[Editor's note: Though this article was published on April Fools' Day, the bill is real. Public nudity is currently legal in Vermont.]

A bill filed in the Vermont Legislature would make public nudity illegal statewide.

House Bill 683 would ban exposing the “pubic area, genitals, or buttocks” in any place visible to the public, including private property like front yards, if people can see them from a road or sidewalk. Offenders would face up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $500.

The proposal comes after years of growing pressure at the local level, including a September 2025 ordinance in Burlington that banned public nudity in most public places.

The measure was introduced by Rep. Gregory Burtt, R-Cabot, Rep. Michael Tagliavia, R-Corinth, and Rep. Kenneth Wells, R-Brownington, in January 2026. It currently sits in the state’s House Judiciary Committee and has not received a hearing.

Burtt doesn't think the bill will become law this session, but he told NewBostonPost that he filed it to protect children.

"You know, of the 15 bills I have hanging on the wall in committees (which means they are going nowhere, unfortunately)," he said in an email. "I should have known the one on nudity would raise some eyebrows.  Pun intended.

"The main goal of the bill is to address the particular public safety concern of young families with kids who don’t want to go to the public beach, or go for a walk on a peaceful dirt road and see the same weird guy over and over who hangs out naked," he added. "Some of these situations can turn into more serious concerns, as you would imagine. Instead of towns needing to put out ordinances, it would be nice to have something in state statute that addresses it."

Additionally, Tagliavia told NewBostonPost, "I concur with Representative Burtt."

Meanwhile, Wells told NewBostonPost that he has no problem with nudists keeping to themselves, but doesn't want them impacting others.

"In my area, with the legendary Willoughby Lake having a nudist section, it comes down to staying in your area," he said. "The nudist area cannot be seen unless you want to participate. You can pass by it while hiking, but it sits around a natural rock and land formation, making it tough to look at unless you make the effort. That is not the case for other nudist sites in the state. I understand their concerns. The general consensus is that there is no path forward for this bill at this time."

The proposal would create a new criminal offense for public nudity under Vermont law.

“No person shall knowingly expose the person’s pubic area, genitals, or buttocks with less than an opaque covering when the person is in a place where the person can be seen by others in a public place,” it reads.

The bill includes limited exceptions. It would still allow for public nudity in places meant for it, like changing rooms. Also, municipal governments could designate specific areas or permit events that allow public nudity.

Nothing in the bill mentions female breasts or toplessness.

Vermont’s approach to public nudity dates back nearly two centuries.

That framework comes from an 1846 Vermont Supreme Court case, State v. Millard, which focused on punishing lewd conduct rather than nudity itself. The ruling helped establish a legal standard where public nudity is typically allowed unless it involves “lewd and lascivious” intent. Notably, disrobing in public is illegal in Vermont.

The policy led to a culture that has, at times, included skinny dipping and organized nude events. However, public support for the practice has declined in recent years.

In Burlington, a naked adult was seen walking near an elementary school last year, WAMC reports; the adult eventually made it to the school's playground, prompting widespread calls for change. The school had a policy against nudity, but the report notes that nothing could be done to stop the offender before they reached the playground.

Additionally, students at Burlington High School recalled seeing naked people walking around near the school in recent years.

In response to the elementary school incident, Burlington passed an ordinance banning public nudity in most areas, with fines starting at $100 and increasing for repeat violations.

The statewide bill would enact similar regulations across Vermont.

The bill is still in its early stages and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Lawmakers could hold hearings, take public testimony, and make changes before deciding whether to advance it.