be effective July 1, 2027.16 (b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt rules as necessary to17 implement the provisions of Secs. 4 and 5 of this act.18 Sec. 8. 27 V.S.A. § 1474 is added to read:19 § 1474. WHEN A MOTOR VEHICLE IS PRESUMED ABANDONED20 Subject to section 1469 of this title, a motor vehicle is presumed to be21 abandoned when the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles issues a certificate ofVT LEG #386329 v.3BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7682026 Page 23 of 231 abandoned motor vehicle for that vehicle pursuant to the provisions of 232 V.S.A. chapter 21, subchapter 7.3 Sec. 9. EFFECTIVE DATES4 (a) Sec. 2 (enforcement and penalties) shall take effect on January 1, 2028.5 (b) This section and the remaining sections of this act shall take effect on6 July 1, 2026.VT LEG #386329 v.3
An act relating to consumer protections related to the towing and storage of vehicles
Sponsors
Rep. Barbara Rachelson (D) sponsors H 768, and 1 member has co-sponsored it.
Committees
H 768 went before 1 committee: Commerce and Economic Development.

History
H 768 has taken 1 action since Jan 23, 2026.
| Chamber | Action | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 23, 2026 | House | Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development |
Votes
H 768 has not gone to a roll call.
Source: legislature.vermont.gov · legiscan.com