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House approves expanded nuisance protections for agricultural activities
Summary
The Vermont House passed S.45 to expand right-to-farm protections, shifting burdens in nuisance suits to plaintiffs, allowing newly used agricultural land and changed farming practices to qualify, and requiring mediation before court action. The bill now goes back to the Senate.
The Vermont House on the floor approved S.45, an act expanding statutory protections for agricultural activities from nuisance lawsuits.
Supporters said the changes shift the burden of proof in nuisance suits to the neighbor-plaintiff, allow farms that change operations or begin farming new land to keep protections, and require mediation before court filings. Representative Durfee (Member from Shaftesbury), speaking for the committee, summarized the bill and said it "expands on existing protections from nuisance lawsuit claims that Vermont farmers qualify for when they're engaged in typical or commonly accepted agricultural practices." The bill passed the House in concurrence with the committee's proposal of amendment and was…
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