Vermont Bills

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 14, 2026

S 251: An act relating to health insurance coverage for diagnosis and treatment of certain pediatric neuropsychiatric conditions

This bill (S.251) requires health insurance plans in Vermont to cover the medically necessary diagnosis and treatment of PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) for children. It mandates coverage for specific treatments like antibiotics, mental health services, and immune-related therapies, without higher cost-sharing than for other conditions. Insurers must follow current clinical guidelines for these treatments and temporarily use "autoimmune encephalitis" as a billing code until specific PANDAS/PANS codes are created. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, applying to all new or renewed health insurance plans after that date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 667: An act relating to collective homeownership resources

This bill requires Vermont's Department of Housing and Community Development to provide free, online resources to help the public establish collective homeownership models. It mandates the department to create and share practical materials - including guides for organization and conflict resolution, standard templates for cooperative housing articles of incorporation, and templates for tenants-in-common agreements. These resources will be made available in a user-friendly format at no cost to residents, community groups, or potential cooperative housing developers. The bill directly affects anyone seeking to form or manage collective ownership housing arrangements under Vermont law. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 678: An act relating to the creation of a housing pilot program in Washington and Lamoille Counties

H.678 creates a pilot program to finance 250 new housing units in Washington and Lamoille Counties using municipal debt. The program would be funded by dedicating 100% of property tax increments from municipal or education properties within those counties. This aims to lower rental costs or make homeownership more affordable for new developments. The bill directly affects residents and developers in these two counties by providing a new funding mechanism for housing projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 14, 2026

S 253: An act relating to adding transparency to Vermont’s tuitioning system

This bill requires Vermont school districts to publicly disclose in their annual budgets the names of schools they pay tuition to, the number of students attending each school, and the total tuition paid to each. It also sets new requirements for independent schools seeking or maintaining state approval to receive public tuition funds, including annual reporting of student data and written disclosure to parents about their approval status. These provisions aim to increase transparency around public funding for student placements at independent schools, directly affecting school districts, independent schools, and families receiving tuition-based education services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 666: An act relating to survivors benefits for law enforcement officers

This bill expands Vermont's existing survivors benefits program to include law enforcement officers. It amends Chapter 181 of state law to explicitly define "emergency personnel" to cover law enforcement officers, granting their survivors the same monetary benefits currently available to firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Survivors (spouses, children, or parents) of law enforcement officers who die "in the line of duty" or from an occupation-related illness may request benefits through the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board within 24 months of death. The bill does not change benefit amounts or eligibility criteria but extends existing protections to law enforcement officers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 680: An act relating to a primary care access reform program

This bill establishes a primary care access reform program where participating primary care providers would receive monthly payments from health insurers for each patient covered, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for routine primary care services. It directly affects primary care providers (who would receive guaranteed payments) and patients (who gain cost-free access to routine care). Key provisions include requiring the Agency of Human Services to report on program expansion and the Green Mountain Care Board to report on standardized payment rates, while also allocating funds for primary care workforce development in fiscal year 2027 and extending a physician scholarship program. The program aims to address Vermont’s primary care access crisis by reducing administrative burdens and increasing investment in primary care, which currently represents only 10.2% of total health care spending.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 683: An act relating to public nudity

This bill prohibits exposing pubic areas, genitals, or buttocks in public places where others can see, with penalties of up to six months in jail or a $500 fine. It directly affects anyone in public spaces, including private property visible to public areas like sidewalks. Key provisions include exceptions for designated changing areas and granting local municipalities authority to create ordinances or issue permits for designated nude areas or events. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 662: An act relating to an annual allocation for firefighter cancer screening

This bill requires an annual allocation of at least $145,000 from the Fire Safety Special Fund to provide cancer screenings for all new firefighters entering Vermont's Firefighter I certification program. The screenings must meet National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 1580 standards for emergency responders. The funding comes from insurance companies that pay into the Fire Safety Special Fund under existing law. This directly affects new firefighter trainees at the Vermont Fire Academy, ensuring they receive standardized cancer screenings as part of their entry-level training. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 670: An act relating to requiring voters to present identification when voting

H.670 requires voters in Vermont to present valid photo identification proving U.S. citizenship when voting in person, early, or by absentee ballot. It specifically mandates that ID include a photo, full name, and current address, with free nondriver identification cards available from the Motor Vehicle Commissioner for eligible voters who need them. First-time voters who registered by mail or online must show ID unless they have already provided it, while all other voters face no ID requirement. Voters without required ID receive a provisional ballot, and religious exemptions are permitted through a signed affidavit.

introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 14, 2026

S 249: An act relating to hospital collaboration and state action immunity

This bill allows Vermont hospitals and health systems to collaborate on specific health policy goals - such as reducing costs, improving care access, preserving rural hospitals, or advancing the state’s health strategic plan - while qualifying for legal protection from antitrust lawsuits. To qualify, collaborations must be approved by the Secretary of Human Services, who must confirm they align with state health goals and approve each initiative before implementation. The bill also permits participating hospitals to share cost, quality, and workforce data without violating antitrust laws. The Agency of Human Services will actively supervise these collaborations to ensure compliance with state policy.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 668: An act relating to automatic renewal contracts

This bill requires sellers and lessors to make it significantly easier for consumers to cancel automatic renewal contracts, particularly those sold online. It mandates clear "opt-in" consent (not automatic opt-out), 30-60 day advance notices before renewal, and simple cancellation methods (like online tools matching how the contract was signed). It applies to contracts with an initial term of one month or longer, directly affecting consumers who use subscription services and the businesses offering them. The law aims to prevent surprise renewals by ensuring cancellation is as straightforward as signing up.

Topics ✓ Technology

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2026

H 664: An act relating to income eligibility parity for certain Medicaid programs

H.664 would standardize income eligibility rules for two Vermont Medicaid programs. It requires the same income limits for both the Medicaid for Children and Adults program and the Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled program. This change directly affects Vermont residents currently enrolled in either program, ensuring they face identical income thresholds for eligibility. The bill eliminates current differences in income requirements between these two Medicaid categories.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results