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Senate Institutions reviews bill to give sentenced inmates Vermont driver credentials before release
Summary
Committee reviewed revised DMV language to allow sentenced inmates to receive replacement driver's licenses, learner permits or non-driver IDs before release if they provide required documentation; discussion focused on eligibility limits, MOU logistics, documentation burdens and program scale.
Damian Leonard of the Office of Legislative Council presented language to the Senate Institutions Committee on Jan. 30, 2026, proposing that Vermont’s Department of Motor Vehicles expand an existing correctional reentry program so eligible sentenced inmates can receive replacement driver’s licenses or learner permits at no charge before release.
Leonard told the committee he originally drafted three sections and linked the change to House bill H549. "I drafted some initial language, for DMV's proposal to expand this to not just non driver IDs, but to operator's licenses and owner's permits," he said, and acknowledged an earlier draft inadvertently included detainees (pretrial), which prompted a revision.
Nancy Prescott, director of operations at DMV, described the current program and its operational mechanics. "We have an MOU active right now and have for the last 5 years with the Department of Corrections," she said,…
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