Policy for the People Bi-weekly Roundup - January 17, 2025

And so we meet the end of the second week of Vermont’s legislative session. 

I’m including a quick glance at 8 of the bills I have brought to your attention in the past two weeks. If you would like to contact your legislator to support any of these proposed laws, please visit: https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/ to find your designated Senators and Representatives. You can also email/write the sponsors of each bill. 

Mental/Physical Health:


S.1 - 

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.1

  • Proposes to provide Medicaid-equivalent coverage to all Vermonters.

S.8 - 

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.8

  • Proposes to expand eligibility for coverage under the Dr. Dynasaur program to all Vermont residents under 26 years of age with incomes at or below 312 percent of the federal poverty level.

H.30 - 

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.30

  • Proposes to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint on children and youth who are in the custody of the Department for Children and Families and participating in a residential program.

H.32 - 

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.32

  • Proposes to require the Department of Corrections to enter into memorandums of understanding with opioid treatment programs nearest each correctional facility in the State for the provision of opioid use disorder services.

Housing 


H. 15 - 

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.15

  • Proposes to provide financial assistance for room and board expenses at residential postsecondary schools in Vermont to residents of the State who qualify. 

Equity:


S.2 - 

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.2

  • Proposes to establish the Office of Health Equity within the Department of Health.

Employment


H. 33 - 

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.33

Proposes to:

  • Expand access to unpaid family and medical leave.
  • Provide job-protected leave from employment for reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, bereavement, and a qualifying exigency.
  • Eliminate barriers for LGBTQ+ families in accessing caregiving leave.
  • Establish reporting requirements to track the impact of expanded access.

Judicial/Corrections


H.2 - 

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.2

  • Proposes to increase the minimum age at which a child may be subject to juvenile delinquency proceedings from 10 to 12.

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