PRIA Logo™
VermontS.282025-2026 SessionSenateWALLET

An act relating to access to certain legally protected health care services

Sponsored By: Ruth E Hardy (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Easier telehealth access to abortion medication

Doctors and advanced practice nurses can prescribe medication to end a pregnancy by telehealth using an adaptive questionnaire. The questionnaire must be developed with clinical experts and allow added medical history and follow‑up questions. This expands safe remote access when those standards are met. The change takes effect May 13, 2025.

Provider licenses protected for legal care

Licensing boards in Vermont do not discipline or deny a license just because a provider offered legally protected health care. Vermont also does not punish a provider here based only on an out‑of‑state case tied solely to such care. These protections also cover care done in another U.S. state if it was legal there and would be protected in Vermont. The protections apply starting May 13, 2025.

Stronger privacy for protected health care

The law limits sharing of health records tied to legally protected care. Providers and their partners do not disclose this data to non‑Vermont governments if it may be used to investigate or punish that care. They are protected from penalties for refusing such disclosures. State agencies and employees also do not help out‑of‑state or federal probes of protected care that is legal in Vermont. Exceptions include Vermont or federal court orders, valid warrants, and acts that would be illegal under Vermont law. These rules take effect May 13, 2025.

License applicants' contact info kept private

State licensing agencies keep your phone, email, and home or mailing address confidential if you apply for or hold a license. They still show any address you marked as public. This privacy rule starts May 13, 2025.

No deceptive ads by pregnancy centers

Limited‑service pregnancy centers cannot run ads in Vermont that are untrue or clearly misleading about their services. The Attorney General can make rules, investigate, and bring civil cases to enforce this. Ads include websites, social media, phone outreach, and print. The rules take effect May 13, 2025.

Prescriber names hidden on some prescriptions

Pharmacists remove the prescriber’s name or initials from filled prescriptions and printouts for noncontrolled reproductive or gender‑affirming medicines if the prescriber asks. Pharmacists may also have their own names removed, and prescribers who dispense directly may redact their names. Pharmacy staff are generally immune from lawsuits for not removing names, unless they act with gross negligence, recklessness, or intent. These rules take effect May 13, 2025.

Updated definitions for health professionals

The law updates terms used in key chapters. It names physicians, physician assistants, naturopathic physicians, and advanced practice nurses as licensed health care professionals. It clarifies the meaning of natural organic reduction. It also clarifies that “health care services” include counseling, procedures, products, devices, and medicines for physical or mental health. These updates take effect May 13, 2025.

New fetal death and abortion reporting rules

Hospitals, clinicians, and funeral directors must report within seven days fetal deaths at 20 or more weeks, or 400 grams or more if weeks are unknown, and all therapeutic or induced abortions. These reports are confidential, not public records, not usable in court or agency cases, and must be destroyed after two years. The rules apply starting May 13, 2025.

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

My TaxesMy HealthMy BudgetMy MoneyMy Freedom
Or tell us something more specific

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ruth E Hardy

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Alison Clarkson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Martine Larocque L Gulick

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rebecca "Becca" E White

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tanya C Vyhovsky

    Democrat/Progressive • Senate

  • Virginia "Ginny" V Lyons

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 97 • No: 43

House vote • 4/17/2025

Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 70 of 140 to Pass -- Yeas = 97, Nays = 43

Yes: 97 • No: 43 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor May 13, 2025

    5/14/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor on May 13, 2025

    5/14/2025Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 7, 2025

    5/7/2025Senate

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

    4/29/2025House

  5. As passed by Senate and House

    4/25/2025Senate

  6. House proposal of amendment concurred in

    4/25/2025Senate

  7. House proposal of amendment; text

    4/25/2025Senate

  8. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

    4/25/2025Senate

  9. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

    4/24/2025Senate

  10. House proposal of amendment

    4/23/2025Senate

  11. Entered on Notice Calendar

    4/23/2025Senate

  12. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

    4/22/2025Senate

  13. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    4/18/2025House

  14. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    4/18/2025House

  15. Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 70 of 140 to Pass -- Yeas = 97, Nays = 43

    4/17/2025House

  16. Third Reading ordered

    4/17/2025House

  17. Rep. Houghton of Essex Junction demanded yeas and nays

    4/17/2025House

  18. Report of Committee on Health Care, as amended, agreed to

    4/17/2025House

  19. Rep. Dolan of Essex Junction and LaLonde of South Burlington moved to amend the report of the Committee on Health Care, which was agreed to

    4/17/2025House

  20. Rep. Berbeco of Winooski reported for the Committee on Health Care

    4/17/2025House

  21. Read second time

    4/17/2025House

  22. Action Calendar: Action postponed until 4/17/2025

    4/17/2025House

  23. Rep. Berbeco of Winooski moved to postpone action until 4/17/2025, which was agreed to

    4/16/2025House

  24. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    4/16/2025House

  25. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    4/15/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 20)

    5/21/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    4/29/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    4/29/2025

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    3/18/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial)

    3/18/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    1/28/2025

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in