Legislative proposal in development
The Family Continuity Act
A comprehensive proposal to modernize Vermont family law and better protect children’s safety, stability and important family relationships.
The proposal addresses connected rules governing relationships with parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family members—including family continuity following a stepparent adoption—while preserving strong protections when abuse, serious harm or other safety concerns are present.
Current drafting status
Still being shaped.
The Family Continuity Act remains a working legislative proposal and has not been introduced in the General Assembly.
Vermont Kids Connected is consulting with families, professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders. We expect the legislative language to change through that process and through future work with lawmakers and legislative counsel.
Why the text is not posted yet
The current language is a discussion draft. Releasing it before further stakeholder review and work with legislative counsel could cause preliminary wording to be mistaken for a finished bill.
Stakeholders with relevant experience or expertise may contact us to participate in the review process.
Legislative scope
Connected areas of Vermont law.
The current working draft addresses the following statutory areas. Its scope and language may change as the proposal is refined.
01 · 15 V.S.A. §§ 650 and 664
Policy and definitions
Legislative policy concerning parent-child bonds, family identity, continuity and safety, together with the definitions used in allocating parental rights and responsibilities.
02 · 15 V.S.A. § 665
Court orders and best interests
Standards for legal responsibility, physical responsibility and parent-child contact, together with updated best-interest factors and findings for substantially limiting a safe relationship.
03 · Proposed § 665b and § 666
Parenting plans and agreements
Clearer requirements for agreed and contested plans addressing schedules, exchanges, communication, information sharing, activities, travel, dispute resolution and recurring calendar problems.
04 · 15 V.S.A. §§ 1011–1013
Grandparent visitation and communication
Constitutionally limited standards for visitation and communication, with special weight for a fit parent’s decision and narrowly tailored relief when necessary to prevent significant harm.
05 · 15A V.S.A. § 4-112
Family continuity after stepparent adoption
The treatment of a grandparent’s request for continued visitation or communication when a stepparent adoption affects an existing family relationship.
06 · Application and effective date
Application and transition
Which cases would be governed by the new law, how existing orders would be treated and when the legislation would take effect.
Future document repository
Draft materials will live here.
When the proposal is ready for broader release, this page will become the central home for the legislative text and supporting documents.
Draft materials
No public draft is posted at this stage.
As the proposal advances, this repository is expected to include:
- The current legislative draft
- Section-by-section explanatory materials
- Revision history and prior public versions
- Related research and supporting documents
Help shape the proposal
Strong legislation needs informed review.
We welcome input from families, grandparents, attorneys, mediators, mental-health and child-development professionals, domestic-violence and child-safety experts, researchers, educators and policymakers.