An act relating to imposing Impaired Driver Rehabilitation Program fees based on a person’s ability to pay

H 25 amends Vermont law to replace fixed fees for the Impaired Driver Rehabilitation Program with an income-based fee structure. It requires the Department of Health to set fees based on an individual’s gross income relative to the federal poverty level: people earning 175% or less of the federal poverty level pay no fees, while those earning up to 575% qualify for discounted fees. Participants must disclose income confidentially for fee assessment, and collected fees will fund the program’s operations. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, with implementing rules due by January 1, 2026.