Healthcare (Mental Health)

signed · Vermont · House May 14, 2025

H 13: An act relating to Medicaid payment rates for community-based service providers

H.13 establishes new requirements for how the Secretary of Human Services calculates Medicaid payment rates for home- and community-based service providers. The bill directs the Secretary to set "reasonable and adequate" rates for services provided to older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those with mental health or substance use disorders. The calculation methodology must consider factors such as governmental mandates, inflation, and labor market dynamics, and includes a schedule for studying rates at least every five years. It also creates a process for providers at imminent risk of closure to request stabilization and requires annual recalculation and reporting of these rates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates 'reasonable and adequate' Medicaid rates for mental health/disability services, ensuring provider payment stability to maintain access and quality care for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

signed · Vermont · Senate May 16, 2025

S 27: An act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports

This bill establishes a state-funded program to provide medical debt relief for eligible Vermont residents. It appropriates $1 million to contract with a nonprofit entity to acquire and abolish qualifying medical debts, ensuring these debts are removed from individuals' credit reports. The legislation also prohibits credit reporting agencies, large healthcare facilities, and medical debt collectors from reporting medical debt information. Furthermore, large healthcare facilities are restricted from selling medical debt unless it is to a nonprofit for the express purpose of debt abolition. Finally, the bill clarifies the definition of "behavioral health" in state statutes to avoid stigmatization.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides state-funded medical debt relief, removes medical debt from credit reports, reducing financial barriers to healthcare access and protecting patient rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 436: An act relating to establishing reentry facilities for persons under the custody of the Commissioner of Corrections

H 436 establishes a new system for Vermont's Department of Corrections to create reentry facilities for low-risk individuals transitioning from incarceration. The bill requires the Department to assess and place eligible people (including those awaiting trial) in these facilities based on evidence-based risk evaluations, providing transitional services like housing assistance, mental health care, and job training. It mandates annual reports tracking facility use, security levels, and services provided. The policy directly affects low-risk inmates and pretrial detainees, aiming to improve community reintegration while prioritizing public safety through structured, less restrictive housing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes evidence-based reentry facilities with housing, mental health, and job training to reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation for low-risk individuals transitioning from incarceration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly includes mental health care as a required transitional service in reentry facilities, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare topic.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates job training as a transitional service for reentry, directly supporting employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Mental Health Workforce Development

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signed · Vermont · Senate May 16, 2025

S 36: An act relating to the delivery and payment of certain services provided through the Agency of Human Services, services for persons who are incapacitated, and Human Services Board proceedings

Bill S 36 amends existing law by replacing the term "public inebriates" with "persons who are incapacitated." It requires the Departments of Health and Mental Health to prioritize expanding services for incapacitated individuals in Chittenden County and report on these efforts by February 2026. The Department of Corrections must also report on efforts to connect incapacitated persons in correctional facilities with substance use recovery providers. Additionally, the bill mandates reports from the Agency of Human Services and the Human Services Board by December 2025. These reports will propose improvements to the Human Services Board's appeal processes, focusing on attorney training, data collection, and making the process more accessible and consistent for appellants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates connecting incapacitated persons in correctional facilities with substance use recovery providers, advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates expansion of health services for incapacitated individuals, prioritizes mental health/substance use recovery connections, and requires departmental reporting on service improvements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health Substance Abuse

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 11, 2025

S 106: An act relating to continuing the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group

This bill extends the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group's term and expands its membership and responsibilities. The group will continue reviewing research on psychedelics for mental health treatment, monitor other states' programs, and develop a pilot project for psilocybin therapy in serious illness and end-of-life care. It must submit a report by November 15, 2025, to legislative committees before potential future action. The bill does not change current laws but supports further study to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill extends Psychedelic Therapy Working Group to study psychedelics for mental health treatment and develop psilocybin therapy pilot, advancing mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed both · Vermont · House Jan 29, 2025

HCR 8: House concurrent resolution designating January 29, 2025 as Mental Health Advocacy Day at the State House

HCR 8 is a procedural resolution designating January 29, 2025, as "Mental Health Advocacy Day" at the Vermont State House. It symbolically recognizes the importance of mental health care parity with physical health care, referencing Vermont law (8 V.S.A. § 4089b) that requires equal treatment. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to share a copy with mental health advocacy organizations present at the State House on that date. This is a ceremonial gesture with no new policy or funding changes, solely intended to highlight ongoing advocacy efforts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSymbolically supports mental health parity and advocacy, directly aligning with healthcare topic per bill's recognition of mental health care parity.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 71: An act relating to consumer data privacy and online surveillance

Vermont's S.71, the Vermont Data Privacy Act, creates new rules for businesses handling personal data of Vermont residents. It requires businesses to obtain clear, affirmative consent (not dark patterns or broad terms) before collecting personal data, with special protections for sensitive information like reproductive health, gender-affirming care, and precise location data (within 1,750 feet). The law prohibits using geofencing to track individuals near sensitive locations like abortion clinics or mental health facilities. It directly affects all businesses processing personal data of Vermont residents, including tech companies, retailers, and health services, by mandating transparency and restricting how they can use or share consumer information.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects reproductive health and gender-affirming care data from surveillance, aligning with patient privacy protections in healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires clear consent for data collection, protects sensitive data (reproductive health, location), prohibits geofencing near clinics - directly strengthens consumer data privacy regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Women's Health Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

in committee · Vermont · Senate May 30, 2025

SR 16: Senate resolution opposing recent federal actions that threaten public health and urging their swift reversal

Senate Resolution 16 is a non-binding statement by the Vermont Senate opposing federal actions it claims threaten public health, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and eliminating CDC staff positions focused on injury prevention and mental health. The resolution urges President Trump and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reverse these actions and directs that a copy be sent to the President, the Secretary, and Vermont's congressional delegation. It does not change any laws or policies but formally expresses the Senate's position on these federal decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareOpposes federal defunding of CDC mental health/injury prevention staff, urging reversal to protect public health programs and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 20: An act relating to establishing a voluntary firearms storage program for persons in crisis

H.20 establishes a voluntary program in Vermont allowing individuals experiencing a mental health or other crisis to temporarily store firearms with participating federally licensed firearms dealers. The program permits dealers to safely hold firearms until the person is no longer in crisis, while providing legal immunity for dealers and participants who follow program rules in good faith. Confidentiality protections prevent stigma, and dealers receive training to safely manage firearm returns. The goal is to reduce firearm accessibility during crises, aiming to help lower suicide rates in Vermont.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables firearm storage during mental health crises, reducing harm risk and stigma, directly supporting mental health crisis intervention services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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