Healthcare

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2025

H 63: An act relating to fair employment practices and legislative leave

This bill requires Vermont employers to maintain full-time legislators' employment benefits (like health insurance) at the same level and cost during their legislative service, as if they were working continuously. It ensures legislators retain job seniority, benefits coverage, and protection from retaliation for taking this leave. Employers may require legislators to continue paying their usual share of benefit costs during the leave period. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting state legislators who hold full-time jobs outside their legislative role.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires employers to maintain legislators' health insurance benefits during service, protecting coverage continuity and preventing benefit loss for a key group.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

signed · Vermont · House Feb 21, 2025

H 35: An act relating to unmerging the individual and small group health insurance markets

Vermont's H.35 unmerges the individual and small group health insurance markets by raising the employee threshold for small employers from 50 to 100 workers. This change, effective January 1, 2016, allows businesses with up to 100 employees to access the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange for coverage, directly affecting small businesses and their employees. The bill updates definitions in Vermont law to reflect this expanded eligibility and permits employers growing beyond 100 employees to maintain Exchange participation if they continue offering Exchange plans. The measure was signed into law by Governor Scott on February 19, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands small business access to health insurance exchange, increasing coverage options for employees by raising employee threshold from 50 to 100 workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 247: An act relating to cardiac emergency response plans in schools

H 247 requires all Vermont school districts and independent schools to create written cardiac emergency response plans by the 2025-2026 school year. These plans must include specific steps for responding to sudden cardiac arrest, such as establishing response teams, placing and maintaining AEDs, training staff in CPR/AED use, and integrating with local emergency services. The bill directly affects schools by mandating evidence-based protocols aligned with American Heart Association guidelines, covering both general school settings and athletic programs. Key provisions include annual plan reviews, staff training requirements, and coordination with community emergency responders. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandating cardiac emergency protocols in schools aligns with public health initiatives to protect student health during medical emergencies, directly advancing healthcare safety protocols.90% confidence

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 13, 2025

H 214: An act relating to establishing the Safe Harbor Award Program for expenses related to reproductive and gender-affirming health care services

H.214 establishes Vermont's Safe Harbor Award Program to cover travel, lodging, and meal costs (but not the care itself) for Vermont residents and out-of-state patients receiving reproductive or gender-affirming health care services in Vermont. Funds will be awarded directly to Vermont health care providers or qualifying nonprofit organizations that support these services, with priority given to those serving patients with the greatest financial need or from states with limited access to such care. The program prohibits collecting patient-identifiable data and requires the State Treasurer to manage a dedicated fund using state appropriations, grants, or other public/private sources. The program takes effect upon passage and is currently pending referral to the Health Care Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCovers travel/lodging costs for reproductive/gender-affirming care access, reducing financial barriers for patients and prioritizing those with greatest need.92% confidence

Track

signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 71: An act relating to consumer data privacy and online surveillance

Vermont's S.71, the Vermont Data Privacy Act, creates new rules for businesses handling personal data of Vermont residents. It requires businesses to obtain clear, affirmative consent (not dark patterns or broad terms) before collecting personal data, with special protections for sensitive information like reproductive health, gender-affirming care, and precise location data (within 1,750 feet). The law prohibits using geofencing to track individuals near sensitive locations like abortion clinics or mental health facilities. It directly affects all businesses processing personal data of Vermont residents, including tech companies, retailers, and health services, by mandating transparency and restricting how they can use or share consumer information.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects reproductive health and gender-affirming care data from surveillance, aligning with patient privacy protections in healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires clear consent for data collection, protects sensitive data (reproductive health, location), prohibits geofencing near clinics - directly strengthens consumer data privacy regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Women's Health Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

in committee · Vermont · Senate May 30, 2025

SR 16: Senate resolution opposing recent federal actions that threaten public health and urging their swift reversal

Senate Resolution 16 is a non-binding statement by the Vermont Senate opposing federal actions it claims threaten public health, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and eliminating CDC staff positions focused on injury prevention and mental health. The resolution urges President Trump and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reverse these actions and directs that a copy be sent to the President, the Secretary, and Vermont's congressional delegation. It does not change any laws or policies but formally expresses the Senate's position on these federal decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareOpposes federal defunding of CDC mental health/injury prevention staff, urging reversal to protect public health programs and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 20: An act relating to establishing a voluntary firearms storage program for persons in crisis

H.20 establishes a voluntary program in Vermont allowing individuals experiencing a mental health or other crisis to temporarily store firearms with participating federally licensed firearms dealers. The program permits dealers to safely hold firearms until the person is no longer in crisis, while providing legal immunity for dealers and participants who follow program rules in good faith. Confidentiality protections prevent stigma, and dealers receive training to safely manage firearm returns. The goal is to reduce firearm accessibility during crises, aiming to help lower suicide rates in Vermont.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables firearm storage during mental health crises, reducing harm risk and stigma, directly supporting mental health crisis intervention services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 6, 2025

H 156: An act relating to prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers from owning or operating a pharmacy in Vermont

This bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies within Vermont. It directly affects PBMs and pharmacies by preventing PBMs from having financial or operational control over pharmacy locations. The key provision would amend Vermont law to ban such ownership or operation arrangements, aiming to separate pharmacy management from benefit management. This change applies specifically to pharmacies licensed in Vermont and would take effect if the bill is enacted. The bill was referred to the Health Care Committee for review in February 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits PBMs from owning pharmacies to prevent conflicts of interest, improving patient access and reducing cost-driven decisions in healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2025

H 136: An act relating to health insurance coverage for biomarker testing

This bill requires most health insurance plans and Vermont Medicaid to cover biomarker testing when supported by specific evidence, such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or nationally recognized clinical guidelines. It directly affects patients needing these tests (e.g., for cancer diagnosis or treatment) and insurers/Medicaid, mandating coverage for tests analyzing genes, proteins, or other biological markers in blood or tissue. Key provisions include limiting disruptions in care (e.g., avoiding repeated biopsies) and defining biomarker testing broadly to include advanced genetic sequencing. The requirement takes effect January 1, 2026, for new plans, with Medicaid coverage pending CMS approval.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for biomarker testing, expanding patient access to critical diagnostic tools under evidence-based standards, directly advancing healthcare access for cancer and treatment needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

Track

signed · Vermont · Senate May 29, 2026

S 142: An act relating to a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians

Vermont's S.142 creates a new licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians (those educated outside the U.S. but licensed in their home country) to practice medicine in Vermont. It establishes two license types: a **provisional license** (valid for two years with mandatory supervision at approved facilities) requiring proof of prior practice, U.S. medical exam scores, and employment with a participating health care facility. After two years of supervised practice under this provisional license, physicians become eligible for a **limited license** (valid for up to two years), which leads to full licensure after two more years. The bill directly affects foreign-trained doctors seeking to work in Vermont and requires participating hospitals to provide mentorship, evaluation, and malpractice coverage during the supervised training period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates pathway for internationally trained physicians to practice, expanding healthcare workforce and improving patient access in Vermont.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing