[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6219591,"mediaKeyId","3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752","parentId",3621498,"title","Senate passes resolution urging state agencies to protect privacy of people with autism in response to federal database plans","audioSeconds",87,"startMs",2603000,"endMs",2690000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752&start=2603&end=2690","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752/thumbnail_2603000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219591/Vermont/Senate-passes-resolution-urging-state-agencies-to-protect-privacy-of-people-with-autism-in-response-to-federal-database-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219591-b7be6edfa6391a46afafd8a154b8d6e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078009&Signature=Bbvtt97pq3TGwPzqhq3TIIYauyWhIDvHIdv-woouHePXziXVRiPz17kl5NbEzXVbo2I9-ImF2xVJHSQO1xbKeYElETb4ydCol1DSNbttw7oeIwBW0YU7UzGXbBzvttsJOLPNwptQQEgGtcpWtUfFgHshc2ZuKAHKeTaI5IZ4CDqANWaWobkbdbXc4Vj~~aR6MbRXse4IFlw2OvfifE3MVuBcKCZVUh~pl0M2vZBVcN8kKnR39jiBTevZySfrTa4OHLx1z9sAR9DFSgcE4o6S9mhQP0Kuxt7jWNCmhFqN4XKJ4VUruJmuyqHgy0INyKgL4pz~YtMiZBGRWOZEp-~s~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vermont Legislature","date","2025-05-31T02:57:17Z","article","The Vermont Senate passed S.R.15, a resolution urging state agencies to protect civil rights, medical confidentiality and all aspects of personal privacy for people diagnosed with autism in light of recent federal announcements about an autism research database.

Senator Bochovsky (identified on the floor as the bill’s sponsor) told the Health and Welfare Committee and the Senate that members of the autism community contacted him with fears their private health information could be shared without consent. He said the resolution affirms that autism is a form of neurodiversity and not a disease or epidemic, and that state departments and agencies should uphold existing legal protections, including HIPAA, and ensure participation in any research database is voluntary.

\"This resolution affirms our commitment to protecting the private health information and civil rights of individuals who have who have autism and affirms that autism is a neurodivergence that brings diversity and vibrance to our communities and not a disease or an epidemic,\" the sponsor said. The sponsor noted the resolution is modeled on an executive order from Illinois and does not create new legal rights; rather, it urges agencies to uphold existing confidentiality laws and voluntarily protect people’s data.

The resolution was reported favorably by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and will be transmitted to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, the director of the National Institutes of Health, Vermont’s congressional delegation, the Vermont Secretary of Human Services, the Vermont Human Rights Commission, and the governor.

The Senate ordered third reading and then passed SR15 on the same day; floor minutes record ayes prevailing. The sponsor said individuals who had requested the resolution described it as one of the first hopeful developments they had seen on the issue.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session - May 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","SR15, a Senate resolution affirming protection of civil rights and medical confidentiality for people diagnosed with autism and urging voluntary participation in federal research databases, passed the Vermont Senate and will be sent to federal and state officials.","taxTitle","SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",29455,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219595,"Senate concurs with House technical fixes to OPR bill; early childhood provisions removed for lack of appropriation",101,821000,922000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752&start=821&end=922","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752/thumbnail_821000.jpg","/articles/6219595/Vermont/Senate-concurs-with-House-technical-fixes-to-OPR-bill-early-childhood-provisions-removed-for-lack-of-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219595-61c5f12e468e7df6b0fd38324ccb9a15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078009&Signature=Ncw5~SjoqfWCezAzC4sAgPtA-MM58RkuxWrSJ8H2D43GPIbHiDDPtxt~7ta3JcApX3N3m1QZUXPbemDSLxtJs4cjqeWXzyNHW0ctcxBgjses6oPskp2hdBqxixW8EmKCfNq-Y-fA71av5ciYmVJJu3L-Zc4VxS8SCLpLr9cVlco1IZUx8ZQK16~hKY~R5DIZEQBPDNNxVfLHo3f8YTCTINrxvr2mvF0s4qfXFKrTe8mp4BfV4xLjpWPnSXFwvnS5ZAk0Bgt8jL2KenWca3N~muEk5Zaqr7ACCFicseH-I2o7AyrmoFYDz3x~Y8M9nADH1ZAkJf59ryAkbI6WzT8UyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont Senate concurred in the House’s further proposal of amendment to H.472, the bill addressing professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), after floor speakers described four mostly technical changes and the removal of early childhood education provisions for lack of appropriation.

Senator from Rutland, speaking on the floor, said the amendments included changing the classification status for one executive officer provision (substituting the word \"classified\" for \"exempt\"), which the Office of Professional Regulation had intended; renumbering sections and effective dates; and striking sections 14 through 18, the early childhood education provisions, because appropriations to implement them had been removed. The senator said the early-childhood provisions would likely be taken up next year and that the original bill remains in Senate Government Operations for future consideration.

The report also added a new section directing the secretary of state to submit a written report (due 12/01/2025 in the amended language) detailing revenues generated from optional services and sales of data authorized under Title 3 to multiple committees. The floor reporter characterized the changes as noncontroversial and said the committee voted unanimously to concur.

The Senate voted to concur in the House proposal of amendment to the Senate proposal of amendment on H.472; floor remarks record the ayes prevailing and the Senate’s concurrence.","The Senate concurred in the House’s further amendments to H.472 (Office of Professional Regulation bill), making technical corrections and striking early childhood education sections because appropriations were not provided; the Senate expects the early childhood provisions to be revisited next year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219599,"Senate concurs with House amendments to agriculture bill after debate over Clean Water Act language",97,387000,484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752&start=387&end=484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752/thumbnail_387000.jpg","/articles/6219599/Vermont/Senate-concurs-with-House-amendments-to-agriculture-bill-after-debate-over-Clean-Water-Act-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219599-b93a749fa3eca4be5ff57d4ec59268eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078009&Signature=XVdS~XFAb111puQ6VcFB01~M2rb23nTVuJrKm2HhV08s1YNMqKQAJqZyHqrZLFGRsbDOO2ETqTZNeagbOkDzz6cca2yRmG~HjWr~Wrkh0R~CtyMWjM5D~TdfTJRWC3KZVjVnIBJIu5JxoZo8wv9eOBhimMVM2ADAlNb5qYE8LKB4w7f8E4ba2DlJG~9~wbiyWXq2j-sK7FACvLnSFD-rCb5YOI8QLMVvz-EV55YDmLhU3BsQINw0ddbYKEUleaLTK1f~60Eg6EqTzzMIHsEngg~kyGXS9HlWJcbeqiNwd7sNIJw8Tqm17ljLpWsiwT81g1BEwZUcg-2A-zs9y7zUNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont Senate concurred in the House’s proposal of amendment to S.124, an act addressing miscellaneous agricultural subjects, following committee discussions that focused on a change in how state authority would relate to the Federal Clean Water Act and on manure-application language.

Senator from Essex explained the committees met jointly and discussed three main changes in the text. The senior Senator from Rutland described concern over a change in section 31352 (powers of the secretary) that altered the bill’s phrasing from requiring consistency with the Federal Clean Water Act to a new formulation described on the floor as tying state rules to be “at least as stringent as” the federal Clean Water Act. He said that change effectively moved the federal standard from a ceiling to a possible floor and raised concern among some agriculture committee members because it could give the Agency of Natural Resources broader authority.

The Senator from Washington, chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, described two other notable changes found in the House’s proposals of amendment: an emergency-manure-application provision that the Department of Agriculture said matched original intent, and language that pegs statutory references to the Federal Clean Water Act as they stood on Jan. 1, 2025, similar to language in H.397 to preserve consistency if federal rules shift over time. The Natural Resources committee took a straw poll and reported support for concurrence by a 4–0–1 vote.

Senator from Essex said the Senate Agriculture Committee had tried to stay narrowly focused on farmer benefits and that while some committee members were reluctant about aspects of the returned text, the majority favored concurrence to avoid the bill stalling and to produce a usable result for farmers.

The Senate voted to concur in the House proposal of amendment; floor remarks record the ayes prevailing and the Senate’s concurrence with the House amendment on S.124.","The Senate concurred in the House proposal of amendment to S.124 (miscellaneous agricultural subjects) after committees negotiated changes including phrasing that ties state rules to the Federal Clean Water Act as of Jan. 1, 2025, and clarified emergency manure-application language.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219604,"Senate accepts conference compromise on sealing criminal history records, narrows access and adds statewide policy",233,1097000,1330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752&start=1097&end=1330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752/thumbnail_1097000.jpg","/articles/6219604/Vermont/Senate-accepts-conference-compromise-on-sealing-criminal-history-records-narrows-access-and-adds-statewide-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219604-3e8753f67f37a92f5fa7ba4bc61e9661/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078009&Signature=f6gpcHRyMGoS4Sl4oBueRA4hLfwEtNEioQoWPVUMt5JmsH-v07aHEXt2~C~Mx3lkIqg4TNSo4V3OL5GXoiYezwFSh0YBlFQ38aw8KGq0Q7-eZmVMlsXUHugdtD35vumshayNw--efSzCKAYZ5efAwfV4p0Q7ZBKwNrb9N8Vzhm0e7nO-zZjMx0z2BjQfMCnAyjWmlg-UlfRVs7Mb~nAvPS-Vx5fbLpBHmz3fzhzD6MCdLUX6ssibQr4l6czuYFOnKAdhQpumH~w8olNbSaEDOfELkThNZrxpPdjGPb53rYCxD9-~RwYbN~yiKLqJ2BgGkz1Krk6WE5ODDFvmGFmUPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont Senate accepted and adopted the committee of conference report on S.12, the bill addressing sealing and expungement of criminal history records, after conferees described a compromise that preserves judicial protections while creating operational rules and notice requirements.

Senator from Wyndham, reporting the conference outcome, said the conference maintained much of the Senate’s position while agreeing to several House amendments intended to reduce petitioner burden and require clearer notice to individuals about the practical effects of sealing.

The report adds a requirement (per an amendment the reporter attributed to the Secretary of State) that an order of sealing be sent to Vermont entities provided by the petitioner and to entities required to receive notice under the cited statutory provisions. The conference also added language in Title 13 (sections discussed as 7606 and 7607) requiring state entities that inquire about criminal history to inform individuals that they do not need to disclose expunged records. In addition, the report requires the secretary of administration and the judiciary to notify applicable persons of their right not to disclose sealed records.

The conference committee addressed long-standing disagreement over access, usage and disclosure of sealed records. The reporter described the compromise: criminal justice agencies may access sealed records in their possession for criminal justice purposes without prior court order, but using those records to develop or litigate a criminal case, or disclosing them to non–criminal-justice entities, requires a court order. The conference also directed the creation of a statewide policy governing access and use of sealed records and a record-keeping system to log access. The report includes a penalty — a $1,000 fine mentioned in floor remarks — for improper use of sealed records.

To illustrate, the conference reporter offered a hypothetical: “So let's say there's a file cabinet full of sealed records in a police department. The police department is investigating a complex case and wants to know if there might be any information in these old sealed records that could be useful. Under the compromise we've reached, an officer can look to see if it's relevant, but if it's going to be used to develop or litigate criminal case, permission from the court will be required,” the senator said on the floor.

The reporter said the Senate’s protections for defenders and clients remain intact: defense attorneys may use sealed records in litigation where appropriate. The conference also left deferred sentences unchanged; the conference rejected a House proposal that would have eliminated expungement eligibility for deferred sentences.

The Senate voted to accept and adopt the conference report on S.12; the transcript records the ayes prevailing and the report adopted. The conference reporter urged support, saying the package balances government accountability, limited criminal-justice access for legitimate purposes, and the reintegration benefits sealing can provide to qualifying individuals.

The floor record shows the conference added multiple notification duties and required the development of a statewide access policy; affected agencies and criminal justice entities will need to implement record-keeping and notice systems specified by the enacted language.","The Senate adopted the conference report on S.12, sealing and expungement reforms that preserve many Senate protections while allowing criminal-justice access to sealed records, require court orders for non–criminal-justice disclosures, and direct a statewide policy and notice requirements.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219609,"Senate adopts conference report on broad health care payment and delivery reforms",828,1520000,2348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752&start=1520&end=2348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3621498-0d63c4e730140e4e9a9b3408667e1752/thumbnail_1520000.jpg","/articles/6219609/Vermont/Senate-adopts-conference-report-on-broad-health-care-payment-and-delivery-reforms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219609-e4b8a61fdd054db0e7b4329f8c4666da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771078009&Signature=R004eieuJJUCzoBE9bSHFxq5MZtCRGQHnUxuUdVGyKqCORW1NIW8x75gF4YqKyVFUIjcc5Z-LbVj7UIuwTW4rOC4kBLfeh0mPs0~hEPpU7jriKJtx3HfARKchahLjDz7~9ibaOGVPhHRq5nVg2ETl1q-uJrgs82SjNOfI84XDrKeLoQJNuGPlFmTp7wsomuzTAtMNeFZoOzUhLxTZUVb~y3Rvr90rrX3gZPS5QPyT1nFWN~VMGQ1nJ5P6zlbVx9lH-5bh2hFbN0O8JFdRjzrv-3VV528~ZtCMQd7XDxmWy3LXWkhvGqfV083yKuG0-RdC5W2MitMgJpq0e3uEsBQ5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont Senate accepted the committee of conference report on S.126, an act to reform health care payment and delivery, after committee leaders outlined agreed changes and implementation timelines.

The bill tasks the Green Mountain Care Board with authority to pursue reference-based pricing and global hospital budgets beginning in 2027 if resources are available, directs development of a statewide health care delivery strategic plan, creates a Vermont steering committee for comprehensive primary health care, and provides targeted grants and reporting requirements to support interoperability and cost-containment work.

Senator from Chittenden, reporting for the Committee of Conference, said the conference committee’s agreement preserves the Senate’s core policy aims while incorporating some House changes. He said section 2 assigns duties to the Green Mountain Care Board, including authority to establish both reference-based pricing and global budgeting beginning in 2027 and continuing through the implementation window described in the bill. The reporter said reference-based pricing discussions referenced Medicare as a potential benchmark but also allowed additional benchmarks where appropriate.

The bill defines “hospital network” and standardizes hospital budget submissions and reviews. Section 5 requires the Green Mountain Care Board to consider the statewide health care delivery strategic plan when reviewing hospital budgets and to look at administrative-to-direct-care staffing ratios and executive and clinical leadership compensation. The reporter told senators the Board may recommend (language reconciled between chambers) actions to correct network or financial operations inconsistent with reform principles.

The conference agreement also creates a 16-member Vermont steering committee for comprehensive primary health care to assess workforce needs, recommend recruitment and retention strategies, propose sustainable primary care funding models, identify ways to increase access and reduce administrative burden, and advise on reference-based pricing for primary care. The reporter described the steering committee as intended to complement existing advisory bodies such as the Blueprint executive team and the Green Mountain Care Board’s advisory work.

On data and interoperability, the bill directs work toward a unified health data space to improve clinical-data interoperability among providers and timely patient access to clinical data. The conference report includes $2 million from an existing health information technology fund to provide incentive grants to hospitals to engage in transformation efforts, expand telehealth, and improve interoperability.

The bill also requires a series of reports: updates on health care spending reductions and transformation (including alignment with Act 167 work), a Department of Financial Regulation report on domestic insurer sustainability, Green Mountain Care Board reporting on reference-based pricing and global budget effects, and an Agency of Human Services report tied to implementation work. Effective dates in the report include immediate effect on passage for most sections, with targeted reporting and appropriation provisions taking effect July 1, 2025, and other deadlines specified in the conference text.

During floor discussion Senator from Orleans praised the interoperability and electronic medical record provisions as a step toward statewide efficiency that could save hospitals money. In response to a question from Senator from Rutland about reimbursement benchmarks, the Committee reporter said Medicare-based multiples (for example, roughly 250–300% of Medicare for some reference-based pricing arrangements) were discussed as possible targets, though reimbursement varies widely by service and provider.

The Senate voted to accept and adopt the committee of conference report on S.126; the transcript records the ayes prevailing and the report adopted. The conference reporter urged support, noting the bill’s combination of cost-control tools, data integration work, and primary-care-focused governance structures intended to protect access while addressing hospital affordability and system sustainability.

Implementation will require the Green Mountain Care Board, Agency of Human Services, Department of Financial Regulation, and participating hospitals to follow the statutory timetable and reporting requirements in the enacted text.","The Vermont Senate accepted the committee of conference report on S.126, advancing a package that tasks the Green Mountain Care Board with reference-based pricing and global budgets, creates a primary-care steering committee, funds interoperability grants, and sets reporting and implementation dates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate passes resolution urging state agencies to protect privacy of people with autism in response to federal database plans

Senate concurs with House technical fixes to OPR bill; early childhood provisions removed for lack of appropriation

Senate concurs with House amendments to agriculture bill after debate over Clean Water Act language

Senate accepts conference compromise on sealing criminal history records, narrows access and adds statewide policy

Senate adopts conference report on broad health care payment and delivery reforms