This bill modifies Vermont's climate change cost recovery program to allow the state to charge fossil fuel companies for climate adaptation costs without requiring them to be part of a specific support project. It changes how payment schedules work by requiring installments to be paid annually at 10% of the total amount, with interest charges and adjustments based on inflation. The law also extends the time companies have to respond to cost recovery notices from 15 to 30 days and clarifies that existing legal remedies remain available alongside this program. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, but apply retroactively to costs incurred since January 1, 1995.
This bill updates Vermont's financial regulations to strengthen oversight of insurance holding companies and improve enforcement capabilities for the state's financial services commissioner. It establishes a special fund to finance financial education programs, provide restitution to victims of financial fraud, and award payments to whistleblowers who report violations. The legislation also clarifies definitions for insurance holding company systems and international groups, while updating notice requirements to mandate certified mail for certain communications. Additionally, it increases the maximum civil penalty for violations to $15,000 per incident and allows for higher penalties in cases involving vulnerable adults.
This bill requires health insurance plans in Vermont to cover medically necessary health care services delivered via audio-only telephone to the same extent as in-person visits, including the same reimbursement rates for providers. It allows plans to charge deductibles, co-payments, or coinsurance for audio-only services but limits these charges to amounts no higher than those for in-person consultations. The legislation also removes the requirement for providers to have an existing relationship with a patient to receive reimbursement for audio-only telephone services. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for municipalities to apply for flood abatement reimbursement from April 15 to November 15, 2024, and prevents the automatic expiration of telemedicine reimbursement parity rules that was set to occur in 2026.
This bill modifies Vermont's juvenile justice system by establishing age-based thresholds for where certain cases are filed in court. It requires cases involving children aged 14 to 22 who commit specific serious offenses, including drug trafficking, firearm-related felonies, and aggravated stalking, to begin in the Criminal Division of Superior Court rather than the Family Division. The legislation also outlines procedures for transferring cases between court divisions based on the defendant's age and the nature of the alleged offense, while maintaining options for youthful offender treatment petitions. These changes affect prosecutors, judges, and the families of minors charged with delinquent acts, taking effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill establishes the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group to study psychedelics for mental health treatment. The group will review existing research on the costs and benefits of using psychedelics in therapy and assess whether Vermont should allow healthcare providers to administer them legally. It will also examine how legal access would affect public health. The Working Group must submit its findings and recommendations to several state committees by November 15, 2024, with support from the Vermont Department of Mental Health and the Vermont Psychological Association.
This bill establishes a new study committee composed of legislators to examine ways to improve county-level government in Vermont. The committee will focus on enhancing public safety, tax collection, and how public resources are distributed across the state. To support its work, the bill also creates a separate technical advisory group made up of non-legislators to provide expert recommendations on local government structure and organization. Additionally, the Secretary of Administration must report on how Vermont's current governance system affected its ability to receive federal emergency funding following the 2023 flooding events.
This bill establishes a 15-month pilot program allowing the use of automated traffic law enforcement cameras in highway work zones to protect workers and reduce speeding. The system will only activate when workers are present, when vehicles exceed the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour, and when visible signs indicate the cameras are in operation. Vehicle owners who receive citations from the system will face escalating fines of $80 for a second violation and $160 for a third or subsequent violation within 12 months, while the first violation carries no fine. The program requires a public education campaign before it begins in July 2025 and depends on receiving federal funding to proceed.
This bill establishes guidelines for mental health emergency responses and enhances safety protections for social service and home health workers in Vermont. It directs the Department of Mental Health to create best practice guidelines for de-escalation and crisis response services, while requiring the Agency of Human Services to hold meetings with social service organizations to address provider safety concerns. The legislation also allows home health agencies to deny admission or refuse visits if a previously discharged individual who exhibited unsafe behavior may be present, provided the behavior cannot be reasonably mitigated, and mandates that agencies notify individuals of such denials with reasons and complaint information. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of these safety measures, including statistics on discharges and denials of service.
This bill requires public and approved independent schools in Vermont to allow students to bring and apply their own nonaerosolized sunscreen on school property or at school-sponsored events. Students must have written permission from a parent or guardian to carry and use the sunscreen, but they do not need a doctor's note or prescription. The law also removes the requirement for schools to store sunscreen in a specific location. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024.
This Vermont law, known as the "Vermont Ghost Guns Act," prohibits individuals from possessing, transferring, or manufacturing firearms, firearm frames, or receivers without a serial number. The bill requires that any unfinished firearm parts or completed guns be imprinted with a serial number by a federally licensed firearms dealer, importer, or manufacturer before they can be legally owned or sold. Exceptions are made for licensed dealers, law enforcement, antique firearms, permanently inoperable guns, and weapons made before 1968. Violations result in civil penalties for simple possession of unserialized parts and criminal charges including fines and imprisonment for transferring or manufacturing unserialized firearms, with harsher penalties for carrying such weapons during violent crimes.
This bill requires Vermont schools to use evidence-based reading assessments for all students in kindergarten through third grade and mandates that those who struggle significantly receive extra reading support. It directs the state education agency to create guidance on these assessments, report progress to lawmakers, and establish notification procedures for parents when screening results indicate a need for intervention. The legislation also requires educators to receive professional training on reading assessments and instruction, updates school literacy planning requirements for independent schools, and adjusts the structure and timeline of the state's literacy advisory council.
This bill directs the Agency of Human Services in Vermont to work with its department commissioners and relevant stakeholders to explore ways to restructure and improve the agency. The agency must provide a progress update to the state legislature by February 1, 2025, and submit final recommendations by November 1, 2025. The law takes effect on May 28, 2024, and focuses on examining options for reenvisioning the agency's operations rather than implementing specific changes.
