Bill S 36 amends existing law by replacing the term "public inebriates" with "persons who are incapacitated." It requires the Departments of Health and Mental Health to prioritize expanding services for incapacitated individuals in Chittenden County and report on these efforts by February 2026. The Department of Corrections must also report on efforts to connect incapacitated persons in correctional facilities with substance use recovery providers. Additionally, the bill mandates reports from the Agency of Human Services and the Human Services Board by December 2025. These reports will propose improvements to the Human Services Board's appeal processes, focusing on attorney training, data collection, and making the process more accessible and consistent for appellants.
H 456 creates a state-funded community support system for individuals recently released from incarceration or with prior criminal justice involvement who face homelessness or need housing. It allocates $1.3 million for housing grants through Pathways Vermont, $1 million for community housing development (prioritizing Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, disabled, and women), and $1 million for residential treatment of substance use and mental health conditions. Additional funds support recovery services, restorative justice programs, and community-based case management. The bill redirects resources from new prison construction toward housing, health services, and economic opportunities to reduce recidivism. It directly affects justice-involved individuals experiencing housing instability or needing health support upon release.
This bill creates a "second look" process allowing Vermont courts to review long-term sentences for incarcerated individuals who have served at least 10 years or 50% of a sentence (if at least five years total). It also establishes compassionate release for inmates aged 65+ with serious medical needs, those with terminal/incurable conditions, or those with debilitating health issues who pose no public safety risk. The Department of Corrections must notify eligible inmates and provide petition forms after 40% of their sentence is served, and courts must hold hearings within 45 days if eligibility criteria are met. Petitions require specific documentation and cannot be filed more frequently than every two years after a denial.
H.191 prohibits Vermont from housing incarcerated people in private or for-profit correctional facilities, both within the state and out-of-state, by 2034. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to stop contracting with private entities for housing or services by January 2030 and to develop an implementation plan by November 2025 to return inmates currently held out-of-state to Vermont facilities. It allows exceptions only for facilities operated by public or nonprofit entities under interstate compacts or federal contracts. This directly affects Vermont’s Department of Corrections, current inmates in out-of-state facilities, and private prison companies with state contracts.
This bill (S 61) would remove criminal penalties for possessing, selling, or offering for sale automatic opening knives (like switchblades) with blades three inches or longer. It directly affects individuals who own or sell these knives, eliminating the current penalty of up to 90 days in jail or a $100 fine. The key provision amends Vermont law (13 V.S.A. § 4013) to delete the criminal penalties for these specific knives. The bill is pending referral to the Judiciary Committee after its first reading on February 11, 2025.
This bill requires Vermont correctional facilities to provide free telephone, video, and electronic communication services to incarcerated individuals at no cost to them. It caps commissary prices at no more than 10% above fair market value for comparable community products. The bill mandates that incarcerated individuals receive at least the federal minimum wage for their labor, with wages held in a separate fund and subject to limited deductions for maintenance or victim restitution. Additionally, the Department of Corrections must evaluate contracts with Global Tel Link and the Keefe Group by January 1, 2026, to ensure pricing does not exceed community rates or competitor offerings.
