Vermont Bills | MyRepTracker

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 ✓ Healthcare

Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D) Seth Bongartz (D) Bob Norris (R) Tanya Vyhovsky (D) Patrick Brennan (R)

signed · Vermont · House May 14, 2025

H 463: An act relating to technical corrections for the 2025 legislative session

H. 463 is an act designed to make technical corrections for the 2025 legislative session. Specifically, it amends Section 7 of 9 V.S.A. § 206 by inserting the word "to" after "pertaining." This bill primarily affects the clarity and accuracy of existing legal text.

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 ✓ Healthcare

signed · Vermont · Senate May 14, 2025

S 18: An act relating to licensure of freestanding birth centers

Bill S 18 establishes a licensing framework for freestanding birth centers in the state. It requires facilities providing midwifery care and low-risk deliveries, independent of hospitals, to obtain a license from the Department of Health. Operators must apply, pay a $250 fee, and pass inspections to ensure compliance with safety and health standards. The bill specifically prohibits these licensed birth centers from offering epidural anesthesia or performing cesarean deliveries. The Department of Health is authorized to conduct inspections, enforce compliance, and revoke licenses for non-adherence to the established requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Vermont · House May 14, 2025

H 206: An act relating to the Uniform Commercial Code

H 206, titled "An act relating to the Uniform Commercial Code," makes specific amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code. These changes primarily affect the transitional provisions for Articles 9 and 12 of the UCC. One amendment clarifies the timing of validly entered transactions by inserting the word "before" into a relevant clause. Another modification removes the specific date "July 1, 2025" from a provision concerning the act's amendments, potentially altering its implementation timeline. These adjustments impact the legal framework for commercial transactions governed by the Uniform Commercial Code.

signed · Vermont · House May 14, 2025

H 218: An act relating to fiscal year 2026 appropriations from the Opioid Abatement Special Fund

H 218 is an act related to fiscal year 2026 appropriations from the Opioid Abatement Special Fund. The bill specifically amends a section of the appropriations to correct a typographical error, changing an allocation from "$50,0000.00" to "$50,000.00" in subdivision (a)(11) of Sec. 1. This ensures the correct amount is appropriated from the fund.

signed · Vermont · Senate May 14, 2025

S 28: An act relating to access to certain legally protected health care services

This bill, S.28, aims to protect access to and the provision of certain legally protected health care services, specifically reproductive and gender-affirming care. It expands legal protections for individuals who aid or encourage these services, even if their actions occur in other U.S. jurisdictions. The bill also prevents professional disciplinary action against Vermont-licensed health care providers solely for offering these services, regardless of other states' laws. Additionally, it enhances the privacy of licensed professionals by exempting their personal contact information from public records and seeks to ensure transparent and accurate information from pregnancy service centers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Vermont · House May 14, 2025

H 96: An act relating to increasing the monetary thresholds for certificates of need

H.96 increases the monetary thresholds requiring a certificate of need for healthcare projects in Vermont. It raises the cost limits from current levels (e.g., $1.5 million for facility capital costs to $10 million) to $10 million or $50 million for larger projects. The bill directly affects hospitals and healthcare facilities that would previously need state approval for projects exceeding these thresholds. It also exempts healthcare services or facility projects resulting from state contracts from the certificate requirement. This change reduces regulatory burden for many healthcare investments by raising the cost bar for mandatory review.

signed · Vermont · House May 6, 2025

H 17: An act relating to approval of the adoption of the charter of the Town of Morristown

H 17 is an act that officially approves the new charter for the Town of Morristown, as previously adopted by its voters. This bill formalizes Morristown's status as a municipal corporation, ensuring state statutes for municipalities apply unless modified by the charter. A key provision of the approved charter establishes a Town Manager as the chief executive officer, responsible for the town's administrative affairs and managing its employees. This act directly affects the local governance structure and operations for the residents of Morristown.

signed · Vermont · House May 6, 2025

H 21: An act relating to service of writs of possession

This bill (H 21) changes Vermont court procedure for serving writs of possession, which are court orders to evict tenants and return property to landlords. It allows a sheriff from any county - not just the county where the property is located - to serve these writs. The change directly affects landlords, tenants, and sheriffs involved in eviction cases by streamlining the service process. The key provision amends Vermont law to explicitly permit sheriffs from other counties to handle this service, making the process more flexible for courts and law enforcement.

signed · Vermont · Senate May 2, 2025

S 30: An act relating to updating and reorganizing the health insurance statutes in 8 V.S.A. chapter 107

Bill S 30 updates and reorganizes health insurance statutes in Vermont, primarily affecting health insurance policyholders and insurers. The bill establishes that, after three years from a policy's issue date, insurance companies generally cannot void the policy or deny claims based on applicant misstatements, unless those misstatements were fraudulent. Additionally, claims cannot be reduced or denied after three years due to pre-existing conditions not specifically excluded from coverage. This act also includes provisions for an "incontestable" clause in certain policies. The changes outlined in this act will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Vermont · Senate May 2, 2025

S 9: An act relating to after-hours access to orders against sexual assault

Bill S 9 establishes a process for individuals to seek and obtain emergency temporary orders against sexual assault outside of regular court hours, including on weekends and holidays. It directs the Court Administrator to create specific procedures for this after-hours access. Key provisions include designating authorized personnel to receive requests and allowing electronic submission of complaints and affidavits. Judicial officers can then review these submissions and issue orders remotely, which can require a defendant to stay away from the plaintiff.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice