by Guy Page

House Judiciary Friday, Jan. 24 at 10 AM will review H.41, creating a felony penalty of up to 10 years for abuse of a corpse.

Sponsored by House Judiciary Vice-chair Tom Burditt (R-West Rutland) and Enosburg Rep. Allen “ Penny” Demar (-R-), H.41 is supported by the family of an elderly Enosburg woman brutally murdered in a home invasion last July. Roberta Martin, 82, was murdered by a neighbor and her body burned outdoors, police say. Darren Martell, of St. Albans and 23 when the crime was committed, is charged with aggravated murder, punishable by up to life imprisonment without parole.  

The bill creates two levels of the felony: abuse of a corpse, and aggravated abuse of a corpse.

A person is guilty of abuse of a corpse if the person, without legal authorization, knowingly: transports, buries, or otherwise hides a corpse; or burns, mutilates, disfigures, dismembers, or otherwise destroys a corpse. This crime carries a sentence of up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine, or both. 

A person is guilty of aggravated abuse of a corpse if the person intentionally: (1) transports, buries, or otherwise hides a corpse to conceal a crime or avoid apprehension, prosecution, or conviction of a crime; (2) burns, mutilates, disfigures, dismembers, or otherwise destroys a corpse to conceal a crime or avoid apprehension, prosecution, or conviction of  a crime; or (3) perpetrates or attempts to perpetrate sexual assault against a corpse. A person convicted of aggravated abuse of a corpse shall be imprisoned for a minimum of five years and a maximum term of 10 years and may be fined not more than $10,000.

A family member took to Facebook this weekend saying she plans to testify on Friday and urged others to participate as well.

“Last week marked six months since our sweet Roberta/Grammy/Mom was taken from us; she was sexually brutalized, murdered, taken from her home, burned, and disposed of,” the family member said. “Not a day has been the same for us. Overnight, our world shifted. We are still dealing with the violence, loss, grief, rage, and heartache. Although the trial will likely take years, there is something we can change now.”

The family member urged supporters to call the Vermont Sergeant At Arms office at 802-828-2228 to leave a message for their legislators. Per VDC’s 2025 Vermont House of Representatives Contact List, House Judiciary members may also be emailed at:

The Friday morning hearing may be seen live or recorded on the Vermont House Judiciary Committee YouTube website. Furthermore, following the hearing, a transcript will be available at www.goldendomevt.com.

If approved by House Judiciary, the bill will go to a vote to the full House, then on to the Senate, and if approved by the legislature, will go to Gov. Phil Scott for his signature. 

School choice Supreme Court decision discussion – House Education Wednesday morning at 9:45 AM will review Vermont implications of the U.S. Supreme Court 2022 Carson V. Makin decision which determined that Maine’s “nonsectarian” requirement for the otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause.

Little enthusiasm for ranked choice voting – A Progressive cause celebre appears to have little traction in either Senate or House Government Operations committees. 

House Chair Rep. Matt Birong said Friday he’ll take testimony on Ranked Choice Voting for the 2028 presidential primary, “as a favor to colleagues” (he said twice for emphasis). 

Senate Chair Sen. Brian Collamore (R-Rutland)said some committee members want to pursue it – but him, not so much.

Also known as Instant Runoff, RCV gives voters a first, second and third choice, which come onto play if no-one emerges as the majority winner. Years ago, a Burlington Progressive mayoral candidate finished behind plurality winner Republican Kurt Wright but ended up the winner after an ‘instant runoff.’

Turning poop into topsoil – Biosolids – the leftovers from Vermont wastewater treatment plants – are mixed with ash from the McNeil power plant and paper fibers to become, presto chango, topsoil for use at Vermont industrial sites.

Better to reuse it than throw it away, the Green Mountain Water Enviroment Association (your wastewater plant operators) visiting the State House today said.

Incineration’s not an option (might add PFAs to atmosphere). Vermont’s one landfill has just 10-20 years of capacity left. 

Now, 55% of biosolids are sent out of state for (costly) disposal. GMWEA warns that ratepayer costs will rise if the State of Vermont bans land application of biosolids.

Budget adjustment hearing –  House Appropriations will hold a public hearing on the Governor’s adjusted 2025 budget 1 PM Thursday, January 23 via inperson or videoconference. The mid-stream adjustment tweaks spending approved this spring to address recent areas of need.