The law taking effect Sunday extends the types of employees protected from sexual harassment, which now includes interns, volunteers and independent contractors.

It will prevent companies from forcing employees to sign away their right to report or sue for sexual harassment and prohibit settlement agreements from including provisions that say they worker cannot work for the company in the future. It will also create an online portal where people can report harassment and allow the office of the attorney general to visit workplaces and inquire.

Rep. Sarah Copeland-Hanzas is a Democrat from Orange County. She says that after seeing the effects of the #MeToo movement, she wanted to increase protections for everyday Vermont workers.