Criminal Justice (Drug Policy)

This bill requires Vermont's Department of Corrections to partner with local opioid treatment programs to provide medication for opioid use disorder (like buprenorphine or methadone) in correctional facilities. It ensures inmates with opioid use disorder can continue their prescribed medication upon admission and receive at least a 28-day supply upon release to maintain treatment continuity. The law updates existing medical care standards to mandate these partnerships through memorandums of understanding with community treatment providers. It directly affects incarcerated individuals in Vermont facilities who require opioid use disorder treatment, aligning their care with community-based treatment systems. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to improve access to evidence-based treatment during incarceration and transition to community care.

This bill (H 223) clarifies that using tracking technology without consent to follow someone’s movements - such as via GPS in a vehicle - counts as stalking under Vermont law. It prohibits installing or using tracking devices in vehicles without the operator’s and all occupants’ consent, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, parents monitoring minors, and vehicle dealers. The bill also allows courts to grant abuse survivors temporary vehicle possession for safety and creates a process for survivors to quickly disable an abuser’s access to a vehicle’s connected tracking services, even if the abuser owns the account. It directly affects domestic violence survivors, victims of stalking, and individuals using vehicles in abusive situations.

This bill (S.12) creates a new process for Vermont residents to have certain criminal records sealed from public view. It allows sealing of most misdemeanor offenses and specific non-violent felonies (like certain drug possession or property crimes), provided the offense isn't excluded. Excluded offenses include sex crimes, domestic violence, violations of protection orders, and some drug offenses involving large quantities. Once sealed, these records are no longer accessible to most employers, landlords, or licensing boards, helping individuals with qualifying histories access housing, jobs, and education opportunities. The bill was enacted into law after receiving final approval from the governor on June 12, 2025.

H 105 expands Vermont's Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program to address underage alcohol and cannabis offenses for individuals aged 16 to 21. The bill requires first-time offenders to complete this program instead of facing immediate fines or license suspensions for violations like possessing alcohol, consuming cannabis, or driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or higher. Successful program completion avoids penalties, while failure results in civil fines ($300 for first offense) and license suspensions (30 days for first offense, 180 days for impaired driving). The program is administered by the Department of Health’s Division of Substance Use Programs and focuses on treatment needs rather than criminal penalties.

S 120 creates the Community Care, Health, and Safety Special Fund using 40% of cannabis tax revenue and opioid settlement funds to support community harm reduction services for people with substance use disorder. It eliminates misdemeanor penalties for possessing or dispensing small personal amounts of drugs, instead requiring law enforcement to provide service referrals and health assessments. The bill establishes a Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to define "personal use" quantities and prioritize health services over criminal penalties. This policy shift aims to reduce overdose deaths by redirecting resources from prosecution toward evidence-based harm reduction and treatment.