The Vermont Senate made a significant move on May 27, 2025, by voting to amend the disorderly conduct statute in response to a Supreme Court ruling from 2009. This decision clarified the legal boundaries of what constitutes disorderly conduct during public meetings, aiming to prevent overreach in enforcement.

The amendment, passed unanimously by the Senate Committee on Government Operations, specifically addresses the Supreme Court's concerns about the existing statute's broad language. It now defines disorderly conduct as actions intended to cause public inconvenience or annoyance that recklessly disrupt lawful assemblies. For a citation to be issued, two key conditions must be met: the conduct must either cause a meeting to end prematurely or involve sustained efforts to disrupt it after being asked to stop.

This change is designed to protect the integrity of public meetings while ensuring that individuals' rights are not infringed upon. The Senate's decision reflects a commitment to uphold democratic processes and maintain order in public discourse. As Vermont moves forward, this amendment is expected to provide clearer guidelines for both citizens and law enforcement regarding acceptable behavior in public assemblies.